Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-11-15

and barrow could not manage it, it |
was too big. I nearly went mad |
when they wanted me to convey it on
top of my neat broughaml
At last Miss Grahame suggested q
green grocer's cart, which stylish We
hicle was at last hired to convey it to
my rooms, for its reception.
"Mrs. Jones-I-in fact-I want to
tell you've been to a bazaar, and
bought-at least won-I mean there's
a dolls house a coming in a little
while, that must stay here until go
into the country again, or do some
thing with it"
"a what, sir?" said Mrs. Jones.
"a dolls house-a dolls house,
they called it. Let it stand in the
passage. please"
Mrs. Jones was mute; she EVIDENT
ly did not take in my meaning. Mean
time | drove off to a scienti6clmeet-
ing, and in the intellectual treas there
provided, L forgot all my 1T Aus.
But as | returned and entered the
house, unperceived, l heard voices
raised in dispute, and high above
them Mrs. Jones Shrill tones.
"Drat this ere numbering dolls
house! 1t takes up all the room.
Our passage is small enough without
its being crammed in, and I've nearIv
broke my shinS tumbling over the
wretched thing. A nice toy for an
old bachelor like him! | should be
ashamed of myself if | was him. If
he was going to get married it would
be another thing; only, if so he, he
may go ont of this house. l won't
have no feminines a running up and
down my stairs. only let's to single
gentlemen. A dolls house, indeed Y
All this, spoken with a resouading
sniff between each sentence, | heard,
as | hurried to my room.
Daily the dose was repeated, until
at last the hitherto placid Mrs. Jones
came to me, and told nee that | must
have that ere dolls house IN my
room, she couldn't endure it any long,
er in the passage; and if | would
have it there, she was sorry to have
to turn out a gent as had lodged with
her so many years running, but must
90. That very day she'd lost a lodg-
er through it, contound it "a literary
gent as had heard of her rooms being
so quiet; and when he came to see
that there dolls house, he says. .Oh,
children, eh! Thank you, my good
woman, your rooms won't do for me-
Aud when | says, It's not mine, see
ing I've no children, but it's q gentle
mans here, an old, | mean a middle
aged bachelor. oh, a lunatic =
worse and worse said he; and of he
went like a shot. You'll excuse me,
sir; but out of the passage it must
go"
Anything Tor a quiet lite. had 1t
in my rooms; but it was very much
in the way, and it was worse and
worse when scientific meu came to
consult me on matters that required
undivided attention The undisguis-
ed contempt with which they greeted
the dolls house, and its story nearly
drove NE mad. l began to loathe it;
dreamed of it; it haunted me in my
studies.
At last, one day when | was over at
Dorkhampton, | thought | would call
on the Moores and ask their advice as
to riding myself of this burden. Give
it to them | would not on any account; !;
but perhaps they might offer some
! sensible advice. was growing des-
perate about the thing.
There was no one of the family at
home, the servant said; but Miss
Grahame was in-would | see her?
l hesitated, dsew out my card, and
finally assembled into her presence,
told her my trouble, and asked her
advice. She laughed as she listened
to my piteous story.
at really seems a terrible burden
to you, Mr.. Chester; | will give it
my serious attention, promise YOU"
Then we began to talk on other
subjects, and | found her to be, to my
surprise, a woman full Of quiet, intel
lectual power; what she knew, she
knew thoroughly. She had thought
much, read much, could reason well,
and was withal tuIl of girlish spirit
and fun, combined with lady-like win
ming grace and true courtesy. | say
to my surprise; for among all nv
studies, | never studied a woman's
mind. Now | saw how fair a thing it
could be.
l left; but somehow, my call was
repeated-once- twice again and
again. The new study was interest.
ing to me. | was almost forgetting
the first cause which | had consulted
Miss Grahame about, the dolls house
One day she said, "Mr. Chester,
think I have found capital fate fol
the dolls house-give it to the chill
dren's hospital. 1t would be most
valuable gift to those little sufferers.
Il, too, have found a fate for it,"
replied; ID was stupid not to think o
it sooner. | have just had it moved
to one of the many empty rooms OF
my Dorkhampton house, and it now
rests with you whether its sight shall
be painful memory to me forever, or
happy memento, as being the thing
that made me acquainted with N,
life'S best joy. Miss Grahame, years
ago | thought loved, but she whom
| loved was false; and in my wound
ed pride | closed my heart thencefortl
against all womanhood and love.
, , scorned, | disbelieved, | secuted al
belief in woman's truth, purity AM
faith; but now-now | love again
Isabella Grahame, is that love to b
i. the means of restoring me to youtt
life, hope ?-or is it to be ordaine,
, punishment of my long years of Sc
4 fish engrossment and unbelief? Yo
L must decide for me-"
The sweet eyes opposite mine gre,
grave; the lips quiyered.
"Mr. Chester, I-do you reall
e mean this ?"
Y aTt ;S po1- foturo I;fo .Lo+ 7 ,o-,, 90;