The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-03-21


bark on Thursday"
Then he charged me with tender
blessings for Dolly, and, at his request,
/ I went to ask nv mother to bid him
| farewell. Presently she glided in, pale
Is death. 2She held out her tEembl II :
hand in silence. but Frank folded her in
his arms, and she sobbed on his breast.
/ stood by weeping bitterly. and, when
we were calmer, Frank embraced us
both finally, and placing me in my
mothers arms left us. Poor fellow,
how brave he was, how gentle and pa
tient!
In a month from that time Dolly was
affianced to Mr.. Dacre, and the mar
rage was arranged to take place at the
beginning of the long vacation. We
were by this time convinced that it was
the best thing that could happen. No
one could see Dolly and doubt that this
was the only man she had loved. His
calm, intense character impressed her,
his great talents awed her, and her
pretty innocent pride in her
manly lover, her meekness and quiet
ness, were most promising symptoms OF
happiness in her married life.
| Dear mother was so serenely happy!
/ was very fond of my new brother; he
was such power for good and peace
in our home that we never had been so
contented before Frank wrote freely
to us, manly, patient letters, full of un-
selfish interest in all around him. His
sorrow had sweetened, not embittered,
his character. He had set himself to
alleviate his anguish by doing good,
and his first act on reaching his desti-
nation had been to use his keen COM
mercial gifts for the welfare of the
widow and children of an officer of the
army, and, at the cost of time, talent
and energy, to rescue her small fortune
from unsafe hands and invest it profit
ably, His letters were filled with SINH
lar incidents. naturally and simply told,
and our affection increased for this
truly brave man.
Dolly's godmother took il into her
head that it was her godchild's duty to
paw her a farewell visit before her mar
triage. Though, as she had never troub-
led herself much about US, we were
rather startled at this demand; we all
thought it would be best to accept the
| invitation-for my sister was not look
ing well-and it was settled that she
should 90 and spend month with the
old lady in her lovely north country
home Mr. Dacre was pressed to 90 as
often as his professional engagements
would permit; so Dolly left us in pretty
good spirits. in charge of the elderly
servant who was our substitute for n
regular ladies'-maid. H..
She wrote to tell us how she was en-
loving the repose and beauty of tho
country. MIR. Dacre had managed to
run down from Saturday till Monday at
the end of the first week. and had, of
course, made great impression, but
was afraid he could not come again-a
long case was pending at Westminster.
The letter which followed this give in
its integrity:
| HIGHwooD, July 1.-DEARESr KITTY:
hope you will get this in time to send my hat
| here instead of grandmammas L am on a
| fortnght's visit to Lady Miilicent North. Such
| a charming woman-a widow about twenty
| eight years Old, She persuaded Mrs. Lloyd to
| let her have me for Il week or two; and, as
her dangnter-in-law: a confirmed invalid,
| my godmother was glad to get me out of the
| way, know. ] can't write much. for the post
| leaves here at eight, and we drop our latest
| letters into the hall box as we go into dinner.
| expect the gong every minute This place
| is lovely, and the new Baronet-Sir Charles
is the dearest. The gong! Your own.
DOLLY.
1 felt uneasy concerning this letter.
1 was sorry Dolly should have left her
godmother's quiet home to visit a gay
young widow just as she was SOLDERING
down and growing such thoughtful
little love. 1t might unsettle her again
to pass fortnight in a couDtry-hOuse
with a fascinating Baronet; and knew
Jack Dacre would never permit, never
pardon, the smallest suspicion of flirt-
ing. He had pardoned her detection in
Franks case, for Frank himself had
pleaded eloluently, saying that she was
very young, so naturally affectionate.
But mamma and felt sure that not for
one hour would he permit the slightest
approach to disloyalty to his deep
tenderness for his girlish betrothed.
Neither her youth, her love of fun. nor
her merry heart would plead one atom
in her favor; SO | read this letter with a
heavy heart. My answer was as fol-
lows:
DEAREST DOLLY: Your letter reached me
in time to have the box sent to Highwood.
| You will receive il soon after this reaches
| you. Write very fully. for your letter was
tantalizing.- Send me full description of
every one. for you have reused my curiosity
as 10 Sir Charles" who is the dearest"
The rest of my letter contained home
news. and l need not transcribe it.
But Dolly's answer l will transcribe-
you ask me for description of
every body. darling. Lady Millicent is
very beautiful, very clever, and de-
| 30 Ii, ar1a
but feel sure her heart is buried in the
grave of her noble husband. / send her
photo, so need waste no words in de-
scribing her.
"Sir Charles is very fascinating. though 1
| fear my description may not predispOse you
in his favor: but you beg me TO be particular.
He is short and stout. has very fine head,
but rather thin light hair, fine eyes. good
mouth, but not much of u nose-in fact. 1t is
all tip-very nice hands and feet. He is, l
believe very talented, but does not employ
his gifts, seldom talks, never reads, is IA little
he is very charming. and all the girls far and
near make great deal of him. of course,
he is rich. He likes Lady Millcent to live in
the house. She has complete influence over
him"
was much relieved after reading this
letter. l felt so easy in my mind that
l told Dolly how ! feared for her.
But" / wrote, ''of course you never
could really admire a fat little man,
who never reads or talks, and with a
nose all tip, and who. cares for nothing
|. but eating
1t turned out that the most unfortu-
nate that could have done was to con.
fess my fears to my provoking sister.
She answered me by vehemently de-
claring that Sir Charles was the most
lovable fellow she had met for long
time. and really was so excited that