New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-10-20
THE SILENT GOSSIP.

When a young woman stands besldethe
fire place, taps her foot on the rug and
says, coolly: II feel very much honor
ed, Tn sure, but don't think we are
suited to each other, the young man
who is most interested in the CONVEX
station can do nothing better than to
depart as soon as consistent with his
dignity.
So Richard went out and banged
Ghe door, leaving Dolly in the libra
ny.
Dolly was eighteen, Richard was
Gwenty three, the ages atwhich a man
and woman are most given to tor
maenting each other. Dolly thought
Richard the handsomest and wisest
of human beings. Richard thought
Dolly the loveliest and most lovable
OF women, so there is no use describ-
ing either OF them. That Dolly should
refuse Richard, or that Richard should
propose to Dolly in an unfavorable
moment, may seem strange, but it
was the fault OF a gossip, a silent Cos
sip, who or which had circulated most
extraordinary intelligence concerning
Richard.
One fine afternoon, less than a. week
before this painful interview, Richard
walked down Main street enjoying the
mild spring air, thinking OF Dolly and
6ennis, 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
Gound that Dolly had treasured up all
his letters to her brother.
I Main street was crowded; the even
ing train, the sssupper train" from
town had just arrived, and Richard,
who had come down by an earlier
train on some business with old Mr..
Frankland, met the crowd, and beam
ed serenely on every one. People
meet very closely on the narrow
sidewalk of g. village street; that was
the reason why the two Poulett girls,
apparently struck by Richards new
scarf pin, stared and giggled as they
passed, Then Miss Lawndes, the
dressmaker, peeted at him with eager
eyes; Mrs. Allan, the doctors wife,
stout and slow, came to full stop in
front OF him, and as he stepped aside
to give her room she turned and look
ed at him again before she passed on.
Richards special friends, "the boys"
as the, young lawyers, clerks
and railroad men Of his own age We're
called, were nearly all on the other side
of the street, but Bobby Price,
just through college, and on his way
acme from the tennis ground, saunter-
led slowly to meet Richard. Lulle Cam.
eron was with him, giggling as usual,
and they both stopped and talked to
Richard for a minute or two. Then it
was tea time, and everyone in we'll
regulated Sunnydale went home.
Within the next three days all Sum
1nydale was talking about Richard
Dale and Julie Frankland, OF the out
rageous Irritation between them, for
Julie was engaged toGeorge Lane, who
was in Europe on a long business trip.
The first that Dolly Firth heard of it
was from her Aunt Julia Dorr. eve
all know how Julie firted before she
got engaged" said Aunt Julia, after
announcing the facts of the case, "but
l never would have believed she could
have behaved 80 afterwards. George
will be furious. Ofcourse he will break
<of, / can't blame him.
Dolly kept silent. Richard had been
devoted to her since they were chill
dren; they had quarrelled and made
up a dozen times, and he had occa-
asionally invited other girls to parties
and picnics when he thought Dolly
had shown signs of Undertaking. him,
but never in their lives had there been
anything like this. And to think how
he had kept on calling on her three
times week, while he was, no doubt,
calling on Julie the other four even
lngs! And then to come down in the
early train to see her! "The detesta-
BILE little firt, it 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,
las usual, two days after she had learn.
red of his falseness.
eff it were not that the whole vii
Iage had seen it, I believe / should
have been deceived by him again."
shhonght Dolly, as she looked into the
eyes that were dearer to her than all
Others, as they beamed at her from
nnder Richards straight brows.
When Richard, who had lately made
certain satisfactory business arrange.
ments. and felt that now his lifelong
devotion deserved to be rewarded,
made what he considered a neat and
proposal, his wrath at her
refusal was not greater than Delly's
lat his presumption.
Il didn't need to lead up to 1t, as if
L had only known her a month! She's
been fooling me all this time" was
| Richards angry comment as he went
down Che steps.
1tHe thinks because she's engaged
asd hirts he can be engaged and firt
tool" was Dolly's meditation, mingled
with tears. 44But Iwould take him,