St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-07-01
ST. JOHNSBURY, VT, FRIDAY, JULY l, 1881.

81 can wait, Dan. Yes"-with a
mischievous little laugh-''I can wait
until am as old as Aunt Lorinda."
"God forbid, love !" he said, catching
her in his arms and kissing her sweet
lips. "And now good-by; am going
away again tomorrow, to be gone l
can not tell you how long. Oh, Dolly,
Heaven speed the time when a little
wife shall be waiting with the old
father and mother at the stone cottage
to welcome me home "
She raised herself on tiptOe, clasped
his face between her two tiny hands,
gazed into his eyes with a wealth of
tenderness in her own, and said, 'WhO
knows Good fortune may ut this very
moment be on its way to u.s."
And the very next day, January 3,
1880, rs Dorothy, with crimson shawl
thrown over her head, was out in the
garden scattering crumbs on the snow
for the sparrOws, she heard the jingle
of sleigh bells and Farmer Beers came
down the lane with a sled-load of
wood. "Mornin', Miss Dorothy" he
called, as he reined up to the back
gate. "Here's letter for you. They
thought it might be important, at the
office, and so, knowin' how keerful
be, and that | was comm this way,
they asked me to fetch it to you" And
the old man tossed the letter over the
hedge, into the girls outstretched
hands, and drove off.
"a letter for me ~ said Dolly, in
tones of the greatest amazement.
"Why, | never received letter before
i'll all my life ~ Then she turned it
about, and inspected it curiOusly. The
envelope was a common large yellow
one, and bore the printed address of a
law firm in an adjoining city, as well
as her own address, written in plain
legal hand. ''Who can it be from ?'
wondered Dolly and then opened it,
to find her question but partly an
swered. A sheet of blue paper and Il
smaller envelope were inclOsed. The
paper contained, in the same hand
, which had addressed the letter, these
lines
"MiSs Dorothy Waldo
"DEAR MADAM.-We send You the
accompanying check in compliance
with orders received to that effect from
IL client i'll Europe whose interests in
this country we represent. Please ac-
knowledge receipt.
"'Your obedient servants,
''FIND & PROVE.
"January | 1880"
DOlly's lovely eyes opened to their
widest extent. "a check - she ex-
claimed, and with trembling fingers
tore open the second envelope, which
was also addressed to her, but i'll a
different, more elegant hand; and sure
enough there was Il check-a check t0r
thousand dollars, payable to the order
of Miss Dorothy Waldo. And on a
slip of paper which had kept it com
pany were these words: "In payment
for Il slice-a very large slice-of bread
! and butter" And that's all the young
!. girl ever knew about it.
For one moment she stood dazed
with JOY and astonishment. The next
: she thought of Dan. Perhaps he had
not started yet. How could she get t.
him through the deep snow Sleigh
: bells again. Farmer Beers coming
: back without the wood. She ran out
= into the lane. "Oh, do take me with
: You " she cried to the great surprise
of the honest old fellow 81 must SEE
: Dan-Mr. Howell, | mean. | mast set
y him as soon as possible"
"Jump right in, my dear" said tn,
; old man, 'and I'll have you at til,
stone cottage in a jitfy."
- Away they went, the gray mare max
!. ing excellent time-fOr her and a,
y they neared the house, Dolly caugh
!, sight of Dan just leaving it.
y "Dan Dan !" she called, her clea
! young voice ringing on the cold air
II and madly waved her crimson shawl
Dan turned, saw the bright flag an,
! her sweet face below it, and cam
y bounding over the snow in time to re
ccive her in his arms as she jumpe,
= from the sled.
I "YOu couldn't-nO, not if yO
" guessed forever" she said, half cryin
!, and half laughing -"you couldn't CUES
what brought me here this morning.
= "Whatever it was, Heaven bless it
=. " thousand times" said her lover.
IN ~ at is-leap-year, you know, Dan"
n eyes, now think of it, it is. But
E can't be possible you have come her
- to propose to me ?n
u, every possible indeed" answere
IL Dolly, slowly and deliberately. "M
Daniel Howell, will you marry me ?"
2, "Mr. Daniel Howelrs" only repl
lG was to fold her in so close an embraC
l that, being the tinicst of maidens, sl
almost disappeared from view.
II. "And has Miss Cross" he begaI
Of when the pretty blushing face, all din
lK !, pied with smiles, was again raised
J. his own.
$, 'NO, she has not" interrupted Doll.
'd ''She knows nothing about it. But it
III all right, Dan," carefully tucking som'
thing with her dainty left hand-Da
n, held the right-into the breast pock'
Ill of his OvercOat. "You may come an
er see Aunt Lorinda as soon as you chOos
ld You didn't know it, Dan dear, bl
ct you've got a thousand dollars" Ha
ei per's Weekly.
I'll
Arctic Sunshine.