The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-07-15
HE FLIRTED.

on fathers farm, down there in Con-
necficnf. You've seen the place. The
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 had my supper. used to dress
myself. and tell my mother that
meant TO call on Dominic Wheeler
folks. Mother generally answered
that couldn't do better; that the DOM
inie conversation was sure to be inn
proving. and that Dolly was not
..hity-tity. like some gals she could
III. ation.
Father would add: land q pretty lit
tie critter, too. And armed with pa
rental approval. would go to the par
sonage.
1t was good time to go, for the SER
mon had to be finished. as a general
thing, on that evening, and Dolly and
| had delightful long talks in those sol
itary moments, and one evening ! pro-
posed to Dolly. and she accepted me.
The dominic gave US his blessing. father
and mother said they could not have
chosen daughtcr-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 Il hurry to take her from
me-
..Wait two years, and you will be
three and-twenty. and III give you the
river farm and build You a house, :
said father.
Our course OF true love seemed to be
running very smooth, indeed, and
would have staked my life and soul, q
pretty heavy stake. on my constancy.
But, somehow, think Satan thought
we were too happy, and laid trap fol
me.
Doctor Robins widow, q managing
woman with big house. was in the
habit Of taking summer boarders, and
every year a lot Of city strangers wan
dered about the place from June to
September.
When Dolly and had been engaged
about 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 was one young lady there, o
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 q man
act against his better judgment. She
was one of them. l did not mean to
ilirt with her. but | did. ! did not
mean to meet her in shady lanes. and
in quiet wood paths. but we met. She
knew Il suppose Ike Robins had told
her) about my engagement. and she
leased me about being afraid Of my
sweetheart.
.Such good, prim little thing
she would say. is she is so dreadfully
shocked at ME? Does she think l am
fiirt? Does she pray for me in meet.
ing?"
felt angry, but yet l was piqued
into proving myself free to do as
liked. At little evening party. to
which we were asked. danced five
dances with her, and when, at last,
my conscience smote me, | went to
look for Dolly, l found she had gone
| home.
..Shc 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 pco.
| pie can find TO admire in that impu.
dent New York girl. If my lilly be.
haved like her, Id shut her up or
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 darl
windows.
The time seemed very long until the
next evening, and l went over to tn,
parsonage very early; but Dolly wa
not there.
.'She's gone to spend the evenin:
somewhere. said the domino, kindly
Il suppose she forgot to leave word TO
YOU to come for her. She isn't ver'
well, either; cold, suppose. know
| generally caught cold at part,
when | was young and attended sucl
entertainments. hope she'll be care
full. Her poor mother died Of consImp
ton.
My heart gave great leap.
thought of Dolly i'll, dying, evel
dead. and l went out into the kitchen
to ask the servant If Dolly left an,
message for me.
she said she wouldn't be home to
night, answered Nora; lat least, thi
evening, / mean, and she did no
leave word where she was gone"
Nora understood, saw. fel
terribly injured. and | made up M,
mind to revenge myself by spending
the evening with Sally Grey.
She was at home the servant cir
said, and found her waiting in tn
parlor for me. We had it to ourselves
Mrs. Robins never came in. or any o
the other boarders; indeed. it was nov
growing late in the season, and the,
were almost all gone away. II Ineve
knew how to flirt before, Sally Gre,
taught me how that night. and when
took leave of her | was impruden
enough to tell her should like to kis
her.
| do it. if you dcsire.'' said she.
And then! Yes, kissed her; and q
l did it the door opened, and We start
ed apart, and there stood Dolly. Sh
had seen it all.
Il left my bonnet here she said
MIR. Isaac is going home with me
and | c" ne to get it. Sorry to distur
yon.'
She was very cool aud contemptuous
She tied her bonnet on at the glass
threw her little mantle over her shout
ders; and went out. Next day sh
broke our engagement and sent N
back my ring.
The next week L left home and wen
away to sea. Some one had told m
that Dolly was going to marry Tx