Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-10-21

X
ter in Philip Bertram's company, began
to entertain higher views for her, and
when young Mr.. Dinsmore, son of the
president of the village bank, began to
drop in of an evening with the evident
intention of seeing Dot, though he ask,
| ed for her father, poor Phillip began to
be treated coldly, and at last was for.
hidden the house.
Had Dots mother been living things
would have been different, for her sterl-
ing good sense would have carried the
day against her husbands sudden infla.
ton of feeling caused by their good for.
tune. But since his wife's death, Mr..
Ingraham had no one to influence him,
for he considered Dot mere child to be
petted and governed as though she
was five years of age, instead of a we'll
grown girl of 49, of more than ordinary
capacity and good sense.
Affairs went on this way for several
months. Mr.. Dinsmore's calls grew
more frequnt and strong pressure was
brought to bear upon Dot to make her
listen to his suit, which was now open
ly declared. She had tried to dis
courage him by treating him with
marked GOODNESS and Indifference, but
he would not take repulse and her life
was growing to be an unhappy one, her
fathers conversation being principally
upon::the perfections of her suiter, whom
at heart, she cordially detested, though
doing her best to treat him with courte-
sy.
Philip knew of his constant visits and
heard rumors of an engagement. He
grew gloomy and morose and when he
CHANGED to meet Dot would pass her in
a way which made her poor little heart
ache.
So things went on from bad to worse,
until Dot would have been glad if her
inheritance had been sunk in the sea.
At last another actor appeared youn-
ger girl, who created quite sensation
in the quiet village. She was from a
city in the far West and was very pref
ty and knew just what colors to choose
for her toilet to set off the tints of her
glowing brunette complexion.
Dots heart felt like lead in her bosom
when one day she met the stranger
walking jauntily by Philips side. She
was shortly afterward introduced to her
and for few moments hateful spirit
suggested that she should make herself
disagreeable but she resolutely put the
temptation away from her and appeared
her own natural, loving self. She soon
ceased to wonder at Philips evident
pleasure in Miss Belmont's society. She
was SO frank and cheerful and sparkling
in her conversation that she was won
fiom her prejudice and they grew to be
friends.
1t was not long before Kate Belmont
knew the true state of Dots feeling to-
ward Dram Dinsmore, though Philips
name was as sealed book between
them. Dot loved him as dearly as ever
and the very intensity of her feelings
for him made heristrangely shy of men
tioning him to even her dearest friend.
1t was great surprise when Kate
said to her one day, half jestingly:
"How strange that you don't like
great fancy to him but have studiously
rumor gave him to you; and thinking
want to play with edged TOOLS But if
you don't love him shall adopt differ.
ent tactics-for 1 think he is perfectly
splendid ~
"What is meat to one is poison to
another. How true those old adages
are! I don't think he cares for me. He
never looked at me before I became
rich. I wish old Jared Ingraham had
left his money to some one else !"
"Jared Ingraham," said Kate, mus
ingly. "Where have I heard that name?
Oh, know. I have the dearest old
friend out West and it's her love story
which that name has brought to my
mind. Something happened to separate
them when they were both very young,
and she left her friends and settled in
the West. But she always remained
single and to this day is true to the me-
mory of her love. By-the-by, her
name is most the same as yours, only
it's Dorothy Ingraham, instead Of
Dot.u
why" said Dot, "my name is Do
rothy They only called me Dot for
short"
"I wonder if you and Miss Ingraham
are related to each other? I am quite
sure that Jared Ingraham was her low
er's name. If it was the same person
doesn't it seem strange that he should
have left his money to q young chit
like you, begging your ladyship's par
don, instead of to his faithful old love" f"
Dots face was a study as Kate ratified
on. 1t fairly shone.
"Kate," said she. II see it all! I am
an interloper. Isn't it nice? The will
said give and beneath to my dear
cousin, Dorothy Ingraham-that's all
can remember verbatim, but that's
enough. All the law terms in the world
wouldn't make it any palmer to me-
We all thought it strange that he should
have left it to me when he never had
paid me the slightest attention when he
was alive; but the lawyer said that tC
his knowledge there was no other per.
son of that name, so must be the one
Give me your friends address and I'll
soon get to the bottom of the matter"
I'll give it to you of cohrse, but first
promise me not to say any thing about
it until you are sure"
II will keep silent until you give me
permission to speak," said Dot.
She wrote at once to the old lady, aD(
in due time received reply which con
| firmed her suspicious. So she immedi
atelv began to put things in train M
Miss Ingraham should receive he
rights.
A month had hardly gone by when
much to Dots amusement, Mr.. Dins
more called and requested private in
tervlew with her. She had noticed hi
growing fOndness for Miss Belmont
society and half suspect ed the denou
ment.
AS she went into the room he rose t,
meet her and for the first time Dot fel
g motion of sincere liking and respec
enter the heart for him. Under thr in