The Worthington advance., 1882-04-27
TIE FIRST OF APRIL,

TIE FIKST OF APRIL
mol" sighed Mr.. Belton Bellew, defect.
edly, % he mixed q little moro burnt umbel
ON his palette for the nut.brown trefses of
tho Maid Marian" that he was putting on
canvas, "she don't love mel She can't! Ne
woman ever yet treated . man 20, II she
cared two straws for him."
But it was not Of Maid Marian he was
thinking; it was Of Dolly Brooke, the pret
II girl whose mother had rented the old
brown brick house at the corner Of the
street, and whose eyes are so blue and
sparkling and yet SO cruelty cold.
He had been introduced to her, and met
her great many times that winter. He
had even danced With her at the Blue Bell
ans, and stood beside her In the Vireiuia
Reel.
He did ot'think, from her manner that
she absolutely dishked him, but he was
very sure that she did not care for him.
And this unreasonable young artist medt'
hims, II miserable accordingly.
She is such q darliug!" he said to him
self--such human rosebud, with coloring
in her hair such as Titan never dreamed
of, and eyes that Salv.tor Rosa would have
painted in ultra arine with ses. blue
shadows! But ~lee is the use of m.
moaning about her? I'd better accep,
Raymond's offer. and 20 to Rome with hin,
even il have to srArve there in garrett
At will perhaps smile on me, but Doll
Brooke. never Wilt
And he painted on, resentfully dabhi {
away at Maid Mara rs" round nose. vita
. heart as heavy as if it were moulded il
lead. Wills at that very moment, Dolly
Brooke Cher Chr: stian name was Dorothea)
was dust'ng the parlor at home, with her
head tied up in blus cambria sweeping.
cap and her lovely cheeks heightened with
true feminine exercise; while Norah, the
help. stood meek]y in the doorway. With a
scrubbing brush in her hand.
Yes, il yon please, miss!" said Norah.
"A letter from Mike-an, il you please to
answer It, miss, for not a wurred can
write!"
Dolly left Of polishing tho base Of the
little siatuette Of Crree, and looked at No.
rAh, with prettily puzzled expression Of
countenance.
But, Norah, said she, how absurd ali
this is! How can answer Michael's letter? :?
How shall know what to say to him?"
Sure, miss" said Norah, her honest
eyes tightening up, an that's aisy enough
Justtel him, in fne, scholarly writing.
miss, that love him with all my heart
That's what want him to understand, miss j;
for, sure, he amt quiet in his mind about
it. an he's way of IN County Roscommon,
Ireland"
Very we'll, said Dolly, half smiling a..
the idea. "1ll try. Come to my room in
half an hour, Norah."
And Dolly. inexorable locked out her two
little brothers, who were enraged at theli
being debarred from the FUN of hearing
Norahs love- letter"
~Go about your business, boys" eaid
Dolly. severely. "It's no affair Of yonrs "
Johnny and Billy looked Indignantly 1T
one another.
"We'llserve her out!" said johnny.
Wen let he. know!' enihmatically re.
sponded Billy.
And these young lads, with their cbiI 9
balanced on the garden wall. like Raphael s
cherups, betook themselves to throwing
stones at the cat, while they consulted as
to the special variety Of Nemesis which
should be visited on Dol]y's unconscious
head.
Il have got i'll" said Johnny, shifting his
leg, atlast.
"Eh?" said Billy.
Wen make An April fool Of herl" shout
ed Johnny.
Yes; but how9" said Billy.
"Ah-h:h!" said Johnny. You always
was : '0ftg' Bill; I'll tellyeu by:and::by. %
*Now, Norah," said Dolly, seated at the
table with the fresh sheet of paper. the new
steel pen and standish Of violet ink before
her, how are We to begin7 Dear Mixer "
Sure, miss, said Norah, who was stand.
ing respectfully near the door, with clean
calico apron, AN amt that too plain like? /?
Make it little sweeter, miss-the saints be
good to you! An just tell him I love him
true, though I haven't told him so before,
and III be constant to him to the wurreld's
end There!"
Very we!l!" said Dolly, contracting her
brows. Keep still for few minutes very
still. mind!"
And Norah. shifting her weight from one
loot to the other, scarcely dared to breathe.
until at last Dolly flung aside the pen and
pushed back her chair, reading out what
she had composed With all the grace of
rhetorical effect.
win that do2" she asked.
And Nolah, clas. ling he hands in DELIGHT.
answered:
Och, miss, an book-print itself couldn',
be finer! An it yell sig 70 it your own true
love, Mikeu know who 1t is true and ce1-
lnin,"
There is mammals bell," said Doll,
suddenly. Ron, Norah! Wen inclose
the letter In an envelope, and post it after
dinner. There has been quite enough time
wasted IN iove-letter writing already"
And then rhe sat down, and foil into q
sort OF hall. conscious feverie.
All the R1rIs lave lovers" she said. to
herself: even poor Norah, who can neithe,
iead nor write! They all have lovers ex-
except me! "Oh, I wonde1-I wonder how
1t would seem to have q lover7"
And instinctively her thoughts wandered
on to II Belton Bellew. the handsome, pale
proved young artist, whose studio was on
tho next street.
"Ah, shs pondered, he thinks of moth.
Ing. but his artl He has no time to dream
OF lovel And it he had, am scarcely vain
enough to fancy that he would care for
And Dolly Brooke crisd q little. she did
not know why. Bnt when she came M
stairs after dinner, the love.lotter was gone.
Dolly looked around her with fright.
ened face. The easement window was
open little way to admit the fresh March
sunshine, and she could only imagine the
breeze had Whirled the sheet out Of the
window.
Poor Norah!' thought Dolly. "she shall
not be disappointed"
And 90 she sat down and wrote it all over
again % near as she could recollect the in. .
passioned phrases, enclosed it in an envel-
ops. and directed it circumstantialiy, to
MI. Michael Mullany. Blaney Hill, Coun-
ty Roscommon, Ireland"
And then she herself carried to the post
box on the corner. directly under the win
dove Of Mr.. Bellows studio; while Billie
and Johnny. in the wood shed at the end
OF the garden, were gigeling over the first
copy OF poor Norah's tender effuson.
wen kill two birds with ono stone. "
said the precious Billy, whose rancor had
been heightened by Dolly's refusal to give
him three helpings Of raspberry jam at din.
ner: Wen make an April fool of that
bellew fellow that comes prowline around
to see Dolly. and we'll play a jolly game on
And Johnny. sitting huReinR his knees
on the hoor, chuokled aloud at the pros
pect.
.
= The first Of April dawned chill and bleak
and shovery, like anything but the bright
precursor Of spring, and Mr.. Bellew was
lust setting to work on maid Marian y