The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-06-23

fresh blue violets that were fading SO fast
lin the warm, furnace heated atmosphere Of
the ROOM " Pm sure don't want to see
him. ,lsa.sa IA s,fF
But that was fib, and Dolly knew it very
well indeed, as she cried softly by herself
with the fading vinlets in her lap.
Meanwhile Gerald Wayne resolved to be
no longer the plaything of an idle CO.
quette," as he loftily termed it in his own
mind, had strolled listlessiy around to Mrs
Charles Ducr's mansion, where, of course, as
everybody was busy putting the last touches
to the contributions to the Fair, nobody
wanted to be bothered with him. So APP
propriatcly do young men time their visits,
never finding out from the Alpha to the
Omega thereof that they are in the way
"Mamma'l be down in few minutes"
said Master Ferdinand, standing in the door
way. Mamma says will you please excuse
her a little while2 Shes very busy, and
says am to entertain you until she comesr'
Very we'll" said our hero, who, forget
ting his own extraction, detested little boys
in knickerbockers and hutton boots.
They're jolly busy up stairs, said Ferdi-
nand, standing first on one leg and then on
the other. They're sewing the hair on the
dolls heads"
Are they 2" said Mr. Wayne, still without
any symptoms Of lively interest.
Its Miss Dolly Estcourt's hair" went on
Master Ferdinand
SIS 2" Mr.. Wayne looked up now and
left off poking the fire.
'Yes it is" said Ferdinand, with all
child's relish in imparting q piece of
news it has picked up sub rosa. "They
couldn't sew 1t on before, because Uncle
Harry had stoled it away. 1 saw it hanging
out Of his coat tail pocket, and told NAM
ma, and she said he was principled pirate,
and she made him bring it back next day,
before Miss Dolly found out it was gone
Mamma said Miss Dolly would be awful
mad. Where is you going Mr.. Wayne
Mammn'll be down in minute"
But Mr.. Wayne made one plunge past Fer
dinand into the hall, seized his hat from
the rack, and was gone before the youth
could comprehend the situation. And when
Mrs. Duer came down stairs few minutes
later, the parlor was unoccupied, save by
the entant terrible, who was industriously
endeavoring to adapt his mothers opera
glass to the focus of the cats eyes
'He's goned, mamma" observed the boy
indifferently; land pussy won't stay still"
''You naughty, naughty boy !" cried Mrs.
Duer, springing to the rescue of the imper-
lied glass You've been playing some of
your wicked tricks on him !"
mo, mamma, | haven't !" cried Master
Ferdinand, screwing both fists into his
eyes, and burst into a howl that was
fearful to hear.
While the domestic credit of Ferdinand
was thus being endangered on his account,
Gerald Wayne was making the very best of
his way toward the house i'll twenty-eighth
street, whose threshold he had SD firmly re-
solved never again 10 cross. AS he consult
ed bis watch by the light of friendly
gas-lamp, lie saw that it was haii-past nine.
Not too late yet.' he thought. ooh,
what thick -skuled blockhead have been
not to see through all this wonder il she
can ever forgive her womanly truth and
dignity.
And with the inevitable rush from one OK
IRENE to the other, which is natural 10 all
Mr.. Wayne elevated Dolly Est
court in the scale of his estimation from the
lowest round to the giddy heights OF per-
fiction.
"Shes an angel !" rashly asserted Mr..
Wayne to himself, and he believed il.
Dolly was still sitting alone with the knot
of faded violets in her lap, and something
bright and sparkling on her cheek, like a
tear, when the door bell unexpectedly pealed
and the next instant Gerald Wayne came
rapidly into the ROOM
Miss Estcourt !" he exclaimed.
Dolly was on her dignity in an instant
IS What did you wish to say to me, Mr..
Wayne ~ she asked, Jelly.
IL wanted to ask you to marry me!
Dolly, love you to distraction /; andif you'll
only promise to become my wife, III be the
happlest man in New York tonight"
Thus, clumsily he laid his heart at her
feet; and Dolly, sensible little Dolly, who
saw the rare pearl shining through its verbal
relented, and if she didn't ex-
actly promise, at least did not say Nos
And then Gerald Wayne told her how
nearly he had lost his chances for Happiness.
until Master Ferdinand Duer's haphazard
revelation opened his eyes to the real state of
things. Dolly frowned little at Harry
Duer's impudence, and laughed good ceal
1t her lovers insane jealousy, and altogether
thought the whole thing was as good us a
newspaper story"
And say, Dolly, said Gerald, as he stood
1t the door taking an unwilling leave. with
he knot of withered flowers fastened in his
'uttoh hole, and both Miss Estcourt's hands
n his, Phi go to the fair tomorrow, and
ouy up every one of those dolls, but I'll have
hat lock of hair in my possession again -
Nonsense said Dolly.
" But l will, though" asserted Mr. Wayne.
And lie was,as good as his word.