Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-01
DOLLY's LAST FILTRATION.

Dolly was giddy, and fond Of flirting.
When we were seventeen, Dolly became en-
gagged. with our mothers consent, to Frank Will
mot, young fellow Of twenty-four, son of,
banker, free and CHEEKY in manner and dispo-
sition- He was very indulgent to Dolly, for he
felt 80 confident Of her love, and was himself 50
loyal and sincere that the admiration she ex-
cited was his triumph the freedom with which
she received and encouraged it never panied
him. though mother and l used to watch her
with serious anxiety.
Sometimes our mother would say a few i'm
pressive words; then Dolly would throw her
arms round her, and with kisses assure her she
would be a better girl. or she would pout lit
tie, with tears in her bright blue 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 q
cousin OF his. barrister, man some years
Older than himself. He was rather. famous.
though only thirty, being an acute lawyer. and
consequently looked up at the bar
Dolly owned to me that evening that Frank
had conided to her that l was Jack Dacre's
ideal woman.
$50 don't blush 80 angrily, darling" said she.
''for it would be the most delightful arrange
ment- He is Franks ideal man and dearest
friend 1t would be the happiest thing for us
ALL And Dolly gave me hug and kiss, and
ran off to bed
visit. and soon found that he was my ideal
man, for he strangely resembled my father
both In manners and his chivalrous courtesy to
women. as well as in appearance 1t was with
chill at my heart that / was the first to make
the discovery that he was falling in love with
Dolly-he the soul OF honor, seemed bewitched
Dy the Charms of his bosOm-friends affianced
wife. knew it before he did. but of course
not before Dolly, who had a genius for uner-
rln@ly detecting every symptom. however OBJ
scure. OF dawnng love, either in her own case
or anOther's.
My mother and Frank were utterly blind to
the danger. l was very unhappy, and exceed
ingly sorry for Dolly. for Frank. tor Mr.. Dacre
and own it, for myself; for though had not
fallen in love with Franks cousin. must say he
was the only man had seen whom felt |
could fall in love with.
An accident brought matters to climax.
we were sitting in the drawing room after
dinner one evening, when a noise in the street
GREW US to the window: The pole of carriage
had entered 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 to save her from falling. He led her
10 sofa, and stood aside as Frank drew near
her; but from that night he never came no more.
he and 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 l suffered must be imagined. I
dared neither to tell her the truth nor to hint to
Dolly that knew to whom her heart was given,
though loved her so dearly; and felt 80 sure
that this was the first true love Of her life. This
determined. decided somewhat stern man was
sure to charm our little butterfly, if she noticed
him at all.
Mother and I 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 abruptness of
this rupture 80 much as if they were placed
personally by him In my hands; and had his
letters also to give him. Mother was quite
unequal to seeing him, for she loved him dearly
and the task was left to me. was not sorry,
for felt could say all that was likely to COM
Tort him. loving both of them so deeply.
So poor Frank produced his sorrowful 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 dropping quietly from my eyes. At last
he told me that he knew Dolly had been faith
less to him. He felt sure she and Jack Dacre
loved each other; and he spoke so humbly of
himself, and as il it was quite to be expected
that his cousin should be preferred above any
other man. that | was greatly touched, and nv
tears fell faster and faster.
Jack is the soul Of honor. Kitty; but must
make it clear TO MIN that he is free to do as his
heart dictates. His and her happiness must
not be wrecked. | will get nv father to send
me to our branch house in India and will not
return till they are married. Jack is rich
enough to marry at once. l shall embark on
Thursday
Then he charged me with tender blessings for
Dolly, and, at his request, went to ask my
mother to bid him farewell. Presently she
glided in. pale as death. She held out her trem-
bling hand in silence; but Frank folded her i'm
his arms. and She sobbed on his breast | stood
by weeping bitterly; and, when we were some
what ca!mer. Frank embraced us both finally.
and. placing me in my mothers arms, left us.
Poor fellow, how brave he was, how gentle and
patient!
In month from that time Dolly was afIianced
to MIR. Dacre and the marriage was arranged to
take place at the beginning of the long vaca-
ton 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 i'm
pressed her. his great talents awed her. and her
pretty innocent pride in her manly lover. her
meekness and quletness, We're most promising
symptoms of happiness in her married life.
beaf mother was so serenely happyl I was
very fond Of my new brother; he was such q
power Tor good and peace in cur home that we
never Had been so cOntented before. Frank
wrote freely to us. manly patient letters full of
had sweetened. not embittered his character
He had set himself to alleviate his anguish by
dong good. and his first act on reaching his
destination had been to Use his keen CONNER
cial gifts for the welfare OF the widow and child
rem Of an officer in the army, and at the cost of
tlme. talent and energy, to rescue her small for
tune from unsafe hands and invest it proftably
His letters were filed with similar Incidents
naturally and simply told, and our affection in
Creased for this truly brave man.
Doily's godnOther took it into her head that
1t was her gOdchild's duty to pay her q farewell
visit before her marriage. Though. as she had
never troubled herself much about us. we
were rather startled at this demand, we all
thought it would be best to accept the invita-
tlon-fOr my sister was not looking Well-and it
was settled that she should 90 and spend a
month with the old LADY in her lovely North
Country home MIR. 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 a regular ladies' maid
She wrote to tell US how she was enjoying the
repOse and beauty Of the country. Mr. Dacre
had managed to run down from SATURDAY.
till Monday at the end of the first week, and
Lad, 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 l give in its integrity:
"HIGHwooD, July 90
dearest Kitty.-I hope you will get this in time
TO send NY hat here instead OF to gran(ilnamma's
am On fortnight's visit to Lady Micent North
eight years Old! She persuaded Mrs LLOYD to Let
her nave me Tor week or two; and, as her dallgh-
ter-ll-law, confirmed invalid, was coming tn
spend Just that time with her, my godmother was