San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-05-28

uaught but Miss Dolly TO me, bless FER.
till she goes to Culverton Royal for good.
! doubt ell 'ev sense enough for that,
though. l doubt ee won't a gotten a vast
o sense from er." That indignant "'er7
meant the Countess Of Culverton.
Meanwhile Culverton and Dolly went on
their way in bissful ignorance Of the
storm which had been raised in Miss
Jones's breast.
There's Mrs Carruthers," remarked
Dolly, as they approached the Vicarage
wall. "and lady"
Culverton looked up and lifted his hat,
stopping as the Wears wife leant over the
wall and asked Dolly what mischief she
had been after
40 see Mr.. William Pickard take the
wasps' nest" answered Dolly, showing all
her white teeth.
"And to eat some of Mrs. Pickard's good
things too, suppose" laughed Mrs. Car
ruthers. well. will you and Jasper come
in tomorrow afternoon and have tea here2
The young Carruthcrscs of Loan are
coming. and some Of the Bcauvilles from
Low Ella"
'Oh. thank you very much!" answered
Dolly. Ill tell mother when we go in"
Il was just going to write note" con-
tinued Mrs. Carruthers. However need
not do SO now. Lord Culvcrton, if you will
come too, we shall he very glad to see
you"
Il shall I've delighted" said CulveIton
Immediately.
Then, with n ringing good bye" from
Dolly and another uplifting Of the young
Earl's hat, the pair passed down the cor
ner and went up the road leading to the
House.
mo worse for running wild, you see,"
said the Wears wife 10 her friend.
mo; charming little creature" re-
piled the other. "Is that hoy the owner
of the place you pointed out to me this
morningr
ayes, CulveIton Towers. We passed
through the village-Culvehon Royal
Dolly will make lovely Countess"
as it already settledf"
"Oh, yes! Culverton worships her-in
deed, has always done 50, almost from tn,
time they were mere haLicS-not that they
are much more than that now"
The subjects Of their conversation haC
reached the side-door leading into the
House gardens.
Here's the toffce. Dolly"
Instead Of taking the packets, Dolly
threw her arms round the boy.
'Bertie, do love YOU" she cried.
For the tOtfee I" he asked lOftily.
mo, not for the tofiee-fOr your very
own self" she answered
"Better than Jasper" he asked jealous.
ly.
She looked up the road and down the
road, at sparrow hopping on the edge
opposite, at the packets of tOffee in Cul
vertons hands-anywhere, everywhere
except at Culverton's dark face or Culver
toms gray eyes, the only Culverton feature
he possessed.
"Jasper has so many people to love
him." she said at last, almost apologeti.
cally, land you"
"Have none," he ended bitterly for a
boy of his age-only fifteen.
But you have me-" objected Dolly
"You don't know how | love you, Bertie!"
His eyes frightened at the sound of his
name, never heard save from her lips,
and he put one more question.
"And will you always like me bestf"
"Of course" returned Dolly, raising an
innocent rosebud mouth to be kissed.
The young Earl bent down and kissed
her, almost with sigh He had some
glimmerings of what would come in the
future-she had none
Dolly opened the door and led the way
to the side entrance of the mansion. The
door stood wide open and showed broad
passage paved with black and white
marble, in a large lozenge-like pattern.
There was very old table of black oak,
and there were two high backed chairs,
a rack for whips, a stand for umbrellas,
rough coat Of JaSpeI's, and a cloak of Dol
ly's. On the table was a small silver sal
yer, containing one or two cards; and on
tray was a slice of bread and honey hav-
ing one great bite in it, which Dolly had
been disposing of when Jaspers imperious
summons called her to go to farmer
Pickard's. At the sight of it. Culverton
laughed and began an insulting nursery
rhyme about song of siX-penCe and
pocketful Of rye. But sweet-tempered
Dolly took it in good part and volunteered
a voluble explanation.
You see, it was this way, BERTHE" she
said eagerly. Mother was ont, and JAS
per was away all the afternoon, and got
so hungry-for Id nothing else to do
nothing at all; so | went to cook, and she
hadn't a cake in the place-she was just
going to make some-so she gave me a
slice of bread and honey, Of which | had
just taken one bite when Jasper called me;
and l laid it down and never gave it
another thought. Oh dear. don't think
l can eat it now, for l had such lot of
Mrs. Pickard's cheese-cakes!" she ended
dismally.
'.And if cook sees it," laughed Culver
ton, "she won't give you anything the
next time you tell her you are so hungry"
Il don't suppose she WILL" returned
Dolly. II say, BERTHE, l wish you'd help
me with it. l could eat bit of it."
I'm not hungry answered the boy
gravely "but between us we might man
age it. Now, if Jasper were here he'd
gObble it up in a moment"
"But it wouldn't be Of the least use to
save it, for he won't he in till tea time, and
there will be Omelette, and Jasper won't
look at anything else"
swell, then, here goes" cried the boy.
He took huge bite, after which Dolly
took small one, and the slice soon disap-
peared.
THANK you, Culverton," said Dolly
gratefully, as if a great weight had been
lifted off her mind.
CHAPTER IT