Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-06-25
AFTERNOON.

IL
only [ could see her now" quoth Sir
Algernon, as he paced up and down the
little boudoir at dusk. eff only could
see her again alone, would not let the
chance slip. I had got so very near the
point, if only that dreadful brother and
sister had not come. Oh, if I could
only get such another chance again!"
The door opened quietly, and dark
figure stood in the doorway. A soft
voice asked
care you there, Freda?" and as the
baronet sprang eagerly forward the girl
ish figure started violently.
"Sir Algernon! You here! Have you
seen anything of Freda? We lost her
out riding. She is so reckless, am
afraid she will come to bad end one of
these days."
Il have not seen your sister, but,
Lady Dolly. please come in. I have so
wished to speak to you-to see you
alone again. Take this chair. Give
me the chance to finish what Ihad only
begun to say this morning"
The graceful, girlish figure in the rid
ing-habit advanced readily, and seated
itself against the dim light. The vail
tightly across the face could not con-
ceal the well known contour of cheek
and Lip which had from first so be-
witched him.
Lady Dolly-dear Dollyp he ex-
claimed, rapturously, "you are the love-
lest woman in the worIdl"
Had he not been SO preoccupied by
his own emotions, he might have heard
a faint giggle from the object of his
alteration as he made this admission.
eyes, the loveiest-the most ador-
able. My heart has been on fire ever
since I first saw your face"
I'm afraid you must have been aw-
fully uncomfortable, " said the soft voice,
that seemed to culver little.
. have been living ever since that
time in strange, sweet dream, in which
I have been haunted by your fair face,
as-as-as one is haunted by vision
in-in-in-"
"In nightmare" concluded the
soft voice, still tremulous; Il am very
sorry"
Sorry! Why should you be sorry?
1t has been the JOY, the delight of my
whole life. Dolly, dearest Dolly" in a
moment Sir Algernon had flung himself
at her feet, and had seized her hand
and covered It with kisses, "you know
that am yours, that love you with
my life and soul. Say that you can
love me, too, little. Dolly, bid me
hope-say you will be mine, and shall
be, of all men, the most happy"
But the usually self-possessed and
gentle Dolly seemed quite taken aback
and frightened by this sudden declara-
ton, and tried to draw her hand away
and escape.
ooh, don't know! How can I tell!
Oh, do let me go. I think hear some
body coming"
"Say that you love me! Say you will
be mine!" pleaded the young lover,
with ever-increasing fervor. "Oh, my
love, my darling, say that you will marry
mel"
ooh, yes, yes-anything you like;
please let me go. Oh, yes, I'll do any
thing-only I'm sure somebody is COM
ing. Do, do go away know it's
Charley"
The dreaded name acted like spell.
Sir Algernon vanished like dream,
carrying Will ulH U00 pI0dSanG sense
of victory m ore easily gained than he
had anticipated.
Charley entered, shaking with laugh
ter.
"Well, you've been and gone and
done it now, Freddie. I never enjoyed
thing more in my life. 1t was as good
as ten plays"
"Oh, Charley, who could have
thought he'd propose? It was horrid
when he began that. What did I say?"
"You accepted him, my dear, and
very wisely, too. 1t would have been
too bad to have blighted Dolly's future.
You acted wisely and we'll"
"But he'll think he's engaged to Dol
ly!'' cried Freda, "and there'u be some
horrid scene at the dance tonight. 1
ought to tell Dolly, but [ don't like.
She'll be SO wild"
'Dont you say a word" advised
Charley. "I'll manage it all, if you'll
leave it to me. I'll keep an eye on
them, and if row seems imminent I'll
summon you, and we can explain. I