The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-12-21
BLOOMSBURG, PA, FRIDAY. DECEMBER


shaking little figure on the hearth
rug.
He took one stride toward her, but
at the sound of his voice she had
sprung to her feet, with crimson
cheeks and dangerously sparkling eyes.
"Stand off, sir Don't dare to
touch mel
"Great heaven Dolly" 10 direct
bewlderment. ..
Don't Dolly me ~ facing him like
a dimunitive tigress, "don't dare to |"
"D Jlly u ..
"Don't mention my name SO soon
after hers-this Esther to whom you
are Dick, darlingr'
dolly"
'Can you find no other word with
which to defend or vindicate yourself
except the repetition of my name 2"
This with unnatural calmness. ..
The temperature had waited round
from the torrid to the frigid zone.
"Have you gone--mad ?" slowly.
"lf | have, find the cause-there."
Scornfully she flung him the crump-
led note
lie snatched it eagerly and read
every word.
Then he lifted up a face of, if posi-
bic, more intense, utter bewilderment
than before.
"Where did you get this, Dolly 2"
"Theie."
She pointed dramatically to the
tumbled overcoat.
There ?" in blankest astonishment.
"There y r.
He glanced from the note to the
coat, from the coat to the note, then
back again to Dolly.
She was longing desperately to
steady her voice and still her heart
sufficiently to ask him how he liked
Gerster, just to exhibit piece of
singing sarcasm; but she could not to
save her life. ....
There was a blank silence a mo-
ment, then Dick walked over and pick
ed up his overcoat.
Hark What was that's
Not laugh, surely.
Yes, laugh.
The maddest, merriest, widest peal
that ever rang from human lips.
There on the hearthrug stood Dick,
the coat fallen loosely on the floor, his
hands on both hips, and laughing
well, he was.
"Dick |" in faltering amazement.
"Yes," howled Dick.
"Oh, Dolly, it's the best joke of the
season."
"Oh h
And then he was roaring like a cir
Gus mad schoolboy again.
"Dck-tell ME y
Then, seeing her white, anxious
face, he grew suddenly grave.
"Dolly, did you look at the ervel-
ope ?"
81 saw none"
He showed her the envelope that
had tluttered unnoticed under the ta-
bic.
She read the address:
RICHARD HARVEY, ESQ,
1872 Blank Street.
"Dolly, did you particularly notice
the overcoat ?"
A tremulous 'Nov
'Iook ! See that velvet COLLAR
those buttons, this pocketbook Is
this my overcoat ?"
"Oh, Dick. my dearest, forgive me ?
No, no, nor
She was sobbing on his arms now.
"My darling!'
''But,' bubbling again into boyish
laughter, "what a good joke! To
think that should walk home in, and
that you should mend, Dick Harvey s
overcoat! Wonder if his folks are
going through my pockets nowY'
"Who's Esther?'
ellis sweetheart, whom he has to
sneak off to see because of formida
bic heiress staying at his house at
present, to whom his folks are trying
to marry him. He told me all about
it."
"Dick," shy arms went creeping
round his neck, and blue eyes grew ln.
minous through their tears, ''I'm never
going to be jealous again. I'm
not going to ask you where you were
tonight" with triumphant heroism
underlaid by stratum of maddening
curiosity.
"My pet, was just going to tell
you, but these will speak better than
can. You see l had not quite forgot
ten what tomorrow was"
He had drawn leather case from
bis pocket, and touching the spring
disclosed set and necklace of milk.
white pearls on turquoise velvet bed.
"Oh-h, Dck!"
A long drawn breath, a rapturous
lighting of blue eyes, a lifting of rosy
lips, and then-well, when she got
through Dick thought himself well re-
paid
"Won't there be fun at the Office to-
morrow. Jealous of Dick Harvey
But, by jupiter, what reception
got On, oh-h! Dolly, Dolly, it,
the best joke on recordw
And Dolly joined him merrily; for
after all, is not the sweetest laughte
that which springs from tears