Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-03-26
DOLLY AND l.


Brusle, stationer. 1t was not very re-
munerative situation, but old MI. Brusle
was kind old man. Mrs. Brusle nice,
laxative old lady, and Dolly Brusle
often came into the shop and stood be-
hind the counter beside me. Dear lit
tie Dolly; she had brown eyes, and Q
dimple on her chin, and she sang like
prima donna. Old Mr.. Brusle and
my father had been friends, and was
not servant only, but privileged
friend as well, and all the excuse l
needed for staying every night WAS
given in the words: IL want to hear the
singing" Well, any one might have
wanted to hear it, for that matter-not
merely q boy who was in love.
Things went on in this way for three
years, when one afternoon, cid Mr..
Brusle, shutting the drawers of his desk
with bang, said:
cts no use, Tom, may as well give
in. I'm not making apenny; and shall
break up the business. The old wo-
man and l can manage on what we
have, with only one child, and ! rest
and stop fidgeting. l suppose Dolly
can teach a little, too, and she can have
some finery in that way. But the old
shop is mockery, and I've known it q
good WHILE"
So that was the end of that Arcadian
time. The stock and fixtures were sold
out, and the shop was turned into n
parlor, and wrote to my uncle in Lon
don, who had promised to take me into
his business, if wished it, and he tele-
graphed:
"Come, next week.
And then one dayI asked Dolly to
walk down into the meadow and see if
the blackberries were ripe. We took
two little baskets, and the berries We're
hanging plump and large and purple
black; but before we picked one l
drew her to quiet place under great
chestnut and put my arm about her
waist, and said
dolly, you know lust how feel. to
you, don't your You know ! love
YOU"
ono ..v,s.i.i up - -. E.,l. -l.-.-.
and took both her tiny hands in
mine
evil you wait for me little while,
Dolly ?" | said. "Will youthink that
am doing my best all the time to bring
the day nearer when l can ask your
father to give you to me?'
eyes, Tom, I'll wait"
"And then we picked the blackber-
ries and went home again through the
meadows.
"Ve'll not speak of it yet Tom," said
Dolly. "At home, mean; they think
me such child yet. / don't want to
break the charm. In time they'll guess
that I'm a woman; and they like you,
Tom"
The evening passed swiftly. l arose
to go.
"God bless you'll" said the old man.
pressed my lips to Dolly's forehead.
In that moment of parting the old
folks thought it only natural. Ana
then was gone. a My trunk had been
at the station for hours. l heard the
whistle of the train; saw the red glare
of the monsters eye; heard the snort
and the tramp. He was ready for me,
and the city and its whirl awaited me.
For while l was bewildered in the
city, then very busy, then flushed with
the prospect of being rapidly sdvanc-
ed, and of being able to ask Dolly to be
my wife sooner than expected. /
wrote her joyous letters. She wrote
pleasant ones back to me. We did not
make them open love letters, but both
understood the love at the bottom Of
them. And so the months glided by.
For the first half year had no holi-
day. Then grudgingly given week
was granted me, and | visited my
friends and had glorious time. Dolly
was lovelier than ever. She walked
over to the station with me when / left
leaning on my arm. TIE train had
not come in yet--the one for London
but the other had set down some pas
sengers from the city. One, q stout
gentlemen of thirty FIVE, dressed in fine
style, having given his portmanteau TO
a porter, advanced to Dolly.
Glow do you do. Miss Brusle?" said
he.
She held out her hand shyly.
How do you do, Mr.. Holly. Tom,
this is Mr.. Holly. Mr.. Holly, Mr..
HearE."
He bowed; 80 did I. But the fellow
had such an air with him that hated
him. How did she know him2 ] had
never seen him before.
"Who is her, asked /, in whisper,
as the porter called Mr.. Holly back for
directions.
"He has something To do with the
opera, think" said Dolly.
Then came the shrek OF the whistle
at the station.
"All in for London" yelled voice.
"Good.by, Tom said Dolly.
"Good-by." said ], but stared ct Mr..
Holly.
you'll be LEFT, Tom,' said Dolly.
| hurried away. / found seat. /
thrust my head out Of the window.
Dolly was walking away on Mr.. Holly's
arm, and his head was very close TO
hers-yery. ! made fool Of myself
next day. ! wrote Dolly an indignant
letter. she wrote me a spirited answer.
demanded an explanation ~ 70 how