Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-07-15
1T CAUSED MISCHIEF.
The Scandal Hanging Upon q
'Eong Red Fringe"

bong lied Fringe"
When a young woman stands beside
The fireplace, taps her foot on the rug,
and says, ooolly; "a feel very much hon
orsd, I'm sure, but don't think we
ara suited TO each other" the young
man who is most interested in the con-
vcrsation can do nothing better than
to depart as soon as consistent with his
dignity.
SO Richard went out and banged the
door, leaving Dolly in the library.
Dolly was eighteen, Richard was twcn-
ty-tbree. the ages at which man and
woman are most given to tormenting
each other. Dolly thought Richard
the handsomest and wisest of human
beings; Richard thought Dolly the low
itest and most lovable of women: so
there Is no use describing either of
them. That Dolly should refuse Rich
ard, or that Richard should propose to
Dolly in an unfavorable moment NAV
seem strange, but il was the fault of a
gossip, a silent gossip, who or which
had circulated most extraordinary in
teligcnce concerning Richard.
One line afternoon, less than n week
before this painful evening interview,
Richard walked down Main street. en-
loying the mild spring air, thinking of
Dolly and tennis, Dolly and his canoe,
Dolly and his tandem and Dolly and
his buggy, as had been his habit ever
since he returned from college and
found that Dolly had treasured up all
his letters 10 her brother Main street
was crowded; the evening train, the
supper train" from town, had lust
arrived, and Richard, who had come
down on an earlier train on some bus
mess with old Mr.. FraDkland, met the
crowd, and beamed serenely on every
one. People meet very closely on the
narrow sidewalk of a village street;
that was the reason why the two Pou-
lett girls, apparently struck by Rich
ards new scarf-pin, stared and gig
gled as they passed. Then Miss Lawn
des. the drcssmaker, pecred at him
with eager eyes, Mrs. Allan, the doc
tors wife, stout and slow, came 10 a full
stop in front of him. and as he stepped
aside TO give her room, she turned and
looked at him again before she passed
on. Richards special friends, 'ahe
boys as the young lawyers, clerks
and railroad men Of his own age were
called, were nearly all on the other
side of the street, but Bobby Price,
just through college, and on his way
home from the tennis-ground, saun-
tered slowly to meet Richard. Lulie
Cameron was with him, giggling as
usual. and they both stopped and
talked 10 Richard for a minute or two.
Then II WIS tea-time, and every one in
well-regulated Sunnydale went home.
Within the next three DAYS all Sun-
pydale was talking about Richard Dale
and julie Frankland, Of the OUTRAGE
Gus Irritation between them, for julie
was engaged to George Lane, who was
In Europe on a long business trip. The
first that Dolly Firth heard OF II was
from her Aunt Julia Dorr. 1--WE all
know how Julie flirted before she got
engaged" said Aunt Julia, after an-
nouncing the facts in the case. 'But
j never would have believed that she
could have misbehaved so afterwards.
George will be furious. OF course he
will break on, and can't blame him. {"
Dolly kept silent Richard had been
devoted 10 her since they were chill
dren; they had qaarreled and made up
a dozen times, and he had occasionally
invited other girls TO parties and pic
mics, when he thought Dolly had shown
signs Of undertaking him, but never
In their lives had there been any thing
like this. And 10 think how he had
kept on calling on her three times a
week. while he was, no doubt, calling
upon Julie the other four eveningsi
And then 10 come down ia the early
train TO see hcrl ''The detestable little
hirt, IL was all her FAULT" thought
Dolly, bending over her work. and
blushing with shame and anger But
though Dolly inwardly ragged. she
showed no signs Of disturbance. and
serenely met Richard when he called,
as usual. two days after she had learned
OF his falscness.
''lf II were 4 that the whole village
had seen II, believe that should be
deceived by him again. thought Dolly,
as she looked into the eyes that were
dearer TO her than all others. as they
beamed at her from under Richard 5
straight brows.
When Richard, who had lately made
certain satisfactory business arrange
ments, and felt that his lifelong deyo-
tion deserved 10 be rewarded, made
what he considered a neat and credit |
able proposal, his wrath at her refusal |
was not greater than Dolly's at his pre-
sumption.
II didn't need to lead up 10 Il, as IL
had only known her month! She's |
been fooling me all this timer' was
Richards angry comment, as he went
down the steps.
"lie thinks because she's engaged
and hirts, he can be engaged and lirt
toov' was Dolly's meditation, mingled
with tears. ''But would take 6iml
Oh. would be just such fooll aud
forgive him - II the whole VILLAGE
hadn't seen itr' and Dolly wept above
Tho new mantle-o0vor, regardless OF
decorative art.
Dolly WAS not one 10 tell when she
had refused an offer, so she had no one
10 sympathize with her The friend.
'hlp between her brother Fred aud
Richard had been long and mistaken,
nd possibly Dolly might have begged
Fred 10 call him back ana try TO clear
I'm % the charges against him; but
fr,d was Ia Texas. not 10 be home
or weeks, 10 Dolly had her trouble all
o herself and tried 10 be amiable. Ii
Not - with Richard That Young
nan appeared on the next mornings ,
rain With fana Nn ft4fl.fI.Iinn that (.