The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-06-11
AFTER MANY DAYS.

on fathers farm, down there IN Con
necticut. You've seen the place. Tb,
church was near the tavern, and be
hind the church was the parsonage
and there lived Dominic Wheeler aut
his daughter Dolly. On Saturdays
after had my SUPPER used to dres
myself, and tell my mother that
meant to call on Dominic Wheeler
folks. Mother generally answered
that | couldn't do better that tn,
dominie's conversation was sure to b,
improving, and that Dolly was no
"hity tity, like some gals she coult
mention"
Father would add d: "and prett,
little critter, too" And armed will
parental approval, l would 60 to the
parsonage.
1t was good time to go, for the
sermon had to be finished, as genera
thing, on that evening, and Dolly and
| had delightful long talks in those
solitary moments, and one evening ]
proposed to Dolly and she accepted
me The dominic gave ns his bless
ing, 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 hurry to take her
from me"
"Wait two years, and you will be
Internationally, 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 |
would have staked my life and soul, a
pretty heavy stake, on my constancy.
But, somehow, | think Satan thought
we were too happy, and laid trap for
me.
Doctor Robins widow, managing
woman with big house, was in the
habit of taking summer boarders. and
every year a lot of city strangers
wandered about the place from June
to September
When Dolly and | had been engag-
ed about a year and half, the widow
had 80 boarders in her house, and Ike
and Edwin, and all the male help slept
in the barn.
There WIS one young lady there, a
Miss Sally Grey, so pretty that every
one who saw her was talking about it.
And | was introduced to her. Some
women have way of making man
act against his better Judgment. She
was one of them. | did not mean to
firt with her, but | did. l did not
mean to meet her IN shady lanes, and
in the quiet wood paths, but we met.
She knew q suppose Ike Robins had
told her) about my engagement, and
she teased me about being afraid of
my sweetheart
"Such a good, prim little thing" she
would say. SIS she dreadfully shock
ed at me? Does she think | am a
fiirt ? Does she pray for me in meet
ing?
felt angry, but yet l was piqued
into proving myself free to do as l
liked. AT little evening party, to
which we were asked, l danced five
dances with her, and when at last,
my conscience smote me, and / went
to look for Dolly,T found she had gone
home.
"She said her pa wanted her." said
Mrs. Robins "but ! tell you plainly,
James Gardener, I don't believe it !;
and for my part, I don't see what peo-
pie con find to admire in that impu-
dent New York girl. If my Tilly be-
haved like her,I'd shut her up on bread
and water until she reformed.
l 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 went over to the
parsonage very early, but Dolly was
not there.
"She's gone to spend the evening
somewhere said the domino, kindly.
81 suppose she forgot to leave word
for YOU to come for her. She isn't
very well, either a cold, / suppose
know l generally caught cold at a
party when was young and attended
such entertainments. hope she'll be
careful. Her poor mother died of con-
sumption"
NY heart gave great leap.
thought of Dolly i'll. dying, even
dead. and / went out into the kitchen
to ask the servant it Dolly left any
message for me.
"She said she wouldn't be home TO-.
night" answered Nora Sat least, this
evening, l mean, and she did not leave
word where she was going"
Nora understood, l saw. l felt
terribly injured and I made up my
mind to revenge myself by spending
the evening with Sally GRAY.
She was at home, the servant girl
raid, and / found her waiting in the
parlor for me. We had it ourselves.
Mrs. Robins never came in, nor any of
the other borders indeed, it was now
growing late in the seasons, and they
were almost all gone away. If never
knew how to flirt before, Sally Gray
taught me how that night, and when
| took leave of her | was imprudent
enough to tell her / should like to kiss
her.
"Do it, if Won desire" said she.