The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-01-19
WHOLE NO. 1904.

"Of course not =! retorted Lydia,
with emphasis. "You don't under
stand things, Aunt Charlotte. The
world is becoming to much advanced
for you"
81 think its young people are, re-
torted Aunt Charlotte; and she said
no more. But Dolly, listening to this
from distant corner, turned as white
as sheet. Her dream was over. :.
So that she was not very much
pleased when she saw the baron COM
ing towards her the following after
noon. Dolly had her full share of
good sense, as of proper pride, and she
knew that the Baron de Fierreville,
married man, had not spoken to her
like gentleman the previous evening
on the terrace; no, nor at one or two
other times. Miss Hamlet and the
girls were gone for a drive again.
Dolly did not often get chance of
going; and she took the zigzag, cir
cuitous path to a seat in the middle of
the rocks-a solitary place, rarely in
vaded by the visitors. But the baron
must have watched her, for presently
she saw him climbing up perpendicu-
larly. Fright put other things out of
her head.
"Oh, pray, pray do not try to come
up that wayr' she cried out in an
agony, expecting every moment to see
him fall backwards. "Oh, why will
you do it?"
But he gained the ledge and the
seat without mishap. There were
rocks near his own home, and he had
climbed them from a child.
did you fear for me?" he asked in
low, sweet tone.
Dolly was very pale. II thought it
hazardous thing to do" she answer
ed. Il think it still"
"But wanted to come to you.
want to tell you about my home in
France-we were interrupted by those
men last night. Do you think you
should feel altogether unhappy if |
asked you to come and live in it with
me, Miss Dolly?"
Dolly put her work into its little
basket, and rose from her seat to de-
part. Baron de Fierreville," she .
stayed to say, her very lips becoming
winter, will you allow me to ask
what your wife would think of this,
could she hear you?"
"But she can't hear me" said the
baron, staring.
Dolly burst into tears Of agitation.
''Be SO good as to let me pass, sir.
took you for a gentleman; | did, in
deed; and you told me you knew and
esteemed my fatherln
"But what do you mean?" he asked,
in astonishment. ''How have / Offend
ed you?"
ut has been all very bad-on your
part, retorted Dolly, in trembling ac-
cents. "To excuse yourself by saying
to my face that your wife cahnot hear
you is worst of all"
"Why, how can she hear?" persist
ed the baron. 1.-THE Roman Catholics
believe that the saints and angels hear
our prayers: / am not sure but we
Protestants do. If my poor wife
could hear every word | have said to
you, she would rejoice rather than be
sad. Nearly the last words she
breathed to me contained hope that
| should find another wife to love me
as she had loved.
It was now Dolly's turn to stare, as
she took in what this implied rs
your wife dead?" she faltered.
"She will have been dead year on
the thirtieth of this month" said the
baron. Did you not know she was
dead?"
NO" gasped Dolly, 81 heard last
night that she was living. Please for
give me for showing anger"
He drew her back to the seat beside
him, put his arm round her waist, per-
haps by way of support, and let her
have her cry out.
Your father and mother could have
told you, my dear, that when they saw
my wife with me in Switzerland she
was nearly in the last stage Of con-
sumption. All hope of recovery was
then over. And, Dolly, 7 feel sure
they like me; | think they will not
mind your coming home to the cha
teau.'
For the first time that evening the
baron appeared in the dancing-room.
He approach d Dolly sitting nearly
behind the window-curtain. "You
will give me Dance" he whispered.
II do not know what Aunt Char
lotte would say" breathed Dolly in
answer.
81 will make peace with Aunt Char
lotte. Come. Why" laughing, as
she still hesitated, "a short while, and
you will have to obey me of right.
Remember that, my darling"
Nobody could believe their eyes.
The baron in the room at last. tread
ing a measure with Dolly Krane!
With Dolly Krane, of all people! The
measure was a'waltz, and Dolly's pret-
ty skirts, for she had put on her best
robe that evening, foated about her as
she moved round in the barons arms,
and her eyes were cast down timidly,
and her face was blushing.
Miss Hamlet had never been so
much surprised in all her life as she
was that evening, when, being alone
in the little card-room, she found the
Baron de Fierreville. bowling deeply
before her. a la mode FrdncdiSe, tell
ing her that Dolly had promised to be
his wife; and that when she, Miss
Hamlet, left Brightwater with the
young ladies the next day but one, he
should beg permission to accompany
them on his way to Stagbrook rectory,
to explain matters to the Reverend
Mr.. Krane and his wife, and to ask
them to part with Dolly.
"a French baronw gasped Miss
Hamlet to her nieces, when they got
into the privacy of her own room.
"Oh dear! | said ] did not know what
Would come of If. "