Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-10-03
SADDER AND WISER.
CHAPTER |.

N~ADDAAS AAAND " ACA1Ss
CHAPTER |.
Oh dear! how long those men take
smoke" was Dolly's thought after
dinner, 1T Lei shton, while she bent over
Mrs. 1ishbury's lace-making, saying how
very much she wished her papa would
allow her to learn the art. But in
deed he will not, Mrs. Ashbury," she ex-
claimed, as that lady announced her in
tention of asking him herself. "Indeed,
indeed he will not; for-for he thinks
my eyes too weak"
Mrs. Ashbury gazed sympathetically
at Dolly's gray orbS, while that young
lady demurely sighed, and promised to
do everything Mrs. lAshbury recon-
mended. !
Though she must think me An idiot
II DO thought wicked Dolly.
=" How very much nicer it is for US
young ladies to be by ourselvesW said
Constance Leighton, tall, blonde, and
insipid, laying her hand caressingly on
Mrs. Ashbury's chair. SIS it not re-
lief to be rid Of the men for while, Aunt
Elinor?"
"Oh, so nicew sneered Dolly, especial
ly when they are so distressingly de-
voted"
Constance did not relax a feature as
she replied: eyes, you may be thank
full you are not society belle, little
Dolly"
Way should the color mount to Dolly's
cheeks at this reply, brought upon her
by her own remark? Perhaps there was
sting of bitter truth in Miss Leighton's
words, or was the diminutive unpleasant?
"Here come the men at last!" joy
fully exclaimed Mrs. Leighton, who had
fallen into a graceful position, and i'm
proved the opportunity for a nap.
ing the minutes since we left You all.'
It must have been a mathematical
dream-land, them" laughed Dolly, while
one Of the gentlemen bent to catch the
ball of scarlet wool fallen from her lap.
Z: How very stupid! Oh MIR. Temple,
do not let me keep you from Miss Leigh
TOM as he took the low stool beside her.
Please-she will be so angry"
Harry Temple laughed low, and
stroked his mustache. edo you beat up
recruits for Miss Leighton, Dolly7"
"You have no right to call me Dolly,
Mr.. Temple; and see, Mrs. Leighton is
transfxing me with her formidable eye:
glass;"
IL wonder if you pose, Miss Esdaile7'
said Temple, not needing her last re-
mark; for, by Jove! never saw any
thing so picturesque as you are in that
airy white GOWN, and your lap full of
scarlet WOOL"
Many thanks; but see, the glorious
golden head is reclining on pale blue
much more effective, I assure you"
Effective; yes, in one sense. Like
pumpkin, I should say.'
"Mr. Temple!" and Dolly strove to
look digni6ed, but as the ball rolled
away again half across the room, and
MIR Temple was obliged to make dive
before it disappeared beneath Mrs. Ash
bu1y's voluminous gray silk, the dignity
was failure.
"Do you always take walk on the
beach in the early morning, Miss Es-
dalle?"
Yes, have so far; but if you pre-
fer monopolizing the beach, l will 60 to-
ward Be or y"
"Why not 60 together?"
{" For two excellent reasons; number
one being the improperly of such de-
parture from Leighton rules; number
two"
If number two is no better than num-
Der one, go I will with you tomorrow
morning g, sweet Dolly"
"Number two" repeated Dolly, lean
ing her chin on her hand, and smile
lurking around her month"; number
twol Why, really, it is extremely awk-
ward to confess it, but because do not
want you"
care you in earnest" inquired Harry
Temple so passionately that her eyes
dropped. Had this man, this pet of So
ciety, learned his firt's trade so we'll as
to have such tones at his command?
A little pang went through Dolly's
heart, as she replied, " Why, Of course, "
and the warm gray eyes were lifted to
his.
"There's no getting anywhere near
you, Miss Leighton" were the next
words Dolly heard, and, looking up, she
saw Harry Temples brown head bending
beside the "glorious golden" one, sew
eral footstools having been ruthlessly
kicked over in his progress from Dolly to
Constance. At sight of these helplessly
upturned stools Dolly burst into a fit Of
laughter.
" Miss Esdaile does not resemble that
melancholy hero of one of our late
novels, who never laughed audiblv. -
Dolly heard Constance say to TEMPLE.
Could it be he who was answering? =
"It.isspleasure to hear such a laugh,
however" DouyJWas quite melted bv
this: but Temple continued, cit is such
characteristic one -heartless through
and through"
The room seemed to swim around poor
Dolly, and while the whist table was
drawn out she escaped through the low
French window. Here in the park she
would stay, all night if she chose. The
moon was shining brightly over The
water, and Dolly seated herself on an
old rustic bench just beyond the house
toward the sea.
II hate Leighton and all the Leigh.
tons, and worst of all, Harry Temple
who is as hateful as though he were :
Leightoni to-. I would beg papa, To &c
home tomorrow, only ! know it would
be of no use, he is so delighted to be il
sight of Constance's stupid yellow nod
die. almost wish he would marry her
but what would Marjorie say to that?'
Here Dolly thought she heard footstep
on ''e gravel, but having satisfied her
sell. that it was pure imagination, sh
continued he soliloquy: II am so gla'