Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-11-11
and the laughing eyes looked inquiringly
into the face half shaded by my lustrous

and the laughing eyes looked inquiringly
into the face half shaded by my lustrous
brim.
dolly! child! Don't you know
Can't you understand that you are the
very light of my eyesp 1t will be time
enough fve-yes, ten years hence tC
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,
them
Alasi the right one had come, but
Papa Weaver was ignorant of the fact
while I, unwittingly, was drawn into
this afaire amour!
Dolly sighed softly, and shook her
wealth of shining hair tri6e defantly
as her small white hand gently smoothed
my polished surface. She had removed
me from her fathers head. and was slyiy
examining the sheeny lining that added
so much to my beauty. saw strange
| light in her eyes as she continued to run
her 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 If frightened by her own
words, she quickly replaced me, and,
gliding an arm within that of her in
dulgenE parent, drew him to the door.
as she ratified on:
Come, papa; Twill 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 1t was
no wonder, with her winning, lovable
ways, reminding the bereaved merchant
as she did of the fair girlwife 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
that he 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 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
tions, and ultimately break her heart
and wreck her lie.
Many were the suitors that attempted
to ingratiate themselves, but so vigilant
was my master thus far his daughter
had escaped the Wiles and snares OF
scEeming fortune hunters.
Among other things connected with
the affairs of my owner, I learned that
jast 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
bard struggling and prudence he had
finally secured position in banking
house, with a fair salary, sufficient to
support vile comfortably; but in
sUcl 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
his side, always expressing the deepest
interest in whatever concerned him.
Thus the young people frequently met.
and step by step a tacit understanding
was established, and although no word
of love was interchanged, they read in
each other es enough to satisfy them
selves of the never-dying passion that
existed between them.
But there came 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 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
frequented was the shop of fashionable
hairdresser.
Soon after my entrance into the
Weaver mansion saw and became fa-
miliar with George Errincourt, and I
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
/ came pretty Dolly used me oftentimes
for a shield to hide her bushes and sly
glances from her watchful guardian,
and, ere long, to my astonishment and
ol lar,tl / dQfoofod tho foat fhot tho
tie hand which toyed with my silken
lining was using my interior for
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
(I imagined) 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" /"
This was some time after our first
connection. The very next evening,
instead OF going as usual to the hair
dresser's, he sought first class halter
| nd cfofod 4Fn <,~.r