The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-11-11
and the laughing eyes looked inquiringly
into the face half shaded by my lustrous

brim.
dolly child! Don't you knowF
Can't you understand that you are the
very light of my eyesP 1t will be time
enough five-yes, ten years hence to
think of encouraging the attentions OF
beaux. Recollect, you are barely seven
teen-not old enough to know your own
mind be patient, little puss, and when
the right one comes and sanction, why,
then"
Alas! the right one had come, but
Papa Weaver was ignorant of the fact,
while |, unwittingly, was drawn into
this afaire d amourl
Dolly sighed softly, and shook her
wealth of shining hair trife defiantly
as her small white hand gently smoothed
my polished surface. She had removed
me from her fathers head, and was slyly
examining the sheeny lining that added
so much to my beauty. saw strange
light in her eyes as she continued to run
Der slender fingers deity under the
plant crimped silk.
"Ohi" she exclaimed, "I like this
beaver ever so much more than the old
one."
Then, as il frightened by her own
words, she quickly replaced me, and,
gliding an arm within that of her in
dulgenJ parent, drew him to the door,
as she ratified on:
"Come, papa; will not wait min
ute longer. You promised if l would
not ride with Mr.. Dorsay you would
take me to the opera, and it is time"
1t did not require much penetration
to find out the power this only child
welded over her fond father, and it was
no wonder, with her winning, lovable
ways, reminding the bereaved merchant
as she did of the fair girl-wife who won
his heart in the long ago, and who died
in the zenith of her promising woman
hood, leaving him Dolly, the sole pledge
of mutual love. Was it any wonder
that ne worshiped his lovely daugh-
terp
After my first introduction to the
| family of my master, always accom-
panied him, and soon became familiar
with his habits. AS l have said, fire.
quently when alone in his own apart
ments he would express his sentiments
aloud. In this way | became acquainted
with the fears which beset him on
account of his child--fears that some
polished sharper might win her affec-
tions, and ultimately break her heart
and wreck her liie.
Many were the suitors that attempted
to ingratiate themselves, but so vigilant
was my master thus far his daughter
nad escaped the wiles and snares of
scEeming fortune hunters.
Among other things connected with
the affairs of my owner, learned that
| Just before Mr.. Weaver retired from
trade he had employed private secre-
| tary, or amanuensis, to assist him in
! the arduous task of winding up his
| business.
George Errincourt was a young man
| OF distinguished appearance, and pos
sessed more than ordinary ability. By
hard struggling and prudence he had
| finally secured a position in banking
house, with fair salary, sufficient to
support vile comfortably; but in
suca comparatively humble circum
Stances he dared not express open ad
miration for the daughter of the retired
merchant.
| Long before my event, and during the
hours he ac'ed as secretary to Mr..
Weaver, he was thrown often into
| Dolly's fascinating presence, as such
was her devotion to her father it was
| seldom she remained long away from
interest in whatever concerned him.
Thus the young people frequently met,
and step by step tacit understanding
was established, and although no word
of love was interchanged, they read in
each others e. es enough to satisfy them
selves of the never-dying passion that
existed between them.
! But there came a time when the SER
vices OF the secretary were no longer
needed, and there was no longer an ex-
cuse for Errincourt's visits.
Then came the anxious hours that for
ever have, and for ever will disturb the
current of true love. There is, how
ever, nothing SO inventive as this same
tender passion. In this case, as in thou
sands of similar character, the woman
was first to discover a soothing remedy.
| Dolly, pretty madcap Dolly, was not be-
hind her sisters in this inventive faculty,
while |, poor innocent! was the silent
instrument in her hands to further her
woman's purpose.
Among the places my master often
irequented was the shop of a fashionable
hairdresser.
Soon after my entrance into the
Weaver mansion | saw and became ia.
miliar with George Errincourt, and
am quite sure / suspected the existence
of the love that sprung up between
them before the two lovers were as
sured of it themselves, for soon after
l came pretty Dolly used me oftentimes
for shield to hide her bushes and sly
| glances from her watchful guardian,
and, ere long, to my establishment and
alarm, | detected the fact that the iG-
| tie hand which toyed with my silken
{ lining was using my interior for a
, strangely contraband purpose.
This caused me to be constantly on
the watch. | soon began to understand
when Mr.. Weaver entered the hair
dresser's establishment why one of the
assistants was on the alert, and always
ready to seize me and give me careful
brushing, and as soon as this was done
set me down near to the seat occupied
by George Errincourt, who also took
great interest in me, handling me with
Il imagined) a loving tenderness.
But everything earthly must come to
an end.
The finest beaver ever made, no mat.
ter how carefully it may be treated, in
the course OF time will grow rusty and
need ironing. In spite of the sedulCus
notice given by the officious assistant,
and even pretty Miss Dolly herself,
began to show the Iavages of usage.
My master at last observed this, and
one morning heard him mutter:
| must have my beaver renovated y
This was some time after our first
connection. The very next evening,
instead OF going as usual to the hair
dresser's, he sought tirst-class halter
and stated the case.
The halter turned me over and over
with his huge hands, and finally said to
my owner: