The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-15

Frank himself had pleaded elOquenty, saying
that she was very young, so naturally affection
ate. But mamma and felt sure that not for
one hour would he permit the slightest approach
to disloyalty to his deep tenderness for his girl
ish betrothed. Neither her youth, her love OF
fun nor her merry heart would plead one atom
in her favor; so l read this letter with Il heavy
heart My answer was as follows:
Dearest Dolly-Your letter reached in time to
have the box sent to Highwood. You will receive it
soon after this reaches you. Write very fully, for
your letter was tantazing. Send me full descr1p-
ton Of every one for you have reused my curiosity
to Sir Charles" who is the dearest
The rest of my letter contained home news,
and need not transeribe it. But Dolly's an
swer will transcribe:
You ask me for description Of everybody,
darling. Lady Millicent is very beautiful, very
clever, and devotedy attached to this Sir
Charles; but feel sure her heart is buried in
the grave of her noble husband l sent her
photo, so need no words in describing her.
Sir Charles is very fascinating, though 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 nose
in fact, it is all tip-very nice hands and feet.
He is l believe, very talented. but does not en-
ploy his gifts, seldom talks, never reads, is lit
tie fond of eating. In spite of these drawbacks.
he is very charming, and all the girls, far and
near, make great deal of him OF course he is
rich He likes Lady Miicent to live in the
house. She has complete influence over him."
l was much relieved after reading this letter.
felt so easy in mind that l told Dolly how had
feared for her.
''But," wrote. ''of course you never could
really admire a fat little man. who never reads or
talks, and with nose all tip, and who cares for
nothing but eating
1t turned out that the most unfortunate thing
could have done was to confess my fears to my
provoking sister. She answered me vehemently
declaring that Sir Charles was the most lovable
fellow she had met for a long time, and really
was so excited that posted a letter to her at
once.
you distress me, Dolly. You know Mr..
Dacre would never forgive you if he saw your
letters hide them even from mother. Oh.
pray do think before you madly risk the loss Of
his love, for that will follow the very hour he
loses his high opinion of you!
This is how Dolly answered my tender APP
peal:
What a lecturing little thing you are getting,
Kitty! am very much attached to Sir Charles,
and if Jack is ever SO angry, l can't help it,
Thus tiippantly the letter ran
was really angry and distressed, but resolved
to try no more lectures; they clearly made mat
tiers worse. So, the next time, gave full de-
scription of a day we had spent in court, hearing
Mr.. Dacre plead. l described his dignifed APP
pearance, his easy graceful gestures-above all,
l dwelt on the beauty of his nose.
Dolly answered:
Il am quite shocked at you, Kitty, to make
such an idol of q noSer'
And then she continued as usual, about Sir
Charles
Meanwhile, Mr.. Dacre seemed quite happy,
and said he had his daily letters from Dolly as
regularly as when she was with Mrs Lloyd.
Was my beloved sister growing deceitful!
[ kept all this from my mother; but l grew
more and more wretched over Dolly's letters A
picnic would be glorious, for Sir Charles was
going. She had spent the whole morning
quietly with Sir Charles" Once he was indis-
nd oh had nj y-p1 fOph i'm
sung to him "
Well, could do nothing more I resolved to
say not another word about him to anyone else.
l began to dislike the very sound of his name,
or, rather, the sight Of it; and, when Dolly de
clared l should like i'm as much as everyone
else did, made upmy mind that hated him 1
wrote one more tender appeal, which said was
my last.
Every Tuesday mother and I had Dolly's let
ters, but one day there was none by my break
fast plate as usual. Mother read hers.
dolly says she has written to you" she OBJ
served presently How can it be that you have
not received it,"
Mistakes of the postoffice are so rare, we could
but suppose she had omitted to post it. By the
next delivery. however received a letter from
Mr. Dacre, containing an inclosure which turned
out to be a letter to me from Dolly. A few lines
from him ran thus:
Dear Kitty-I had read too much of the inclosed
before discovered the mistake: If you receive let
ter from Dolly before this reaches you you will have
discovered she has missent the letters. L shall
down to Highwood without loss of time
had not received any letter then, but by the
second country delivery came one directed to
Jack at once. The letter he had read began
thus:
"Al you say is useless, my darling. l love
Sir Charles devotedly and he has this day de
clared he loves me You ask me, does he know
l am engaged L told him gentleman was
coming to see me; but he seemed little con
cerned at this piece of information"
So far Mr.. Darcre had read. and the mine was
sprung.
1 locked my room door, and fell back, despair
ing, into an easy chair. l was resolved to hide
all from my mother till Mr.. Dacre had seen
Dolly. hunted up Bradshaw, and found that
a train started about o'clock that would convey
me to Highwood by $50. If Dolly wrote to me
at once l should get her letter by Thursday; but
of course should hear from Jack on Wednes-
day. l dreaded every ring every postmans
knock All day Wednesday passed and no letter
arrived from my sister and her lover
On Thursday morning l down when /
heard the usual welcome sound. On the table
lay a thick letter addressed in Dollys hand
writing. | ran up to mamma and gave her the
one found inclosed in it for her; then l sat
down to read mine, after fortifying myself with
a cup of coffee. l must give every word of it.
''You are well aware that catastrophe has
happened through my heedlessness. The best
thing will be for me to describe fully the whole
consequences of that misfortune. On our re-
turn from the garden party on Tuesday, l found
telegram awaiting me from Jack-'Shall be
with you by 1865 Of course this awoke no fears
in my mind, for knew Jack might run down at
any moment the trains permit Lady Milicent
sent me off at once to be dressed by her artist
maid. What she made of me you must have
seen to believe Kitty. 1 would not look at my
self till The whole process was complete; and,
when 1 glanced in the long glass, l was really
amazed at what saw. 1t was the result, l now
know, of many discussions between Lady Mill
cent and this gifted young person. You may
imagine how l exulted in the thought that Jack
would see me look as he had never seen me
look before, for | am so improved in health that
my whole appearance is changed: Well, the
bell rang. Lady Milicent received Mr.. Dacre in
the morning room, and came to send me downat
once.
Il ran down with my heart bounding 1 en-
tered the room. | noticed Jack give one start;
but he received me in such very un-Jack- like
manner that l was terrified. Mamma-KittyP
/ cried .Onita well when | left Them said Mr.