The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-05-30


Some heat for such should not mind;
You wouldn tit you knew.
Kate Clark, in Springfield (Hass.) Republican.
TAKEN By SURPRISE.
1T seems good, after all-now don't
it, Patty?-to have the house lighted up
agin, though it's made deal of work
and considerable fuss and trouble for
Just day. But folks will have their
whims; and it isn't often my folks is
whimskuI, so l don't complain, and
know you don't Patty"
mo, Mrs. Dobson,' said good
natured Patty; "rm willin' to work,
and take pride in fixin' up for Miss
Dolly; it's her party, you know. And
Jacques tells ME all the young ladies
is to bring their own partners.
There'll be 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 tonight,
Mrs. Dobson?"
Half past ten,' replied the house.
keeper; land 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: it's my idee that frogs and
crokk;ts and myniece is del'terious to
Americans that was brought up on the
Mayflower, and baked beans, and good
stiff pumpkin pie. And they II have an
appetite for it, ridin' across the cold
hills through the drivin' wind in that
great straw-ride sledge of CATER s.
the only thing that could be pitched
upon to hold sixteen; and there's six
teen comm, all told.''
Dear me"' said Patty. "And
wonder who Miss Dolly's pardner is?
If it's that pretty, curly-headed Mr..
Ned Berton, dom blame her for goin'
agin Mrs. Derwent little. Now what
does make Mrs. Derwent hate Mr..
Ned?-and she do hate him in dead
earnest"
Il can tell you,'' said Mrs. Dobson;
Its because she has got another hus-
band in her eye for Miss Dolly. But if
she has, what bizness is't of miner
What bizness is't of yours, Patty? You
ought to know better than be medlling
with the affairs of your betters-a
young thing like YOU"
Whereupon the gossips parted, Mrs.
DObson to go down stairs and watch
the salad-dressing-in which even to
her satisfaction the French cook played
the prescribed third part of "a mad
man to stir it up''-and Patty to go up
stairs for last look at Miss Dolly's
room, which was all in order, and
like a baby house, SO Patty thought,
"for cunnin' things"
A real girls room it was, though
Dolly was ayoung lady grown, eighteen
her last birthday, and tout" this win
ter. AS Patty fitted around the room,
feather duster in hand, and fingered
fondly at the duchesse," as Mrs. Der
went called the lace-draped toilette,
and photographs, card dropped from
someWhere and lighted upon the blue
pin-cushion. Patty lifted it, 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 tumbiing down like a
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 few written lines.
She turned it over. On that side, too,
there was writing, but in different-col-
ored 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 per-
haps put it in the wrong place, so Miss
Dolly will know have been touching?
No; I'll Just stand it up, this sUay, 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, and 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 hun
dred bells and its merry people, came
rushing and jingling 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 moment it was
discovered that there were seventeen
guests instead of the sixteen provided
for; and Miss Dolly-beautiful Miss
Dolly, with her eyes shining as bright
as stars, and her silken yellow hair fluff
fing 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, swell, then Patty,
give some one my room, and will 90
with Cousin Emily" And Patty, with
natural instinct of attraction for the
.'pretty curly. headed Mr.. Ned Bur.
ton" went straight to him first, and
said, would you please, sir, take
Miss Dolly's roomP and I'll show you
the way" And Mr.. Ned Berton, with
out uttering q word, but looking, a
Patty said afterward, "just caught ur
and fiuttered." did as he was bid.
Then there was supper; and by the
time the clock struck twelve, good
nights were said. and the guests were al
locked in their chambers to seek the
slumber that should make them ouitx
fresh for the delightful morrow.
And at midnight Ned Berton. in 8
sort of awe, stood in Dolly's room. with
his hand upon his heart, looking abou,
him, and saying, beneath his breath
"This is hers, then, and given to me!
am glad no other fellow has it. / be
lieve would knock down any othe1
fellow who had this room, who dares
to sleep in it, or who dared to take
long look ut it. Dolly, my darlin,
angel! hardly dare to sleep in it my
sell, it is SO sacred-I suppose she fxc
her hair there;" he glanced at the blu
ana white toilet. 'And suppose sh'
kneeis down and says her prayer
nere; ne not only glanced at but h
Esssed the blue and white coverlet
Dolly was Nets first love, and b,
adored her. II don't think I shall
sleep tonight, or, if l do, twill Do 4