Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1873-03-07

ture to share his poverty, but she was the
only woman he wanted, for she was Lola.
When the girl arrived at Granny's house
she found the old lady walking up and
down the path with gold-headed stick
and large parasol, and face of much
unusual perturbation.
+" have given the children holiday,
and they are making hay in the meadow" P"
said Granny to Lola " am going to
have talk with you. I have got at last, "
she continued "what have long been
seeking for you, a situation in Paris,
where you may see a little of the world,
and improve yourself in French. For a
girl who has to earn her bread such i'm
provements are desirable, and you cannot
go on expensive trips, as your cousins can.
l have letter here from the gentleman
who engages you. He will wait for you
till tomorrow, when you must join him !"
Lolas cheeks had become white. She
reflected for few moments and then
raised her eyes gravely to the old lady's
face saying
"I cannot 60"
"Now, Lola, listen to me. You are
only connection of this family. have
always treated you as if you were my
grandchild, and if I could have done
more for you should have been glad,
but am too poor"
"I should not have accepted MORE"
said Lola.
"Don't be pert, miss, with your should
nots and cannots. / have some questions
to ask of you. Arthur Gray has gone to
London. Do you know what his busi-
ness is?"
"No," said Lola.
els it possible that he has asked you
to marry him?"
"No." --
"But he has done Just the same, and
you expect that he will ask you when he
comes back?"
eyes" said Lola.
.'And you won't 60 away to earn your
bread because you are waiting to be
mill stoneround poor mans neck? You
are resolved to wreck completely all the
hopes he had cherished before he met
your"
A dreadful look had come into the
young girls eyes; she put her hand diz-
zily to her head.
s'You silly child, don't you see that he
is a poor man; no one could be poorer ex-
cept yourself. If he were an ordinary
man this ought to deter you, for he would
have to toll in way you know little
about to give you bread to eat. He is not
a common man, but with a great career
before him, that is if you, a chit of girl,
do not step in to spoil it. He is too gen.
erous to tell you this, perhaps, but have
no scruple in hurting you when it ought
to be done"
"Tell me about his career" said Lola.
"The great person who introduced me
to him in London" continued Granny,
"said to me, This will be distinguish
ed man in few years hence, if he only
regains his health, and keeps himself free
of encumbrances I shall keep an eye
on his career, and push him onward if
can Gray talked to me about it during
our Journey down here; told me all his
hopes while I was petting and taking care
of him. said, You must beware of a
foolish marriage The worst thing that
could happen to me- was his answer. 4
hope you have nothing dangerous down
in your country?' | remembered only
my grand daughters, and that they were
a great deal too sensible to take any in
terest in him. / never thought of you at
all, child; yet here you are doing the
mischief, being neither wise for your
own interests, nor generous in looking
to his. You have ruined him SO COM
pletely that he is gone to refuse an offer
which would have given him fame and
fortune had you not been in the way"
"What is that offer?" asked Lola.
can expedition is sailing next week to
the North Pole, or somewhere there
abouts. What they are going to do I am
not sure about; but they are scientific
men, and they have invited Arthur Gray
to be of their party. A few short weeks
ago he would have looked upon any one
who had prevented his accepting this as
an enemy Now he goes to London to
refuse it in order that he may pin him.
self to drudgery and obscurity for life;
that he may live in repining over what
YOU have selfshly forced upon him, he
being far too generous to disappoint
you"
Lola did not answer word, but stood
with her face turned away, looking into
the forest; then slowly turned away and
began walking like sleep walker towards
an opening in the trees. Granny Looked
after her angrily, too full of Arthur's
wrongs to have any pity for the girl
whom she counted his enemy. can OBJ
stinate monkey" she said to herself,
wrathfully, and muttered her way back
to the house, while Lola spent two long
hours alone in the forest. Only the trees,
and the river, and the singing grass saw
her struggle; when she came back to
Granny her face looked gray and old. 81
will join the gentleman tonight" she
said, "and go to Paris with him"
Now that Granny was triumphant, a
new feeling of pity came into her heart. |
But she knew she had done her duty, and |
that Lola was behaving well. She patted
the girl on the shoulder, and sent her
home to pack up her things, and made
vague promises in her own mind that
something good must certainly be done |
for Lola.
When Gray came back from London,
there was no Lola in the forest country, |
and Granny explained to him how pru-
IDENTIFY the girl had acted.
"You could not expect of her that she
would not seize good offer when it pre- |
sented ITSELF" she said. "It is very well
for men when women are found with
little common sense. She will have ad-
vantages IN Paris, and will make a good /
marriage. Lola is wise girl, and as for
you, you will get over it."
Certainly" said Arthur, che would |
not otinterfere with any woman's prospects" |
And then he also went alone into the |
forest, and complained that the world had |
never seen faithful woman. The grass
sighed again, and a smile curled the
edges of the leaves of the trees. but not |
thing limited to him of Lola's sacrifice.
That night he was again in London, and |
the next day he sailed with the expedi-
ton. AS he looked over the ships side,
ambitious hopes rose in his heart, and |
subdued the pain that would have lin
gered still. The sea-foam gathered over /
the past of few months. The sun of |
the old world set brilliantly upon what |
Law behind him. summer dream, blue |
mists, dancing trees, sunny idleness, chill