The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-01-28
1TY, IOWA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2s, 1875.

JAY, JANUARY 70, II
handkerchief tied over his eyes, q young
Jennings hanging on to each coat tail,
and others batting him, as with out
stretched hands he CROPPED about trying
to catch somebody to take his place.
"Ah, Dolby, glad to see you," said
Jennings, coming up open-handed.
ooh, Mr.. Dolby, how late you are!'
cried Mrs. Jennings.
"Rare game, isn't it," cried Jennings,
hopping the pcrspiration off his head.
81 declare it isn't fair" cried pretty,
silvery little voice; and little Jenny Grey,
Mrs. Jennings sister, with rosy face, eyes
sparkling, and her sunny hair flying,
dashed under my arm just as pair of
stout ones were thrown about me, and
turned around to gaze full in the face Of
Smith, who, with the handkerchief
dragged down, exclaimed loudly, and
evidently in great astonishment:
"Halloow
"Caught the wrong one, eh?" l said.
"Didn't know you'd come" said Smith,
evasively.
"Oh, Mr.. Smiths been such fun, "
cried one of the children.
"Do de frogs hornpipe again, Mitter
Sniff" cried twin-third series.
"Thow Mithter Dolby the pigth in the
| hk~yV oosI y.,sn-cnonnd 00rIpQ
"No, no, Mr.. Smith, do make the
pocket et-handkerchief dance, and the old
man on the WALL" said another.
"My dear children, you will worry Mr..
Smith to death, /" exclaimed beaming little
Mrs. Jennings.
"Oh, never mind-I-I rather like il, :"
said Smith.
"Give me another ride on your back,
Mr.. Smith," cried another; and as he
stopped to lift chubby tyrant on to his
shoulder there was yell of delight and
charge like hurricane-children hang
ing on to his coat tails, his legs, his arms,
garoting him, and he suffered it all with
the greatest composure-indeed, with a
sense of enjoyment shining out Of his
face that was most refreshing.
At last, by installments and pairs, the
family departed for bed but not without
Smith being inveigled into carrying little
Johnny upstairs. Then, with his feathers
smoothed, he was called upon to 60 down
to the snug supper provided for our
especial benefit.
"Will you take Jenny down, Smith,"
said Jennings.
"Mr. Dolby is going to take me down,
Tom" said the pretty little lady.
And played cavalier without MOTTO
ing the air of discomfort in Smiths coun-
tenance.
The supper passed off very pleasant
ly; for little Jennie certainly was the
liveliest little girl had taken down to
supper for years. She was chatty, too,
and full of repartee and mirthful re-
mark while Smith grew silent and staid.
"Those children have completely
tired you out, Mr.. Smith," said Mrs.
Jennings.
And Smith sighed and said: "No, not
at ALL"
But he kept very quiet all the same;
and when we went out together, about
twelve, there was hardly word spoken
on the way to our chambers.
| saw Smith again and again during
! the next two months, and could not help
remarking that change had come over
him.
"It's your liver, l think, old fellow" l
said; "let me write you prescription"
"No," lie said, cit isn't liver. I'm as
we'll as can be-"
shook my head. But as he did not
seem disposed to give me his confidence
/ did not care to press him; and time
slipped on, with the poor fellow growing
more quiet day by day.
think l told you that Smith was an
artist. He was, but in a dilettGnte kind
of way. He was barrister by rights;
but he did not get any briefs, and he did
not want any, but spent his time writing
smart little articles cers de soeiete for
weltknown magazine. Smiths chambers
were in the Temple, up at the top of one
of the ranges of buildings, where he
could enjoy capital view of the river
and embankment, and many were the
pleasant evenings we had spent there
together.
1t happened one day during this
present autumn that, being by Temple
Bar, l encountered couple of ladies
turning up the one-sided remains of Bell
yard, and one of them asked me if that
was the way into the Temple. hast
ened to set them right when -
"Hallo, Dolby" said CHEEKY voice,
"where are you going:"
Il was just going to see Smith," l re-
piled, shaking Jennings heartily by the
hand.
"Here's the wife and Jenny here" he
said; and the next moment was paying
my court to the ladies.
II say" said Jennings, "let's 60 and
storm Smith"
"Oh, no, Tom" began Jenny.
"Why nots" said Jennings. Hell be
delighted to see us-won't he, Dobby?"
"That I'll answer for" / said; and a
few minutes afterward we were climbing
the cold stone stairs and passing dismal
oak doors.
As I neared the top foor-for was
sent on first by way Of pioneer-I be.
came aware of the fact that the door was
ajar and I heard Smiths voice; but, az
he was evidently repeating something to
himself as if learning it, Ihad no hesita-
ton in listening, especially as we were
such old friends. But paused on the
threshold, for this is what met my eye:
Smith in short jacket and slippers
was kneeling on the carpet before an easy
chair in which he had stuck the bolster
from his bed, and on the top of it wat
his smoking-cap with its long tassel.
"Amateur theatricals," I said to my
self" rehearsal"
But the next moment / was dumt
with astonishment, for Smith went on:
dearest Miss Grey, since the frs
night when beheld you ct your sister,
house I have madly, passioDately lovet
you. Here, then, kneeling at your feet
make you the offer Of my heart ant
hand"
"That isn't so bad" he muttsred
; LETS try again"
And SO intent was he that he did no