The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-05-24
Old Miss Prim,

brought home pretty waltlng-mald, the
latter attracted the attention of the whole
village.
When this fresh young girl was known
to frequent ghostly old Miss Prim's desc
late abode, the gossips wagged their
tongues, and the juvenile cuticle fose in an
universal goose-Hesh.
Miss Prim's cottage-door opened to ad-
NIT Dolly and closed again, untouched by
human hands.
So, at least, claimed the village urchins
who were wont to feed their taste for the
horrible by watching old Miss Prim as she
nightly chopped her kindling-wood
The Dorcas Society, and the Parson
even, had long since given up all attempts
to save Miss Prim's soul, if, indeed, she
had room for one in her lank body. How
unnatural, then, the affinity between her
defant-eyed leanness and Dolly's plump
form and soft, soul-it blue eyes!
One night Dolly remained within that
unlighted cottage until it was time to
hasten home to put the hair of Mrs. Per-
kins in crimping- and make her other
wise ready for the reign OF Morpheus.
Then she stepped alone out into the
night, mans voice from within bidding
her tender farewell.
Still alone, Dolly sped toward home at
a pace that made her own shadow seem to
be leaping and running in the moonlight
to keep up with her.
She did not reach the Perkins mansion
unmolested.
AT the bridge, the very spot that it had
made her heart palpitate to think of, she
was intercepted.
81 would as soon believe harm Of an
angel as of you, Dolly, but what means
this ~
The man who stopped her spoke as one
having authority.
edward" cried Dolly, edo you watch
e where you promised to trust?"
1 1t was bitter to the lover to find that
. the maiden was not glad to see him, and
his wrath rose with his jealousy.
\ He said, sternly.
t "Whatever this business is, it has stoler
= your heart from me. am not one tt
}, brook mysteries and unknown rivals.
it so,0 you come forth from that house where
they tell me only an old woman lives.
a saU the shadow of man, and l heard hi
e voice. believe in you, Dolly, but l also
e claim your confidence. Explain this tt
% me now, or cast me eff forever"
Dolly trembled like the moonligh
Is shadows in the summer wind, but she an
Z e swered bravely:
e "Then this, too, this last sacrifice of all
IL If only it may not be in vain Edward
!. am not free to confde in you p
The man stood silent as the meaning 0
re these words entered his heart, he SCENE
=, to petrify. He uttered no appeal. In
Of moment the night resounded with tn
a echo of his receding footsteps.
H. Mrs. Perkins, in the magnanimity of
as sympathetic nature, allowed her hair
be we'll pulled that night and showed he,
-. - self worthy TO be the mistress of no ord
h nary maid, by abstaining from teasn
r her with questions.
~, "a The following morning, when the lad
e. appeared in fresh toilet in their elegan
e, breakfast-room, the Hon. Mr.. Perkins
)" who was fastidious gentleman, informe
n her that her rich lace cap was on awrJ
and, also, that her neck-tie was veering a
1t idly as weatheryane.
n Mrs. Perkins glanced anxiously at he
@ ss reflection in shining coffee urn, wher
as she saw it, combined with the refectio
as a of the freight, dancing wildly.
1e 1t required more fortitude than a bi
n man would believe, to sit there consciousl
ST ST disfgured, and it wrung from the prett
ut little woman the ejaculation:
in "My Dolly is certainly bewitched!"
l er AS soon as possible she made the sign;
w to rise, and, under pretense of warn
ie ing dainty French slippered tc
RS rs by resting it on the bright steel fende
ne she surreptitiously regulated her toll
u Il, in the mantel-mirror over the fireplace.
d. The husband much amused with sue
d. pretty vanity, followed her in banterin
mood. He was diverted by the arrival :,
tie the morning mail.
rv w Throwing himself into his easy chair
d. the fire, he opened the first letter.
en- "Why, love p he soon exclaims, 9Th
an 81, fellow you made ne work to get cle'
from the charge Of house-breaking prov