The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-12-09

your word, Dolly, child or no child"
Il never promised, John.
ssBut you let me believe that one day
YOU would be my wife. And I've live
on the thought of it, Dolly, ever since
And if this city situation of your:
should break up my life's hope"
Don't hope anything about me
john" brusquely interrupted the girl
"Here comes customer. Please, John
don't stand there any longer, looking
like ghost !"
And honest, broken-hearted John
turned, and went with heavy steps out
to where the wagon stood, and old Roar
was waiting, with housekeeping head
and half-closed eyes.
ct does seem to me-" he muttere6
between his teeth, sthat there is moth
ing left to live for any longer"
| Dolly looked half remorsefully after
him.
sPve almost a mind to call him
back" said she to herself, as she picked
out bunch of white violets for the
newcomer. 81 do like John Deadwood
but l think he has no business to con-
slider himself engaged to me, just be.
cause of that boy-and-girl nonsense.
| Ones ideas change as one gets on In
life"
And Dolly's cheek was like the re-
Fiction of the pink azaleas, as she
thought of Mr. Fitzalan and the tur-
quoise ring that he had given her as a
trothplight.
And Mr.. Frixham came in presently.
"Pve got note from the Sedgewicks,
on Fifth avenue" said he, hurriedly.
''They always order their flowers from
Servoss's, but Servoss has disappointed
them They want the house decorated
for party to-night-there's not min
ute to lose. I've telegraphed to Boil
tons for 100 hundred yards of smilax
and running fern, and 100 scarlet point
settas and 1 think we can manage the
rest ourselves. You had better go at
once, Miss Penfeld, and plan the de-
coration-you have a pretty taste of
your own-and I'll send up the flowers,
with Hodges to help you"
And Dolly went, her mind still on
the turquoise ring, with its band of
virgin gold and its radiant blue stone.
The Sedgewick mansion was brown
stone palace, with plate-glass easements,
and a vestibule paved with blaek-and
orange marble.
Mrs. Sedgewick, stately matron, in
Vatican wrapper and blonde cap, re-
ceived Dolly in the great drawing-room.
ooh !" said she, lifting her eye7glass-
es ; you're from the florists are you?
Well, l know nothing about these things
4 only want the rooms to look elegant.
Tell your husband to spare no expense.
"Mr. Frixham is not my husband, "
said Dolly.
"Your father, then"
"But he isn't my father" insisted
Dolly, half laughing. "He is no rela-
ton at all 1 will tell him, however"
Exactly" said Mrs. Sedgwick. 81
particularly desire plenty ofwhite roses,
as am told they are customary at this
sort of affair. It's an engagement party"
"Indeed!" said Dolly, trying to look
interested.
Between my daughter Clara and AL
fred Fitzalan," said Mrs. Sedgwick, with
conscious complacency.
Dolly said nothing; but the room,
with its huted cornices and lofty ceilings,
seemed to swim around her like the
waves of the sea. And as she went out,
with Mrs. Sedgwick still chatting about
white rose-buds and begonia-leaves, she
passed the halfopen door of a room, all
hung with white velvet, where yellow
tressed beauty sat smiling on low divan,
with Fitzalan bending tenderly above
her.
''He has only been amusing himself
with me-" said Dolly to herself.
There was sharp ache at her heart
but, after all, it was only the sting of
wounded pride. Thank heaven-oh,
thank heaven it was nothing worse than
that.
Honest John Deadwood was driving
old Roam steadily and soberly along past
the patch of woods, where the velvet
messed bouIders lay like dormant beasts
of prey in the spring twilight, when
grey shadow glided out of the other
"John !" she whispered.
ODDLY it's never you ?"
eyes, John" said the girl steadily and
gently. Pm going back home with you"
"God bless you, Dolly!" said the
young man fervently.
''For good and all, John if you'll take
me, said Dolly, shyly. I've had quite
enough of city life and I'll help you
with the greenhouses, and I'll try to be |
good little housekeepera at home. Shall
[, John? ?"
John put his arm around her, and
Rugged her up to his side.
Darling p said he, huskily, ''its |
most too good news to be true; but i'll
my word is worth anything, you shall
never regret your decision of this day"
So the pretty girl vanished out of the
bower of smilax and rosebuds. The |
Sedgewick mansion wasn't decorated at |
all, and Mr.. Frixam had lost his new
customer. And the turquoise ring came
back to Mr. Fitzalan in a blank envel- |
ope.