Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-10-03

1
time. l know she is not engaged to him
or she would have told me-"
"Dolly!" called a low voice-"Dolly
dear!"
"Dolly dear, indeed" thought that
young lady, her nose more "tip-tilted"
than ever. "Here I am, Mr.. Temple;
perhaps you would like to hear my
heartless laugh again!" and Dolly at.
tempted laugh which ended in burst
Of tears. How her head found such an
exceedingly comfortable resting place re
Minis a mystery, though she had no share
in choosing it.
"Dolly dear, indeedl"
CHAPTER II.
There was something very winning
about Marjorie Esdaile-something that
made men turn to look at her wherever
she went One of her lovers (for Mar
jorie had had goodly array, whereas
Harry Temple was Dolly's first and only
one) used to say, "To see Marjorie Es-
dale smile is worth ten years of purga-
tory And the young lady was not
unconscious of her power. With COM
plexion so fair that Dolly's looked brown
beside it, eyes and hair Of darkest hue,
! a nose not unlike Dolly's, and tiny feet
and hands, she would have delig GIFTED
Greuze's heart had be only lived to see
her. She and Dolly were Mr.. Esdaile's
only children, and he, poor man, was a
| widower from circumstances not under
his control.
Marjorie was two years the elder, and
was looked upon by Dolly as quite ou
Jait in all things pertaining to society.
This was due to her having spent one
season in town, and she having refused
two most eligible offers. Mr.. Esdaile
had never quite forgiven Marjorie's
throwing them over, and-judging from
his own experience-declared that she
hadn't q ghost of Il chance left. Mar
jorie arrived at Leighton, and was sur
priset. at Dolly's more than usually af-
fectionate embrace
"Why, Dolly, child, you really look
quite nice. What have you been doing
70 her, Constance?"
"She amuses herself,' languidly re-
piled Miss Leighton, and is really
| quite a refreshing specimen of noivete,
both MIR. Temple and / think"
"Oh, Marcy, am SO glad you are
| come: but what crowd came with you!'
"Oh yes, it seems the whole Granger
family was invited to visit here, en-
n,llsse.":
"And Herbert Granger? Is he nice;
and oh, Marcy! are you going to marry
him."
Marry him! Well, no." said Mar
iorie, rather forcedly; she is too much
given to nloralizing, too real person.
Oh, [ forgot; we'll, that is not papa's
| weakness at any rate. | should as soon
think of marrying the grim ghost in
Don Juan. By-the-bye, you must so to
town next season."
Dolly smiled at the improbability of
such an event taking place, and said.
But he really looks very good, and"
"Take care, Dolly" approaching her
sister, and placing her mouth beside the
little brown ear, "he bites!"
Dinner-time, or rather just before, and
| Dolly, in her one fine gown of white
muslin, with blush-roses at her waist, .sat
in the drawing-room window talking to
Harry Temple.
"Sweet rosebud" he was saying, 81
cannot believe one word you tell me
| about your sister. You are prejudiced.
She is not one half as fair as you are, I
know" and his eyes were riveted on
the drawing-room door.
Why, I am a little brown runt be-
side her, and you know you like fair
compilations best, Mr.. Temple"
"Pretty one, you are just as I like you
best"
"Please, MIR. Temple. you have no
right to say such things to me, because"
poor Dolly! All! why had he no right?
Had he not been on the verge of asking
for this right, and yet never done ~
" BECAUSE" she continued, blushing,
"you think I am q child, and like to
have you pay me compliments"
Just then Mr.. Temple started, and,
looking up, Dolly perceived that Mar
iorie had entered the room.
Oh, what long, wearisome dinner!
Mr.. Temple was told to take Miss Es-
dale in, and Herbert Granger, the young
clergyman, escorted Dolly. How her eyes
wandered to where Marjorie, in all her
glory, clad in palest pink, was listening
to the voice she so longed to hear! The
gray eyes grew wistful with looking and
hoping for zone glance. But no; Tenn
pie was evidently we'll entertained, and
had eyes at present for Marjorie alone.
Dolly grew quite pale with longing, and
not one word passed her lips, until look
ing up, she found Herbert Changers
eyes upon her.
"Oh, is there anything the matter
with me?' she exclaimed, impatiently.
Il do hate to be looked at.
II thought you were not we'll, Miss
Dolly" he replied, kindly; and, really,
dinners are such bores-One eats too lit
tie and talks too much"
eve cannot complain of each other
Dolly, feeling guilty of rudeness toward
her neighbor. He really proved most
agreeable and entertaining, and drew
Dolly out to such an extent that the two
at the other end of the table were for
a while forgotten.
But when the time came for the ladies
to leave, surely he would, 50 usual, say a
few words to her. The moment arrived,
and almost feverishly, Dolly waited.
Majorie dropped her handkerchief, and,
springing from his seat, Temple picked
it up.
"Thanks so much" Dolly heard Mar.
gy say. What was his reply, so low she
had difficulty in hearing?
"Leave it with me until I join you
soon I hope;;" and he placed it in his
pocket.
"Oh, Dolly" exclaimed Marjorie,
drawing her sister apart, " he is charm.
ing! Do you know, I fancied when ]
came into the drawing-room and saw you
two sitting here that he had penchant
for my brown Dolly; but"
But do you not fancy it nowp ex'
claimed Dolly, Historically.
"Well," looking at her little slippered
foot as she spoke, "no; l think he is yet
in search of his ideal," and Marjorie
blushed.
"Perhaps you think he made the dis
covery tonight" replied Dolly.
Day after day went by, and Temple
seemed to avoid Dolly, and devoted him
self more persistently to Marjorie. How