The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-08-01
TAKEN BY SURPRISE.

TAkEN BY 6URpRlSE.
cit seems good, after all-now don't
IL, Patty ?--to have the house lighted
up agin, though it's made a deal of
work and considerable fuss and trouble
their Whims and it isn't often nv folks
is whimsiful, 30 1 don't complain, and
know you don't, Patty"
No, Mrs. DobsOn," said good natured
Patty " I'm within to work, and I take
pride in fixin' up for Miss Dolly its her
party, you know. And Jacques tells
me all the young ladies is to bring their
own Lardners. There'll be a sleigh-ride
tomorrow morning, for they do say
there never was such sleighing as there
be this year and in the evening the
German. And what time is the supper
to night, Mr. Dobson ?"
Half.past ten" replied the house.
keeper; and here it is a quarter of nine,
and the train due at half-past. Well,
they'll have good supper: not but that
We could have done without that French
cook sent with Jacques, for don't hold
to French cookery, and never shall its
my idea that frogs and CrOkits and my
nice is de'teriOUs to Americans that
was brought up on the Mayhower, and
baked beans, and good stiff pumpkin pie.
And they'll have an appetite tor it, ridin'
across the cold hills through the drivin'
wind in that great straw-Fide sIedge of
Great's-the only thing that could be
pitched upon to hold sixteen; and there's
sixteen coming, all told
Dear mel' said Patty. "And |
wonder who Miss Dolly's pardner is? If
it's that pretty, curly -headed Mr. Ned
Berton, 1 don't blame her gOin' agin
Mrs. Derwent q little. Now what does
make Mrs. Derwent hate Mr.. Ned ?-and
she does hate him in dead earnest"
g can tell you," said Mrs. D0bson;
tbs because she has got another hus-
band in her eye for Miss Dolly If she
has, what bizness is't OF mine? What
bizness is't of yours, Patty? You ought
to know better than to be meddling with
the affairs of your betters-a young thing
ike you"
Whereupon the gossips parted, Mrs.
Dobson to 20 down stairs and watch the
salad dressing Gin which even to her
satisfaction the French cock played the
prescribed third part of "a madman to
stir it up and Patty to go up stairs
which was all in order, and "like
playhouse" so Patty thought, q for
cunnin' things"
A real girls room it was, though Dolly
was young lady grown, eighteen her last
birthday, and "Out" this winter. As
Patty fitted around the room, feather
buster in hand, and fingered fondly at
the duchesse," as Mrs. Derwent called
the lace-draped toilette whose mirror
was bestuck with cards and photographs,
a card dropped from somewhere and Lit
upon the blue pin cushion. Patty lifted
1t, somewhat troubled, for she had been
ordered not to touch the mirror, and she
knew by one transgression of that order
that If the array came tumbling down
like card-house, there was no putting
it up again to cheat Miss Dolly.
She looked at the memento ruefully.
1t was large card, with a gray crest in
the corner and a few written lines. She
turned it over. On that side too, there
was writing, but in different colored ink.
and much finer. Patty could not read
handwriting, but she said to herself
This card is Miss Dolly's; shall [ try to
put it back in the mirror. and perhaps
push down the others, or, perhaps, put it
in the wrong place, so Miss Dolly will
know have been touching them? No
Pl just stand it up, this way, with the
crest side outward, right in front of the
pin cushion, and she'll see it and know
it's her'n.
Then Patty took her last look at the pet
room, turned down the lights, and shut
the door, and went, with less enthusiasm
through the other guest chambers. And
before long the great sledge, with its six
horses and its hundred bells and its
merry people, came rushing and iingling
and singing and shouting up to the door.
And supper was ready, and the young
people Just flew to their rooms TO drop
their wraps. And then at the last mo-
ment it was discovered that there were
seventeen guests instead of the sixteen
provided tOI; and Miss Dolly, with her
eyes shining as bright as stars, and her
silken yellow hair fiuffing up around her
forehead and falling in glittering streams
upon her fur-lined cloak that she tossed
back like white wings until she looked
like an angel in picture. only more so
stood in the passage and said, "Well,
then, Patty, give some one my room, and
I will go with Cousin Emily" And
Patty, with natural instinct of attrac-
ton for the pretty curly-headed Mr.
Ned Berton." went straight to him first,
and said, Would you please take Miss
DolIy's room? and Pll show YOU the
way" Mr. Berton, without uttering a
word, but looking, as Patty said after
wards, Gust caught up and futtered, -
did as he was bid.
Then there was supper; and by the
time the clock struck y, good nights
were said, and the guests were all locked
in their chambers to seek the slumber
that should make them quite fresh for
the delightful morrow.
And at midnight Ned Berton, in a sort
of awe, stood in Dolly's room, with his
hand upon his heart, looking about him,
and saying, beneath his breath, "This is
hers, then, and given to me! | am glad
no other fellow has it. I believe l would
knock down any other fellow who had
this room, who dared to sleep in it, or
who dared to take long look at it.
Dolly, my darling angel hardly dare
to sleep in it myself, it is 30 sacred-I
suppose she fixes her hair there :" he
glanced at the blue and white toilet.
"And l suppose she kneels down and
SAYS her prayers here" he not only
glanced at but kissed the blue and white
coverlet. Dolly was Ned's first love,
and he adored her. 81 don't think !
shall sleep tonight, or if I do twill be te
| dream of her, like one who looks on life
| when he is dying for l know very well