The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-06-28

DrOWs. Keep SUI Tor lew minutes
very still, mind"
And Norah, shifting her weight from one
foot 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 rhetori-
cal effect.
"Will that do ~ she asked.
And Norah, clasping her hands in delight,
answered:
"Och, miss, an book print itself couldn't
be finer An if yen sign it Your own true
love, Mike'il know who it is, true and GER
tain"
"There is mammals bell ~ said Dolly, sud-
denly. run, Norahl Wen inclose the
letter in an envelope and post it after dinner.
There has been qaite enough time wasted in
love-letter writing already"
And then she sat down and fell into sort
of half-conscious reverie.
can the girls have lovers" she said, to
herself; "eyen poor Norah, who can Meth
er read nor write, They all have lovers ex-
cept me! Oh, wonder--how it would
seem to have a loyer?n
And instinctiyely her thoughts wandered
off to Bolton Bellew, the handsome, pale.
browed young artist, whose studio was on
the next street.
"Ah," she pondered she thinks of moth
ing but his art He has no time to dream
of Lowell And if he had, l am scarcely vain
enough to fancy that he would care for mel !"
And Dolly Brooke cried little, she did
not know why. But when she came up
stairs after dinner, the love-letter was gone.
Dolly looked around her with frightened
face. The easement window was open a
little way to admit the fresh March sunshine,
and she CO III only imagine that the breeze
had whirled the sheet out of the window.
Poor Norahl" thought Dolly. "She
shall not be disappointed.
And so she sat down and wrote il all over
again as nearly as she could recollect the
impassioned phrases, inclosed it in an envel-
ope, and directed it, circumstantialy, to
Mr.. Michael Mullany, Blaney Hill, County
Roscommon, Ireland"
And then she herself CARRIED tito the post
box on the corner directly under the VIM
dow of Mr.. Bellows studio. While Billy and
Johnny, in the wood-shed at the end of the
garden, were giggling over the first copy of
poor Norah's tender effusion.
"We'll kill two birds with one stone,"
said the precocious Billy, whose rancor had
been heightened by Dolly's refusal to give
him three helpings of raspberry jam Mt din
ner, oven make an April Fool of that
Bellew fellow that comes prowling around
to see Dolly, and we'll play jolly game ON
herl"
And Johnny, sitting hugging his knees on
the floor, chuckled aloud at the prospect.
The first of April dawned, chill, and bleak,
and showery, like anything but the bright
precursor of spring, and Mr.. Bellew was
just settling to work on MAID Marian
when the postman raped loudly at the
door, and letter directed in Johnny's
school-boy chirography was handed in.
Bellew broke it open in some bewilder-
ment but his face lighted up when he saw
the well-known writing within What had
he carried a scrap of Dolly's writing
mere formula for some social game which
they had played at her house around in his
breast-pocket for six weeks not to know it
now?
My Own SWEETHEART" 1t read, :" am
resolved at last to cast aside all false pride,
and confess how dear you are to me. If it
lowers me in your opinion, l can but accept
my lot in silence but if you viii write to
tell me that your heart indeed responds
(Norah had especially exulted on this par
ticular expression, as being "just exactly
what she wanted Mike to understand y
=" shall be the happiest girl in America
And SO l sign myself
FOREVER YoUR Own True Low"
Which latter somewhat abrubt fashion of
ending had also been the result of Norah's
fervent entreaty.
He'll like it best, miss" she had said
"he will indeed"
Bolton Bellew read the letter over once,
twice, three times.
s.Am / dreaming?", he asked himself
The sweet darling she has read my secret
soul / must have worn my heart on my
sleeve for davis to peck at Write, indeed |
will go to her at once-this hour, this very
second |"
And, leaving "Maid Marian staring at
the uncertain sunshine with only one side of
her left eyebrow painted in, Mr.. Bellew
rushed straight to the old brown-brick house,
where Dolly was trimming her hyacinths
at the window, in bewitching little pink
gingham morning dress, with black velvet
bows fastened on it here and there.
"Mr. Bellew! she exclaimed with the
prettiest surprise, as honest Norah, with her
face one broad smile, showed him into the
parlor.
ODDLY" he exclaimed breathlessly, hold
ing out his hands my own darlng!"
Dolly turned pink and then pale.
81 don't understand You, Mr. Bellew,"
said she.
Mr.. Bellows countenance fell.
"Didn't you write this letter." he de-
manded, holding it out, with blank express
sion of face.
Yes" said Dolly, glancing over the fa-
miliar words in extreme amazement 81
wrote it. But--but I don't know how il
ever came into your hands !"
"You sent it to me" said the artist.
''No, didn't" cried Dolly, bursting into
tears. CAS- If could ever send such let
ter rs that to gentleman! II don't
know how You could think so i'll of me as
thati"
ODDLY" faltered poor Bolton Bellew,
"didn't you mean it2 Don't you really
care for me 2"
whether / meant it or not, don't signi-
fly sobbed Dolly, with her face still hidden
behind her handkerchief
"Oh, but it does!" said Mr.. Beilew, gent
ly obtaining possession of one of her hands.
Because, Dolly, love you dearly And
II you won't love me back, very little,
shall be wretched all my life don't think
/ ever should have had courage to tell You
this, darling, but now feel SO brave that ]
am determined not to leave this place with.
out q definite answer"
How they settled 1t nobody ever precisely
knew. not even Billy. who had his mischiey-