The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-03-21
with Mrs. Lloyd. Was my beloved sis

with Mrs. Lloyd. Was my beloved sis
ter growing deceitful?
/ kept al this from my mother; but
I 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 ''qui-
city with Sir Charles Once he was
ndispos ed. and she had ''nursed him,
played for him. and sung to him."
Well, l could do nothing more. re-
solved to say not another word about
him to any one else. l began to dislike
the very sound of his name, or rather
the sight of it; and, when Dolly declared
/ should like him as much as every one
else did, / made up my mind that l
hated him. IwrO.e enc more tender
appeal, which said was my last.
Every Tuesday mother and had Dol
ly's letters. but one day there was none
by my breakfast plate as usual. Mother
read hers. dolly says she has written
to you," she observed presently. ''How
can it be that you have not received P"
Mistakes of the post-office are so rare,
we could but suppose she had omitted
to post it. By the next delivery, how
over, received letter from Mr.. d.
ere. containing an inclosure which
turned out to be a letter to me from
Dolly. A few lines from him ran thus:
DEAR KITTY had read too much of the in.
closed before / discovered the mistake. II
reaches you. you will have discovered she
has missent the letters. l shall run down to
Highwood without loss of time.
l 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:
"All you say Is useless my darling. i love
Sir Charles devotedly, and he has this day de-
clared he loves me. You ask me: Does he
know am engaged? told him gentleman
was coming to see me: but he seemed little
concerned at this piece of information
So far Mr.. Dacre had read, and the
mine was sprung.
l locked my room door, and fell back,
despairing, into an easy chair. l was
resolved to hide all from my mother
till MIR. Dacre had seen Dolly. hunt
ed up Bradshaw, and found that train
started about four O'Clock that would
convey me to Highwood at ESQ. If
Dolly wrote to me ii once, should get
her letter by Thursday; but of course
l should hear from Jack on Wednesday.
dreaded every ring, every postman' s
knock. All day Wednesday passed and
no letter arrived from my sister or her
lover.
On Thursday morning l ran down
when heard the usual welcome sound.
On the table lay thick letter addressed
in Dolly's handwriting. l ran up to
mamma and gave her the one found
inclosed in it for her; then sat down
to read mine, after fortifying myself
with cup of coffee. l must give every
word of it:
You ar. well aware that a catastrophe has
happened through my heedlessncss. The best
thing viii be for me To describe fully the
whole consequences OF that misfortune. On
our return from the garden party on Tues
day 1 found telegram awaiting me from
Jack-Shall be with you by 40. 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. l would not look mt myself till the
whole process was complete; and, when
glanced in the long glass, l was really amazed
at what l saw. 1t was the result / now know,
of many discussions between Lady Millicent
and this gifted young person. You may imag-
inc how / eXul,ed in the thought that Jack
would see me look as he had never seen ME
look before, for am so improved IN hea tn
that my whole appearance is changed. Well,
the bell rang. Lady Millicent received Mr..
Dacre in the morning-room, and came to send
me down ut once.
~ ran down with my heart bounding.
entered the room. I noticed Jack give one
start; but he received me in such very I'M
Jack-like manner that was terrified. Nam
ma fuS Il iaH n,,ir. tpall hon Il Loft
them,' said Mr.. Dacre: but when he placed
me in chair. and took one opposite to me. /
felt matters were desperate. What Is wrongT
gaSped. Dearest Jack, pray speak, only
an address, said he, and pat the unfortunate
envelope in my hands. This contained let
ter for your sister, which ], perhaps for
tunately, read before perceived the mistake.
have just seventeen minutes before leave
for the return train; SO if you wish to say
anything. let me beg of you to speak at once
g sank back in my chair and covered my
face with my handkerchief, trembling with
agitation. Will you hear my eyplanationE
stammered. Needless; the letter can have
but one meaning. l came to release you from
your engagement to me-. Did this Scoundrel
again. 10 hear sir Charles North called a
scoundrel was too much for me. i did not
speak for several minutes: but time was fly
ing fast, and at length i said: If this is in
truth our last meeting, grant me one favor;
say that you will before i tell you what it is.
VI course II Is 4 reasonable, honorable re-
quest tnaI WISH Dut own IL Is one
you will not like to grant He paused a
moment, then said: Il will do wha- ever you
ask. Il ask you to see Sir Charles North. He
WINGED. but bowed silently. / left the room
to see the Baronct. l found him in his own
room. intently studying an immense book
but only the Illustrations, believe. l asked
him to come with me to speak to gentleman
who was waiting to see him. He fatty re-
fused. Time was rushing on. ] knelt by hi0,
implored him. At last kissed him, and he
yielded.
Taxing my hand in firm Gasp, he de
scended with me 10 the room where had left
Mr.. Dacre. Jack stood. moody and stern,
pale rs ashes, where had left him. We en-.
tered. j led Sir Charles toward him. Mr..
Charles North. Baronet.' Jack started
paused-seized Sir Charles in his strong arms.
and-threw him out of the window!-no,
kissed him! For this scoundrel. this fat,
greedy, idle little man is the dear little son OF
Lady Milicent. aged just two years! Now
you see, Miss Kitty, you hal better have had
a little faith in your sister for once. You put
the joke: bur it shall be my last, for never
more do / wish to see such Il look of pain in
the face love best in oil the world.
Jack did not go back by the return train.
though he was Obliged TO leave early this
morning: but do not think can stay away
from him one day over a month. Lady Mill
cent says you must come TO take nv place.
She will write and ask mamma. You will
soon be as madly in love with Sir Charles"
And so it proved. l went to stay
with Lady Mlllicent; aud, of all the
darling, quaint, noble, chubby little
pets l had seen, Sir Charles was the
king. At the end of the year Frank
returned in time for Christmas. He
did not 90 back to India; he settled in
England. He and were married about
six months after Dolly.
We both live in lovely part OF
Kent. Dolly's husband pets and loves
her devotedly. My husband adds to
all his love a delicate, tender homage
infinitely precious TO me.
:" Kitty, dearest" my mother once
said to me, "you and have tasted the