The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-03-20
DOLLY'S LAST FILTRATION.


DOLLY'S LAST FILTRATION.
I am Kitty, and Dolly is my twin
sister. l was always sedate, mother
used to say; but Dolly was giddy, and
fond of flirting.
When we were seventeen Dolly be-
came engaged, with our mothers con-
sent, to Frank Wilmot, a young fellow
of twenty-four, son of banker, free
and CHEEKY in manner and disposition,
He was very indulgent to Dolly, for he
felt so confident of her love, and was
himself so loyal and sincere that the
admiration she excited was his triumph;
the freedom with which she received
and encouraged it never panied him,
though mother and | used to watch her
with serious anxiety.
Sometimes our mother would say a
few impressive words; then Dolly would
throw her arms round her, and with
kisses assure her that she would be a
better girl, or she would pout little,
with tears in her bright eyes. She
would be very demure through two
balls, and at the third worse than ever;
scarcely could Frank get one waltz for
himself
One evening he brought to our house
n cousin of his, barrister, q man some
years older than himself He was rather
famous, though only thirty, being an
acute lawyer, and consequently looked
up to at the bar.
Dolly owned to me that evening that
Frank had confided TO her that l was
Jack Dacre's ideal woman.
$50 don't blush so angrily, darling"
said she, ''for it would be the most de-
lightful arrangement. He is Franks
ideal man and dearest friend. 1t would
be the happiest thing for us all!' And
Dolly gave me hug and a kiss, and ran
of TO bed.
Mr. Dacre came very often after that
one visit, and [ soon found that he was
my ideal man, for he strangely resem-
bled my father, both in manners and
his chiyalrous courtesy to woman, as
well as in appearance. 1t was with a
chill at my heart that l was the first to
make the discovery that he was falling
in love with Dolly-he, the soul of honor,
seemed bewitched by the charms OF his
bosom-friend's ailianced wife. / knew
it before he did, but of course not be-
fore Dolly, who had a genius for unGr-
ringly detecting every symptom, how
ever obscure, either in her own case or
anotheT's.
My mother and Frank were utterly
blind to the danger. / was very unhap-
by and exceedingly sorry for Dolly, for
frank, for Mr.. Dacre, and, l own it,
for myself; for, though l had not fallen
in love with Franks cousin, 1 must say
he was the only man | had seen whom |
felt could fall in love with.
An accident brought matters to a eli
max.
We were sitting in the drawing-room
after dinner one one evening, when a
noise in the street drew us TO the win
dow. The pole of n carriage had en-
tered the shoulder of cab-horse. Dolly
became i'll and faint at the sight, and
Mr. Dacre, who was at her side. threw
his arm round her 20 save her from
falling. He led her to q sofa, and stood
aside as Frank drew near her; but from
that night he never came any more. He
and l only had seen the half-petulant
way in which Dolly had turned from
Frank, had caught another expression
on her face, had seen her vivid blush.
From that evening she became cold,
petulant, teasing to Frank. At first he
laughed, then was hurt, and finally the
engagement was broken off This is
soon told, but what my mother and I
suffered must be imagined. | dared
neither to tell the truth nor to hint to
Dolly that | knew to whom her heart
was given, though loved her so dearly;
4
her life. This determined, decided,
somewhat stern man was sure to charm
our little butterfly, if she noticed him at
all.
Mother and l arranged that Dolly
should go away on short visit. Frank
was to come one evening to return the
letters Dolly had sent him. They would
not feel the abrup ness of this rupture
so much if they were placed personally
by him in my hands; and ] had his let
tiers also to give him. Mother was quite
unequal to seeing him. for she loved
him dearly, and the task was left to me.
l was not sorry, for l felt could say all
that was likely to comfort him, loving
both of them so deeply.
So poor Frank produced his sorrOw-
full little packet. received the one / had
for him, and stood leaning against the
chimney-piece, while l sat quite unable
TO utter a word, but with tears drop
ping quietly from my eyes. At last he
told me that he knew Dolly had been
faithless to him. lie felt sure she and
Jack Dacre loved each other, and he
smoke so humbly of himself, and as if it
was quite to be expected that his cousin
should be preferred above any other
man. that 1 was greatly touched, and
my tears fell faster and faster.
III
must make it clear to him that he is
free TO do as bis heart dictates. His
and her happiness must not be wrecked.
will get my father to send me to our
branch house in India, and will not re-
turn till they are married. Jack is rich
enouqh TO marry at once. shall en-
bark on Thursday.
Tben he charged me with tender
BLESSINGS for Dolly, and, at his request,
I went to ask my mother to bid him
farewell Presently she glided in pale
as death. =She held out her tremDl ne
hand in silence. but Frank folded her 10
his arms, and she sobbed on ms oIe 5Sy
I stood by weeping bitterly anu miie -
we were calmer, Frank enhorae - - ~
both finally, and placing me t ~ ny
mothers arms left US. foor leIiom
how brave he was, how gentle ahu pa
tent