The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-11-01

GROUNDS, 10 winch all the friends Tar
and near had been invited, solely the
result of Julia's wish to see the place?
That picnic!
Somehow it impressed itself upon
Dolly's mind that Thomas Bardell was
contemplating proposal on that June
day, when he was to play host to all the
people of Rnshtown.
She could not have told why she
thought so, nor why she resolved to ask
papa for permission 20 visit her
aunt in New York few weeks. "Just
to give them chance to be Alone" she
thought, and wondered what made her
heart throb sovery painfully at the idea.
She made Julia look like an exquisite
picture, by wreathing field daisies under
the rim of her chip hat, and fastening
her soft white lace at the throat with a
bunch of the same flowers.
Then she dressed herself rather has
lily, having curled her sisters hair and
otherwise made Cinderella of her.
self. 100
She heard nothing OF dismayed ex-
clamation in her fathers study Of
g But bless my soul, Bardell, l can't
spare her! She is my right hand and
eyes! She is housekeeper and COM
panion and-everything! I thought it
was the other one you were
And here the laundering, kind-heart-
ed father stopped, hesitated and finally
said:
Well-well, if she loves you, l will
not say nay, though don't know what
| shall do when you take her away
Then Thomas Bardell discovered that
il was fully time for him to go home
and receive his invited guests, and he
departed, not seeing the girls, and
leaving the doctor in dire dismay.
"Dear me-dear me-" he kept NUT
tering; why couldn't he have fallen
in love with the other one?'
When the Lawlor carryall, driven
by Cousin Tom, drove into the avenue
of Bardell Place, Thomas Bardell,
standing upon the porch to receive his
guests, Thought his eyes had never
rested upon lovelier vision than the
daisy wreathed face of Julia Lawlor.
The prettiest pink tinge came to her
cheeks as she accepted his help in leav-
ing the carriage and his arm to the
house.
Dolly jumped out anyhow" as
Tom Lawlor said, and there was not
the faintest color upon her white
cheeks, though she talked and laughed
'gaily enough.
But after the luncheon was over,
Dolly found an opportunity to escape
alone, and strolled over to a rustic
seat overlooking pretty lake, and
completely hidden by tall lilac bushes.
Here, with her useful little hands idly
clasped, she was looking straight be-
fore her, thinking, when Thomas Bar
dell, who had watched her flight, also
strolled down the path that led to the
rustic seat.
Dolly was thinking.
sit is lovely here, and the house is
splendid. Julia ought to be very hap
py, but l wished she cared more for
him. All she looks forward to is the
splendor and freedom from money
care. But perhaps that is best. 1
don't care about money, so it must be
best for me to stay at home and make
it cheerful and comfortable for rapa.
,Tnlia saws must come often, to make
her long visits, but uvn-t tIIfuh v.....
l WONDER
And here little Dolly's hands clasped
each other in tighter grasp, and her
very lips grew white as she wondered
if it was very wicked for her to feel
such an envious longing to have, not
the wealth, but the love of her future
brother-in-law.
" I'll soon conquer it, she thought,
miserably, when it is all settled. 1t
is this waiting that tries me-
She was not to wait much longer, for
the bushes parted near her, and pres
entity Mr.. Bardell startled her by say
ing:
Are you dreaming, Miss Dolly?''
She blushed and smiled, answering:
. was a little tired, and came down
here to rest.
Il am very tired, let me rest, too, :"
he said, taking seat beside her. AZ
think this is the prettiest spot on the
grounds"
:. Yes Dolly said, family, wishing
he would go away before she began to
cry.
1.-The house sadly wants one addi-
ton" said Mr.. Bardell, looking
straight before him across the lake.
" 1t seemed to me perfect" Dolly
forced herself to say. y
:. Perhaps it is only in my eyes the
deficiency exists, but think it wants
the presence of a gentle, loving woman,
and | know that l want wife there.
viii you come to brighten it, Dollyp
Will you trust your happiness to me,
believing will make it the first thought
of my lifeP Dolly, don'tcry, dear; Your
father gave me permission to speak to
you."
Then came some five minutes of quiet
bliss for two hearts, and Dolly's tears
were stopped by caresses. Presently
Mr.. Bardell said, in answer, to his lady
loves last. remark:
Julia! Oh. yes; she is very hand
some, but you see, before l saw her /
was already in love with you'
Why, you saw us both at the same
timer
mo; when ! first saw you, or, rather
the arrangement of your back hair, YOU
were seated on the top Of a step-ladder,
giving me distinct orders regarding
soap and scrubbing brushes. 2
Your cried Dolly, and certainly
there was no lack of color in her cheeks
as she spoke. 81 You! Thought it was
Tomr'
$50 it was Tom, my dear?''
1t was too mean
81 lost my heart then and there sac.