The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-04-27
THE FIKSTOF APRIL,


woman ever yet treated man so, if she
cared two straws for him"
But it was not Of Maid Marian he was
thinking; it was CT Oily Brooke, the pset
ty girl whose mother Lad rented the old
brown Trick house at the corner Of the
street. and whose CS>s are so blue and
sparkling and yet SO cruelty cold.
He had been introduced 10 her, and met
her great many times that winter. He
had even danced With her at the Blue Bell
ociables, held her hand in the Caledoui-
ans, and stood beside her in the virginia
Reel.
He did not think, from her manner TINT
she absolutely Gishked him, but he was
very sure that she cil not care for him.
And this unreasonable young artist made
himsslf miserable accordingly.
"She is such a larling!' he said to him.
self-'such human rosebud, with coloring
in her hair such as Titan never dreamed
Of, and eyes that Saltwater Rosa would have
painted in ultr;,-,.larne with sea Blue
shadows! But VIE { is the use of my
moaning about her? I'd better accept
Raymond's offer, and 20 to Rome with hin,
even ii have to starvs there III garrett.
AIT will perhaps smile Oh me, but Doll
Brooke. never will.
And he paiuteu on, resentfully dabbi
. heart as heavy As if it were moulded il
lead. While at that very moment, Dolly
Brooke Cher Chr sti ~ name was DolotheaA
was busting the part IL: home, with her
head tel up in biua cambria sweeping
cap and her lovely chesks heightened witt
true Il minute exercise; while Norah. tle
help. stood ueekly i'll the doorway, With Il
scrut bing brush in her hand,
Yes, if yon please, miss!' sud Norah.
"A letter from Mike--an, if you please t.
answerit. miss, for not" wurred can
write!"
Dolly left of polishing the base OF til.
little siatuette of Ceres, and looked at No.
r'h with al prettlly puzzled expression .f
countenance.
But, Norah," said she, how absurd al
this is! How can | answer Michael's letter:
How shall know what to say to him?"
"sure, MISS" said Norah, her homes.
eyes tightening rp, au' that's aisy enough
Justteli him, IN fine, scholarly wiring,
miss, that love him with all my heall
That's what want him to understand, miss;
for, sure, he amt quiet il his mind about
it, an he's way Oft u County R,sconmon,
Ir-!and."
Very we'll, eail Dolly, half smiling a
tie idea. Ill try Cone to my room in
half an hour. Nora}."
Aud Dolly. inexor.tl locked out her two
little bro hers, Who were enraged at the.:
being deblrred from the fun Of hearl.4.
Norahs love letter."
AGO about your business, boys" sad
Dc'iv severely. cts no affair OF you !"
Johnny and Billy looked Indignantly It
one another.
Well serve her out" said johnny
We'll let he. know" automatically re-
sponded Billy.
4 H. w.. IL -
balanced on tie garden WALL like r ,Dharl'.
cherups, betook themselves to ;iro viz.
stones at the cat, while thev consulted as
10 the sreciel variety Of Nemesis VIII ii
should be visited On DolIy's unconscious
head.
Il have got it," said Johnny, shifting his
leg, etlast.
"Eh:" soid Billy.
well make an April fool of her!" shout
ed Johnny.
Yes; but how?" lid Billy.
"Ah-h.h!' said Johnny. "You ALWAYS
was softly, Bill. I'll tellyou by-and- by.
"Now, Norah, " SAL Dolly, seated at the
table with the fresh sheet of paper, the new
ste Ell pen and standish of violet ink before
her, how are we to begin? Dear Mike2' >
Sure, miss, said Norah. who was stand
calico apron. AN amt that too plain like:
Make it 4 little sweeter miss-the saints b,
good to yon! An just tell him love hial
true, though haven't told him so before,
and I'll be constant to him to the wu:reld's
end There!"
Very WE'LL" said Dolly, contracting hel
brows. Keep still for few ninutes-yery
still mird!"
And Norah, shifting her weight from orc
foot to the other, scarcely dared to breathe,
until at last Dolly flung aside the pen anc
pushed beck her chair, rea ling out what
she had composed with all the grace of
rhetorical effect.
will that do" she asked.
And Norah, clasiing he hands in delight,
answered:
"Och miss, an book print itself couldn't
be finer! An if yell sign it Your own true
love- Mike'll know who it is true and Ger
tain"
There is mammals bell" said Dol,
suddenly. run, Norah! Well inclose
the letter in an envelope, and post it after
dinner. There has been quite enough time
wasted in love-letter writing already"
And then she sat down, and fell into
sort of half conscious reverie.
"All the girls have lovers" she said. to
herself; even poor Norah, who can neither
except me! ooh, wonde1-I wonder how
it would seem to have lover?"
And instinctively her thoughts wandered
OFF to Bolton Bellew. the handsome, pale
proved 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 lovel And if he had, I am scarcely vain
enough to fancy that he would care for
mel"
And Dolly Brooke cisd little, she did
not know why. But when she came up
stairs after dinner, the love- letter was gone
Dolly looked aroun her with fright
ened face. The easement window was
open little way to admit the fresh March
sunshine, and she could only lima zine the
breeze had whirlcd the sheet out of the
window
Poor Norah!' thought Dolly. "she shall
uot be disappointed"
And so she sat down and wrote it all over
again as near as she could recollect the i'm
FASHIONED phrases, enclosed it III an envel-
ope. and directed it circumstantially, to
Mr.. Michael Mullany: BlaneY Hill, Coun-
ty Roscommon, Ireland"
And then she herself carried to the post
box on the corner, directly under the win
dows OF MIR. Bellows studio; while Bill.
ana Johnny, IN the wood shed at the end
of the garden, were gigging over the first
copy of poor Norah's tender effuson.
swell kill two birds with one stone,
said the precious Billy, whose rancor ha0
been heightened by Dol!y's rofusal to 5:ro
him three helpings of raspberry jam at din
ner. We'll make al April fool Of that
Bellew fellow that comes prowling around
to see Dolly, and We'll play jolly game on
b ri"
And Johnny. sitting hugeing his knees
on the floor, chuckled aloud at the pros
pect.
The first of April dawned chill and bleak
and showery, like anything but the bright
precursor Of spring, and Mr.. Bellew was
just setting to work on Maid Marian.
when tie postman raped loudly at the
door. and letter directed in Johnny's
schoolboy chirography was handed
in.
Bellew broke it open in some bewilder-
ment, but his face lighted up when be saw