Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-01-06
". M. NrcHols, Proprietor.

4
oft all Stephen was obliged to be absent
for several days on some matters of busi-
ness. and in his absence Dilly found herself
growing fearfully tired of Don Sebastian
Torredos. One afternoon she set ont on a
long walk and stsid till dusk. lest be might
lounge in his usual listless way and spend
hours with her.
Before she returned Jenny came trotting
IN from the village. Here, Mrs Susan, .
SAID she, ''is letter for Miss Amelia"
Put it onthe mantle. in the dining
room, replied Susan.
Now there was peculiarly about that
mantle-piece; a mirror stretched along il,
leaving q small space uroccupied at each
end, on which it was well enough to place
letters; but behind this mirror lurked q
crack, into which. il an srticle slipped, it
disappeared as completely as though it had
gone into a crevasse on Mont Blanc. Jen-
ny knew Of the crack. oil course, and placed
the letter by the side of the mirror; but
when Dilly came in, knowing nothing of it,
she laid soale wild flowers she had gather
ed in the same place, and in doing so push-
ed the letter a little too far, and down it
went She heard it, and began to inquire
into the matter, but when Susan told her,
said. indifferently:
1T is no matter; the letter must be from
Mary Wilcox. who ia in New York; she al
ways writes a lot of rubbish. 1 know it is
from heI, for she said she would send me
an account of party that was to come of
The next day Stephen returned from his
journey, and the same evening met Dilly
at a little gathering. Sac was rather puz-
zled by questioning look in his daik eyes
"a look In which, in spite of him self, there
was occasionally mingled glance of ten
derness- This only aroused Dilly to more
active flirting with the Cuban. She knew
Stephen disliked him, and when she saw
his troubled gaze she assumed a confident
ial air which her companion instantly
caught up. 81 rsFF
Toward the close o. the evening Oily was
seated by an open window, the Cuban by
her. and Mr.. Stephen Whitmore standing
opposite. the conversation turned upon
letters. .a -
Il received one yesterday" said Miss
Diliy, laughing, written upon a most i'm
portant subject-at least to the writer; but
l shall not answer it, for q very good rea-
son."
"And what is that, pray?" asked the
Cuban. V.tfl-
Perhaps will tell you tomorrow, when
you bring that sea-view you spoke of fshow-
ing me-" returned he. with the confident
ial air that was intended to distract Ste
phen; but on giving him a side glance she
shivered at the change in his counteuance.
SO cold. so dark and stern was his express
sion, that her heart sunk within her, and
a. she turned her head to more fully see
him he leaned forward, and sfxing on her
a look of contempt, said, slowly:
E0r Crloo of ,l1frr 1<<~
Der the one we were looking at last week.
and the words, underneath it, Love desc
Grated dies?"
Then he turned from her and addressed
a gay remark to young lady near him.
Dlly saw him no more ill the following
week; but she heard in tie meantime that,
much to the regret of BIS parents, he had
decided not to remain at home. but again
to 60 West. When she did see him 1t was
put for moment, and with others around
them; the clasp of his hand was loose and
careless, tn look he gave her as he bade
her good-by one of quiet indifference.
Stephen went, and Dilly. spite of her best
efforts, dropped. Some persons attributed
| tbs to the departure of the Cuban, who
made his adieux at this tiue. He favored
Dnly with complimentary speech and o
very tender pressure of her hand; he would
have kissed it in French fashion, but she.
fast losing her coquettish ways, restrained
him BY a look.
The month passed on, and Dilly grew
quiet and thoughtful. Much she p0ndered
on the expression of Stephens countenance,
but the only cause she could find was her
flirting with the Cuban. One night she
sat musing, just before going to bed. On
the table by which she sat lay little book
in which Stephen, when he first returned,
bad written her name at her request He
wrote pc culiar hand, one that would at
once attract attention. While thus sitting
Jenny came in to consult her on the color
of a dress she had purchased that day
Standing by the table, her eyes fell on the
writing in the book
Lands sakesl" she exclaimed; ssthat is
for all the world the same writing that was
on your letter, Miss Dilly, that slid down
the crack"
Miss Dilly turned pale. care you sure,
jenny she asked, quietly, but with great
effort.
"Yes," replied Jenny, taking up the
book. II was looking at the way the A
and were made as brought the letter
along, and these are made Just the same. u
Perhaps they are" said Duly, and then,
|, turning to the dress, drew Jenny's atten-
tion to It. But when the girl left the room
: she started up, ana with hands pressed
tightly on ner breast walked rapidly ut
and down. She saw it all now. Stephen
had sent her that letter, the letter she hac
T written to all her correspondents abou
1 without finding the writer; and now sh,
J understood why hs looked at her as he die
, that night. He thought she had read tn,
letter and was making a jest of it. Oh, how
her heart throbbed and panied as sh,
> thought of it all.
Aunt Pen was sleeping the sleep of tn
: just, when she was Ioused by the voice o
E weeping. Sitting up, she saw Dllly in tn
e paie moonlight standing by her bad.
e ''Oh, Aunt Pen! dear Aunt Pen! do yo,
love me, don't your" =
( Aunt Pen instantly embracing her sob
I bing darling, and drawing her beside he
{ endeavored to find out the cause of he
tears. She was alarmed, as Dilly was no
/; given to such outbursts. -Fz
$ II know you love me very much, dea
] Aunt Pen, and you will do something fo
G me that wish so very much: won't you
, dear Aunt Pen?'
: And then followed such flow of tear
q that poor Miss Penelope promised. sWhs
!; is it. my darlin g?" she asked - - Z
b '.Have the dining-room mantle piece pul
y led do wn," sobbed Dolly.
: Aunt Pen shook with terror. She too
q it for granted that her niece was losin
: nor senses; but hoping the derangemen
! was temporary she repeated her promise i
d a quiyering voice, and asked Dilly to shar
n her bed-an ofsr that was accepted. Mis-
y Penelope was fully resolved to keep dill
/ gent watch all night; but before she ha
d the least idea of doing such thing drop
: ped sound asleep: and when she woke i
r, the morning found that she alone occupie
e the bed. Before she had time to rise Dill
It entered the room. calm and serene, thoug
certain anxiety lurked in her eyes, Aun
Pen wisely thought she would not allude {
. the subject of the mantle piece, trustin
= that Dilly had been dreaming; but she wa
. at once reminded Of her promise, and sa
! she was to be strictly held to it. In val
did she question Oily as to her
4 last Miss Pen said:
l. "Diuy, my dear, it is out of the qusstio
h to pull down the wall in that manner viii
d out saying why. What do you suppose tn,
m SuaaD and evervbOdv o1ca unuld tbipI2r