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

CHAPTER Nv.
Two years have gone by, and it il
Christmastide at Heathmore. The little
church of St. James has been full o.
would-be helpers in decorating it, bu'
the real work has been done by one pail
of little brown hands, while the vicar
wife, tall, blonde, and insipid, has founc
her duty to consist in preventing a.
many firtations as possible, and in issu
ing as many orders to little Brown Hands
as she can invent.
ooh, Miss Esdaile," gushed forth one
young maiden" oh, Miss Esdaile is il
true that your beautiful sister is coming
to Heathmore for Christmas"
Dolly bowed her head in assent.
And is it really true that she and Mr.
Temple are as devoted as when they were
first married?"
"Why, I hope so," replied Dolly,
gravely.
eyes, but-do you know, Esdaile,
with you first"
"Why nonsense, Louisa!" but the
fingers trembled, and the wreath OF
greens fell to the ground. elbow very
awkward am, to be sure! Will you ask
Mr.. Knight to help me?"
This was the youth whose first symptom
had found vent in pronouncing Dolly
almost as good cricketer as a boy
The symptoms had increased to such an
alarming extent that Dolly only thought
at present was to substitute Louisa fol-
herself
emo one need ever care for me. have
no heart-none left to me now"
"Miss Esdaile!"
Dolly started and exclaimed, "What!
you, MIR. Granger! How very kind OF
you to comeW And her descent from
the ladder was rapid.
"Where is Mrs. Esdaile? have not
found her in the church."
"She must have returned to the vicar
age. She said she was very tired, having
to set things right" and smile played
around Dolly's mouth.
Will you not come with me, and show
me the way, Miss Dolly?"
"How we'll he looks!' thought Dolly,
as she guided him out of the church.
Really, he is quite fine looking"
VIC d1C ClOSC W IuC Cuu1Cu,
you see, Mr.. Granger" Then, turning
toward him, DO you know, it was very
kind of you to come to us for Christmas,
now that you have parish Of your own?'
"Dolly, can you not guess why /
camew
"To see Marjorie and Mr.. Temple,
suppose, or perhaps my papa and Con-
stance"
"And why not to see your
Herbert had drawn her hand within
his arm, and was looking her square in
the face.
II had a higher opinion of you, Mr..
Granger, than to suppose you made use
Of we'll worn compliments"
"Dolly, you know it is not compli-
ment | am paying you. How long is it
since first loved your
$50 long ago that you have forgotten
all about it. Don't talk to me like that,
Mr.. Granger. II lose my respect for
you.''
A shade crossed Herbert Changers
face as he replied:
"Then I have been deceived in you.
| thought you kind and good; womanly,
in fact, and yet you say my love for you
makes you despise me-"
I" No, no, did not say thatv' exclaim-
ed Dolly, eagerly.
"You said what means it. My idea
was that true, noble woman would not
treat mans love with contempt"
"You do not love mel" exclaimed
Dolly, fercely. "Men always think
that they must firt with me or -
"Stop, Dolly! Because there are men
whose opinions on this subject are not as
high as you would have them, must all
suffer?''
"Sufer! you do not look much like
it,"
"Never mind how I look. Icame here
solely to ask for your love, to ask to be
allowed to guard you from all trouble as
far as lies in my power, and an answer
a definite answer-I must have. Dolly,
I ask only for permission to teach you to
love me. May II"
Looking him steadily in the eyes, and
stretching one little hand toward him,
came Dolly's answer, II trust you, Her
bert Granger. That is better than love.
Teach me, if you will. This is my an.
swer."
And if he is content, surely so are we.