The Shasta courier., 1872-11-23
ENGAGED TO MIR. HOLLY.

Heu urSt started In llIe, It was as
salesman in the very small establishment
of Mr.. Brusle, stationer. 1t was not a very
remunerative situation, but old Mr.. Brusle
was a kind old man, Mrs. Brusle a
nice, talkative old lady, and Dolly Brusle
often came into the store on busy days and
stood behind the counter beside me and
just for this last reason | would not have
taken double wages with Mr.. Throgmortop,
the only other statoncr of the town-not
that he offered them, truth compels me to
add.
Dear little Dolly she had brown eyes
and dimple in her chin, and she sang like
prima donna. She had had lessons from
German Fraulein and from an Italian
Signor; and the old man quite forgot
Throgmorton and his gilt gingerbread win
dow when he sat with his handkerchief
over his head of an evening and listened to
her songs. The piano was old and tinkling,
but none OF US ever thought of that. 1t
was sing this and.'sing that, ana 'let us have
that over again, until the clock struck elev-
en- sometimes then was obliged to CO.
Old Mr.. Brusle and my father had been
friends, and | was not a clerk only, but a
privileged friend as well, and all the ex-
cuse | needed for coming every night was
given in the words, Il want to hear the
singing Well, any one might have want
ed to hear it, for that matter-not merely a
boy who was in love.
things weut on in this way for three
years, when ene afternoon, old Mr.. Brusle,
shutting the drawer..of his desk with bang,
said (:
1ts no use. a.om, may as well give in,
Ihrogmorton has beaten me- I'm not max
lug cent, and | shall break up business
The old woman and can mrnage on what
we have, with only one child. and l can
rest and stop tidseting | suppose Dolly
can teach a little, too. There's no other
music teacher in Hamilton, now that Frau
lein Hulse has gone back to Germany, and
she can have some fnery in that way But
the cd shop Is mockery, and I've known
it .o1d while
So that was the end of that Arcadian
lime The stock and fixtures were sold
out. THroemorton bought the stock, and
the shop was altered in to parlor; and
wrote to my uncle in New York, who had
promised to take NE into bis business if |
wished it, and he teegraphed Come next
week And then one day | asked Dolly
to walk down into the meadows aud see if
the blackberries were ripe
We took two little baskets, and the ber-
ries were hanging plump and large and
purple e-back but before we picked one, |
drew her to quiet place under great ma
pie and put my arm about her waist, and
said
Dolly, you know just how l feel to you,
don't you? You know l love YOU
She nestled up to me little closer, and
I took both her tiny, plump brown hands
in mine
will you wait for me little while, DollyY
| said. "Will you think that am doing
my best all the tim, to bring the day near
er when | can ask your father to give you
to me?
She said nothing for while, and in the
pause l heard bird sing whole song
through. Then, sweeter than any birds
sing, came her voice.
Yes, Tom, I'll wait
And then we picked the blackberries,
and went home again through the meadows
we'll not speak of it yet, Tom,' said
Dolly. .At home I mean !; they think me
such child yet 1 don't want to break
the charm. In time they'll guess that I'm
a woman ; and they like you, Tom
The evening passed swiftly. I arose to
God bless youp said the old man.
The old lady kissed me. I pressed my
lips to Dolly's forehead. In that moment
of parting the old folks thought it only nat
ural. And then | was gone-down the
little street with its semi. detached cottages,
out into the country road. My trunk had
been at the station for hours. | heard the
whistle of the train l saw the red glare
of the iron monsters eye; l heard the
snort and the tramp. He was ready for
me, and the city and its whirl awaited me.
For while was bewildered in the city,
then very busy, then flushed with the pros
pect of being rapidly advanced, and of be-
ing able to ask Dolly to be my wife sooner
than | expected. l wrote her joyous let
ters. She wrote pleasant ones back to ME.
We did not make them open love- letters,
but both understood the love at the bottom
of them And so the months gllded BY =
Fer six l had no holiday. Then grud-
giDgly given week was given me, and |
hurried down to Hamilton. visited my
old friends, aud had glorious time. Dol
ly was lovelier than ever. She walked
over to the depot with me when lef., lean
ing on my arm. The train had not come
in yet-the one for New York but the
other had set down some passengers from
the city. One stout gentleman of thirty
FIVE, dressed in fine style, having given his
portnanteau to porter, advanced to Dol
ly.
How do you do, Miss Brusle ? SAID he.
She held out her hand shyly.
How do you do Mr.. Holly 2 Tom this
is Mr.. Holly. Mr.. Holly, Mr.. Hearn." ]"
ie bowed SO did l. But the fellow had
such an air with him that hated him
How did she know him? | had never
seen him before
.Who is he I? asked | in whisper, as
tho norfor called Mr. Hollv h.ck for dirac