The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-02
TAKEN BY SURPRISE.

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"It seems good, after all-now don't It.
Patty ITO have the house lighted up agln,
though It's made a deal OF work and con-
siderable fuss and trouble for just a day But
folks will have their whims; and IL isn't often
my folks Is whlmsful, 80 l don't complain,
and know you don't, Patty"
mo, Mrs. Dobson," said good-natured Pat
ty; "I'm willing 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 slelghing as
there be this year. and In the evening the
German. And what time Is the supper to-
night, Mrs. Dobson 7"
''Half-past TO-" replied the housekeeper,
'tand here IL is q quarter of ., 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 70 French cookery and never
shall It's my idea that frogs and crokits and
mynice is delterious TO Americans that was
brought up on the May'lower, and baked
beans, and good still pumpkin pie. And
the cold bills through the drivin' wind In that
great straw-ridge sledge OF Great's-the only
thing that could be pitched upon to hold six
teen; and there's sixteen coming, all told.
who Miss .Dollys partner is2 II It's that
pretty, eurly-hea Mr.. Ned Berton, don't
blame her goln' agin Mr.. Derwent little.
Now, what does make Mrs. Derwent hate Mr.
II can tell you," said Mrs. Dobson; "'tis
because she has got another husband in her
eye for Miss Dolly. II she has, what bizness
is't Of mine2 What bizness is't Of yours,
Patty2 You ought to know better than to be
meddling with the affairs of your betters-
young thing like you"
Whereupon the gossips parted, Mrs. Dobson
to go down stairs and watch the salad dress
ing lin which even to her satisfaction the
French cook played the prescribed third part
of "a mailman to stir 1t up'1 and Patty to go
UP stairs for last look at Miss Dolly's ROOM
which was all in order, and ''like baby
house.. 50 Patty thought. for ounnin'
things"
A real girls room it was. though Dolly was
young lady grown, eighteen her last birth
day, and "out" this winter. As Patty fitted
around the room, feather buster In hand, and
fingered fondly Mt the ''duohesse," as Mrs.
Derw called the lace-draped toilette whose
mirror was bestuck with cards and photo
graphs, card dropped from somewhere and
liz 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 II the array
came tumblng down like o card-house there
was no putting 1t up again to cheat Miss
Dolly.
She looked at the memento ruefully. 1t
was large card, with gray crest in the
corner and a few written lines. She turned
IL over On that side too, there was writing,
but In different colored ink. and much finer
Patty could not read handwriting, but she
shall try to put 1t back In the mirror, and
perhaps push down the others, or, perhaps,
put it in the wrong. place, SO Miss Dolly Will
know have been touching them? No; I'll
just stand 1t up, this way. with the crest side
outward, right in front of the pin-eushion,
and she'll see 1t and know It's bern.
Then Patty took her last look at the pet
room, turned down the lights, and shut the
door, and went, with less enthusiasm,
fore long the great sledge with Its six horses
and its hundred bells and its merry people
came rushing and iingling 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, IL was discovered there were
seventeen guests instead OF the sixteen pro-
vlded for; and Miss Dolly, with her eyes
hair tiuffing up around her forehead and tall
ing in glittering streams upon her fur-lined
cloak that she tossed back like white wings,
until she looked like an angel in a picture,
only more sO-stood in the passage and saic.
"Well, then, Patty, give some one my room,
and will go with Cousin Emily And Patty,
with natural instinct of attraction for the
sspretty curly-headed Mr.. Ned Berton,' won't
straight to him first, and said Would you
please take Miss Dolly's room and I'll show
YOU the way" Mr. Berton, without uttering
word, but looking, as Patty said afterwards,
t'just caught up and fiuttered," did as he was
bid.
the clock struck 10, good nights were said,
and the guests were all locked In their cham
bers to seek the slumbers that should make
them quite fresh for the delightful morrow.
And at midnight Fred Berton, In sort OF
awe, stood in Dolly's room. with his hand
upon his heart looking about him. and say
ing, beneath his breath, This is hers, then,
and given to me! l am glad no other fellow
mas IL. | believe would knock down any
sleep IN IL or who dared to take long look
az H. Dolly, my darling angel l hardly
dare to sleep in it myself il Is so sacred
suppose she fixes her hair there" he glanced
~ we nlne and white toilet. "And suppose,
ne not only glanced at but kissed the blue and
white coverlet Dolly was Neds first love,
and he adored her. II don't think / shall
slsep to-nlghL or II DO twill be to dream of
ing; for l know very weli-and surely to-
night have better reason to know if than
eveI H.. ~ loveis hopeless. What is this? MY
.ai. TIE eye ned caught the crested card set
against the pin cushion, He approached and
read 1t without lifting it, recognizing his own
handwriting. "Ah, he sighed, 81 remember
Ine DAY gave that to Dolly, more than a
year ago-yess for 1t was at Christmas time.
anu now lt Is February. / slipped it into her
I m as she passed through the hall. at the
4 Dalh m breakfast, with that detestabe Eus-
US sfee , aard saw her blush quickly before
fh;n so ~ ~ now Well she knew had some
unlhhg Ior herl l believe Dolly and l could
MAKE each other understand anything with.
oul WORD or whisper. "A word to the wise,