Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-10-16

"Precisely. Now the next step is t(
get up good lover. l shall not expec
much. Any straw man that's convenien
will answer. Do you know of one
Doctor--a good one? He must be nice
and all that, or / couldn't endure it,"
Well-no-I cannot think of one
| Just now. There are none living neal
that are available. Perhaps we might
import one"
doctor, I've an idea."
Chow startling! Bring it forth, that
may admire it,"
"You be the lover"
Cali right. I'm willing"
"Then we're engaged"
Yes-for the present"
"1n fun, you know"
ooh! of course Till Sam gets mar
ried, or till you wish to break it,"
"Wheres the ring?"
ooh! [ have one up-stairs-an old one
l suppose it will answer to cover oul
little arrangement"
"How splendid of you, Doctor!"
"Now you must go. Old Mrs. Davis
is coming soon with her neuralgia. Shall
/ tell her?'
"Tell her what?"
"Of the engagement"
eyes Just hint it, and before night
the town will know it,"
And they did. How they snatched up
the stray morsel of gossip and stirred ii
into their tea with the sugar. For
tunate circumstance. 1t soured on thei1
stomachs-the news, not the tea. Even
the sugar and the good Bohea did not
save them from expressing, with beauti
full freedom, just what they thought
about it.
"Such an old goose to be taken in by
that designing Sally Depford! The mink!
the little contriving-artful--
Such language! 1t is not pretty. His
tory like this cannot stoop to report all
that was said concerning the last new en-
gagement. AS for Sam Barrett, he faded
beautifully away, and actually disap-
peared He suddenly found +" a tip-top
chance for business, you know, in New
York. Ought to 60 right on and fix it
up"
His parting with Sally was not partic
ularly affecting. She wouldn't allow it
That curious, antique, diamond ring
flashed in his astonished eyes, and his af-
fection melted softly away into nothing,
like the cloud of white steam under
which he escaped in the $40 p. m. ex-
press The whistle echoed among the
Wauchusetta hills, and the gentle Sally
heard it without sigh.
Some of the other girls could hardly
forgive her for driving away the only
available young man in the place, but
they soothed their lacerated feelings with
the sweet hope that, as the summer va
cation was near at hand, new impOrta,
ton of city visitors from Boston and
New York might "make it gay again, "
and spread wide once more the matri
monial horizon.
The suddenness and complete success
of the victory rather surprised the victor
She had succeeded beyond her eXpecta-
tions. Now that it was all over she
would return the ring, and-well, no.
perhaps she might keep it just one more
night Cousin Mary Depford was com
ing to spend the night, and it would be
rather amusing to wear the ring a little
longer and to let her into the secret
She would return the ring in the morn
ing.
Pleased with this unspoken plan she
set the ring frmer on her finger and pre-
pared to receive her company"
Cousin Mary Depford was charmed
with the ring and was profuse in her con
gratulations. Sally took them quietly
enough.
Its all a joke, you know, dear"
GA joker'
Eyes. dear, little-well-game, if
may so speak"
| Cousin Mary was properly shocked II
the retirement of her own room she ex
pressed her mind fully, and declared she
would n OF wear the ring another moment
1t was a pretense, and-a shame to dc
such thing
Sally was startled and pleaded th'
dreadful necessity of the case.
"He was such bore, you know, and
really-what could / do? 1t was all il
fun. There's nothing serious. | meal
| to return the ring tomorrow"
"I wouldn't wear it another minute i
I were you, Sally DepforS."
Sally laughed and still retained tht
ring. She would return 1t tomorrow
| She would wear it one more night-fol
it was, really, such a handsome ring.
The doctor behaved beautifully. HI
only called once, and didn't even asl
her to ride or walk.
"He walks so fast-and as for tina
old chaise, you know how it creaks."
1t was a very proper engagement
Rather cool, perhaps. What could yol
expect? He was past forty, if day
they said.
She did not return the ring the mex
day. 1t rained. She sent a note to th'
doctor the following day, asking him t.
call for it. He was away-wouldn't b'
back till Monday. Of course she mus
wear the ring one more Sunday; and sh'
did--in spite of Cousin Mary Depford'
remonstrance.
On Monday she carried the ring, still
on her finger, to the doctor. He was jus
starting off on a professional tour whel
she came, and he was so merry, and ther
were so many things to talk about, tha
she quite forgot the ring. Besides, ther
stood the Widow Bigelow in the mex
yard pretending to hang out her cleal
clothes on the line and watching witt
both eyes.
Cousin Mary Depford was harassine
They had little "tiff," after the man
ner of girls, and made it up on th
strength of a promise from Sally tina
she would certainly return the ring to
morrow.
On the morrow she started, ring o.
finger, to duly return it. He was not a
home. She went again just before te
time. He was at tea and pressed her +
stay and take supper with his good oil