Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-01
From Texas Siftings.]
AFTER MANY DAYS.


necticnt. You've eeen the place. The
church was near the tavern, and be-
hind the church was the parsonage;
and there lived Dominic Wheeler and
his daughter Dolly. On Saturdays,
after had my supper, used to dress
myself, and tell my mother that |
meaut to call on Dominic Wheeler's
folks. Mother generally answered
that / couldn't do better; that the
dominle's conversation was sure to be
improving, and that Dolly was not
"hity- tlty, like some gals she could
mention"
Father would add: "And a pretty
little critter, too" And armed with.
parental approval, would go to the
parsonage.
1t was q good time to go, for the
sermon had to be finished, as gener-
81 thing, on that evening, and Dolly
and had delightful long talks in those
solitary moments, and one evening I
proposed to Dolly, and she accepted
me. The dominic gave us his blessing,
father and mother said they could not
have chosen q daughter-in law to suit
them better, and all they asked was
that we should wait little while.
"My daughter is not seventeen years
old yet," said the dominic. "You
must not be in hurry to take her
from NO."
"Wait two years, and you will be
three and twenty, and I'll give you
the river farm and build you O. house,"
said father.
Our course of true love seemed to be
running very smooth, indeed, and |
would have staked my life and soul,
pretty heavy stake, on my constancy.
But, somehow, think Satan thought
we were too happy, and laid a trap for
me.
DR.. Robins widow, g. managing
woman with a big house, was in the
habit OF taking summer boarders, and
every year q lot of city strangers wan
dered about the place from June to
September.
When Dolly and had been engaged
about o year and a, half, the widow
had thirty boarders in her house, and
Ike and Edwin and all the male help
slept In the barn.
There was one young lady there, a
Miss Sally Gray, so pretty that every
one who saw her was talking about
1T. And [ was introduced to her.
Some women have a way of making q
man act against his better Judgment.
She was one of them. did not mean
to f1lrt with her, but I did. I did not
mean to meet her In shady lanes, and
IN the quiet wood paths, but we met.
She knew L suppose Ike Robins had
told her) about my engagement, and
she leased me about being afraid of
my sweetheart.
"Such g good, prim little thing"
she would say. lis she dreadfully
shocked at me? Does she think I am
a f1irt? Does she pray for me in meet
ing?"
| felt angry, but yet I was piqued
into proving myself free to do as I
liked. At a little evening party to
which We were asked | danced FIVE
dances with her, and when, at last,
my conscience smote NE, and / went
to look for Dolly, found she had gone
home.
F'She said her pa wanted her," said
Mrs. Robins, "but | tell you plainly,
James Gardener, I don't believe it;
and for my part | don't see what peo-
pie can find TO admire in that impu-
dent New York girl. Ii my lilly be-
haved like her I'd shut herup on bread
and water until she reformed"
[ hurried away but the parsonage
was shut up when [ got there, and l
spent an hour walking up and down
before the house, staring at the dark
windows.
The time seemed very long until the
next evening, and | went over to the
parsonage very early, but Dolly was
not there.
"She's gone to spend the evening
somewhere" said the dominic, kindly.
81 suppose she forgot to leave word
for you to come for her. She isn't
very well, either; a cold, I suppose.
know | generally caught cold at
party when was young and attended
such entertainments. hope she'll be
careful. Her poor mother died OF con-
sumption"
My heart gave a great leap.
| thought of Dolly Ill, dying, even
dead, and | went out into the kitchen
to ask the servant if Dolly left any
message for me.
'sShe said she wouldn't be home to-
night, answered Nora; sat least this
evening, | mean, and she did not leave
word where she was gone"
Nora understood, I saw. I felt ter
ribly injured, and made up my mind
to revenge myselfb by spending the even
ing with Sally Gray.
She was at home, the servant girl
said, and found her waiting in the
parlor for me. Wehad 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. If I never
knew how to dirt before, Sally Gray
taught me how that night, and when I
took leave of her I was impudent
enough to tell her should like to kiss
her.
"Do it, if you DESIRE" said she.
And then Yes, | kissed her; and as
L did 1T the door opened, and we start
ed apart, and there stood Dolly. She
had seen it ALL
81 left my bonnet here" she said.
s'Mr. Isaac is going home with me, and
/ came to gel it. Sorry to disturb