Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-10-14

rlbly injured, and made up my mind to
evenge myself by spending the revening
with Sally Gray. She was at home,
the servant girl said, and | found her
waiting in the parlor for me. We had
it to ourselves. Mrs. Robins never
came in, nor any of the other boarders;
indeed, it was now growing late in the
season, and they were almost all gone
away. Ii / never knew how to fiirt
before, Sally Gray taught me how that
night, and when | took leave of her l
was imprudent enough to tell her ]
should like to kiss her.
"Do it, if you DESIRE" said she.
And then! Yes, kissed her; and as
/ did it the door opened, and we started
apart, and there stood Dolly. She had
seen it all
Il left my bonnet here,'' she said.
"Mr Isaac is going home with me,
and came to get it. Sorry to disturb
YOU"
She was very cool and contemptuous.
She tied her bonnet on at the glass,
threw her little mantle over her Shout
ders, and went out. Next day she broke
our engagement and sent me back my
ring. The next week left home and
went away to sea. Some one had told
me that Dolly was going to marry Ike
Robins. Mother wrote to me often,
and never mentioned Dolly and never
asked about her. l lived with men,
| generally on the sea, and had no
thought of liking or caring for any
woman. | always intended to go home
and see the old folks, but they died OF
fever within two days of each other,
and stranger sent me the news.
Lawyer Dredgers saw to the estate,
and did what | asked him to do with
the money. did not need it then, but
it would keep me from being beggar
in my old age. And still / sailed the
sea, until when forty years old an acct
dent happened to me which came near
being my death. 1t did not kill me MOI
cripple me, but was no longer fit for
sailors life, and there was nothing
left for me but to settle down on land
and live on my money; and so | went
home at last to talk to Lawyer bred.
gers and get his advice. felt very
sad as l walked through the village,
My parents were dead, no one remem.
bered me; had not friend in the
place.
The lawyer had done his best tc
make my money profitable to me, and
was richer than | dreamed. When
all the business was over | took 8
moonlight stroll through the street. II
was twenty years since the night
kissed Sally Gray, and lost my love by
it; but nothing had altered in the out
ward aspect of the place.
People were sitting on their porchei
as of yore; the same flowers seemed tC
bloom in the gardens; the same loun
gers to stand about the tavern door
the same young men and girls to hang
upon the garden gates. 1t was ode
to think that the girls might be the
daughters of those l knew. There
stood the church, there the parson
age. walked toward it. The win
dows of the sitting-room were open.
drew softly near and peeped in.
The old clock licked in the corner
The old rag carpet was either the same
or another just like it. There was only
one blue vase on the mantel. sup
pose the other had been broken; bu
there were the profiles of Grandpa anC
Grandma Wheeler over the escritoire
There was Dominic Wheeler, looking
very much older, sitting exactly as hi
used to sit beside the table, his rel
handkerchief over his knees, cup 0
tea in his hands.
Dolly" he said.
And from an inner room came /;
woman, large, handsome and high col
ored, who said:
"Well, fatherp"
Could it be my slim, young Dollyp
Yes, it was. She was very fine-look
ing now, and she looked so matronl,
that Immediately concluded that sh
was Mrs. Isaac Robins.
Still, could not leave the window
vt was my one glimpse of her,
said to myself, 'for years past AM
years to come"
swell, father" she said.
And turned smiling toward him.
"Tve been thinking it over, Dolly,
he said. 81 think it would be best 70
You to marry. lam eighty. can nc
live long. You had better marry MI
Braham. He is very fond of you. Yo
,. like him, | am sure Is it for my SAX
you say MOP"
She bent over him and put her hand
on his shoulders.
, Father" she said, 81 am going {
tell you the truth, thing woma
seldom does in these matters. | shout
not have to leave you; so it is not TO
your sake, much as love you. But
do not care for Mr.. Braham. hav
only cared for one man in my life-m
, first love, James Gardner. | sent hir
I I away from me, and he had done yer
wrong; but l think now that we bot
loved each other l know that, eve
now, can not forget him, and that
+, never shall forget him while live"
There were tears in her eyes; sh
brushed them away. In another me
, ment l was at the door; she opened i
4 / held out both my hands. Those wei
Dolly's girlish eyes that looked at m,
4 and caught her in my arms.
II have come back to be forgiven
. Dolly" l said, and / saw that ha
, not come in vain.-Boston Budget.
Room VS.. Company.