News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-10-21

''She said she wouldn't be home to
night" answered Nora; sat least, this
evening, I mean, and she did not leave
word where she was gone"
Nora understood, l saw. l felt terri
bly, injured, and made up my mind tc
revenge myself by spending the evening
with Sally Gray.
She was at home, the servant girl said.
and found her waiting in the parIor fo1
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. If never knew how to
fiirt before, Sally Gray taught me how
that night. and when l took leave of
her was imprudent enough to tell her
should ike to kiss her
do it, if you DESIRE, - said she.
And thenl Yes, I kissed her; and as
did it the door opened, and we started
apart, and there stood Dolly. She had
seen it all.
81 left my bonnet here" she said.
'Mr. Isaacs is goirg home with me, and
came to get it. Sorry to disturb
you"
She was cool and contemptuous. She
tied her bonnet on at the glass, threw
her little mantle over her shoulders, 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 Rob
ins.
Mother wrote to me often and never
mentioned Dolly, and l never asked
about her. lived with men, generally
on the sea, and had no thought of liking
or caring for any woman. | always in
tended 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 a beggar
in my old age: and still / sailed the
sea. until when forty years old an acci-
dent happened to me which came near
being my death. 1t did not kill me nor
cripple me, but I was no longer fit for a
sailors life, and there was nothing left
for me but to settle down on land and
live on INV money; and so | went home
at last to talk to LAWYER Dredgers, and
get his advice
felt very sad as I walked through
the village. My parents were dead, no
one remembered me; I had not a friend
in the place.
The lawyer had done his best tomake
my money profitable to me, and I was
richer than l dreamed When all the
business was over / took moonlight
stroll through the street. 1t was twenty
years since that night I kissed Sally
Gray, and lost my love by it; but no.
thing had altered in the outward aspect
of the place.
People were sitting on the porches as
of vore; the same flowers seemed to
bloom in the gardens; the same loung-
ers to stand about the tavern door; the
same Young men and girls to hang upon
the garden gates. 1t was odd to think
hat the girls might be the daughters of
those l knew.
There stood the church; there the
parsonage. | walked toward it. The
windows of the sitting room were open.
l 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. / suppose
the other had been broken; but there
were the profiles of Grandpa and Grand
ma Wheeler over the escritoire
There was Dominic Wheel r, looking
very much older, sitting exactly as ne
used to sit beside the table, his red
handkerchief over his knees, a cup of
tea in his hands.
"Dolly," he said.
And from an inner room came a
woman, large, handsome and high col
ored, who said:
"Well, father 90
Could it be my slim young Dolly?"
Yes, it was. She was very fine look
ing now, and she looked SO matronly
that Immediately concluded that she
was Mrs, Isaac Robins.
Still | could not leave the window
''It was my one glimpse of her." l
said to myself, ''for years past and years
10 come"
"Well, father" she said?
And turned smiling toward him.
'Ive been thinking it over, Dolly"
ne SAID, az think it would be best for
you to marry. l am eighty. | cannot
i've long. You had better marry Mr..
Braham. He is very fond of you You
ike him, / am sure. 1t is for my ke
you say no 2"
She bent over him and put her hands
IN his shoulders.
"Father," she said, 81 am going to
ell you the truth, thing a woman sell
lom does in these matters. | should |
lot have to leave you; so it is not for
our sake, much as l love you. But l |
10 not care for Mr.. Braham. I have |
'nly cared for one man in my life-my |
irst love, James Gardner. l had sent !
lin away from me, and he had done
-ery wrong; but know now that we
10Th loved each other. l know that.
wen now, L cannot forget him while I |
ive.n
There were tears in her ewes; she
brushed them away. In another moment
was at the door; she opened it. held
out both my hands. Those were Dolly's
sirlish eyes that looked at me, and |
;aught her in my arms.
81 have come back to be forgiven,
Dolly" said, and l saw that had not
come in vain