The sun., 1886-04-15
AFTER MANY DAYS.

cut. you've seen the place. Inc
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 l had my supper, l used to dress
myself, and tell my mother that !
meant to call on Dominic Wheeler's
folks. Mother generally answered
that l couldn't do better; that the
dominie's conversation was sure to be
improving. and that Dolly was not
''hity-tity, like some gals she. could
mention"
Father would add: "and a pretty
little cottage, too" And armed with
parental approval, l would go to the
parsonage.
1t was good time to go, for the SER
mon had to be finished, as general
thing, on that evening, and Dolly and
had delightful long talks in those sol
itary 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 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 a hurry to take her
from me-"
'Wait two years, and you will be
three and twenty. and I'll give you
the river farm and build you house" ="
said father.
Our course of true love seemed to
! be running very smooth, indeed, and
l would have staked my life and soul,
a pretty heavy stake, on my constan-
thought we were too happy, and laid a
trap for ME.
DR.. Robins widow, a managing
woman with big house, was i'll the
habit of taking summer boarders, and
every year a lot of city strangers
wondered about the place from June
to September.
When Dolly and l had been engaged
about year and 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, q
Miss Sally Grey, so pretty that every
one who saw her was talking about it..
And l was introduced to her. Some
women have way OF making a man
act against his better Judgment. She
was one of them. did not mean to
tiirt with her, but l did. l did not
mean to meet her in shady lanes, and
in the quiet wood paths, but We met.
She knew { / suppose Ike Robins had
told herr about my engagement, and
she teased me about being afraid OF
my sweetheart.
"Such a good, prim little thing"
she would say. ''Is she dreadfully
shocked at me? Does she think l am
n hirt? Does she pray for me in meet
ing?"
felt angry, but yet was piqued
into proving myselffre to do as liked.
At a little evening party to which
we were asked | danced five dances
with her, and when, at last, my con-
science smote me, and l went to look
for Dolly, | found she had gone home.
'She said her pa wanted her." said
Mrs. Robins, but | tell you plainly,
James Gardener, l 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. If my lilly be-
haved like her I'd shut her up on
bread and water until she reformed. Z"
hurried away, but the parsonage
was shut up when got there, and
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 l went over to the
parsonage very early, but Dolly was
not there
"She's gone to spend the evening
somewhere" said the dominic, kindly.
Il suppose she forgot to leave word
for YOU to come for her. She isn't
very well, either; cold, I suppose.
know Igenerally caught cold at party
when was young and attended such
entertainments. hope she'll be care
full Her poor mother died OF con.
sumption.
My heart gave great leap.
l thought of Dolly i'll, dying, ever
dead. and l went out into the kitchen
to ask the servant if Dolly left any
message for me.
"She said she wouldn't be home to-
night" answered Nora; "at least this
evening, l mean, and she did not leave
word where she was gone"
Nora understood, saw. / felt ter
ribly injured, and l made up my mind
to revenge myself by spending the
evening 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 we're almost all gone away. Ii
never knew how to fiirt before, Sally
Gray taught me how that night, and
when l took leave of her l was i'm
pudent enough to tell her l should
ike to kiss her.
do it, if you DESIRE" said she.
And then! Yes, kissed her; and as
l did it the door opened, and we start
ed apart, and there stood Dolly. She
had seen it ALL
II left my bonnet here" she said
"AIr. Isaac is going home with me, and
l came to get it. Sorry to disturb
YOU"
She was very cool and contemptu-
ous. She tied her bonnet on at the
glass; threw her little mantle over her
ehoulders; 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
Robbins.
Mother rote to me often; and never
mentioned Dolly and / Inever asked
about her. 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 a fever within
two days of each other, and strang
| or sent me- the news