News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-06-07

the latter, and has scarcely word TOR
the former, who presently retIres IN
tragic dudgeOn, and leans against the
wall looking like Hamlet, Lord Byron,
or any other blighted being IN the
sulks.
In reality, Dick is the person most to
be pitied. although his face is allght
with smiles, and his heart aglow with
anticipations of possessing a lovely
woman, and satisfying the debtors who,
metaphoricaIly speaking, take him by
the throat, crying, "pay me what. thou
owest I" Innocent creature that he Is,
he expects no treachery, nor dreams
that the milk-white bosom palpitates for
the 'sinfernal young prig" over the way.
Dolly will play billiards and lawn-tennls
with him on the morrow; in the after
noon they are to ride together; and, as
he sits oking after the ladies have
retired, he reflects on the most APPROX
ed method of asking a certain ques-
ton.
Up to.this moment Clement Lascelles
has not any necessity for putting his
fate to the touch, because he had been
absolutely certain of winning; but now
that for the first time he has rlval-a
rival who is progressing by leaps and
bounds in his ladys favor, he sees that
something must be done. He cannot
have been befooled She loves him-or
he, an adept Mt reading the secrets OF
souls, must for once have been deluded.
Perish the thought
With gloomy brow and stately step he
retires from the smoking-room, and
seeks the solitude of his chamber, but
not his couch The dawn has not long
broken ere he courts repose.
"Marion!" cries Dolly few hours
later, bursting into her friends room,
whilst that lady-no early riser at the
best of times-still nestles among her
pillows, ''reud this" and she seats her
self on the bed in a state of great excite
ment, whilst Mrs. Dalton languidly per-
uses the letter thrust into her hands.
81 call it great impertinencei' she re-
marks, returning it to Dolly.
"Impertinence!" with wide-open eyes.
"Certainlyl' and Mrs. Dalton, taking
it back, quotes from it:
"'Though [ cannot pretend to offer
you the one great passion of llfe-sad
passages beyond the ken of other NOR
tails have tarnished the pure lustre that
once surrounded my soul as with halo;
yet, if you will take heart weary with
the SORROWS of the ages, dimmed by the
darkling doubts with which an intimate
knowledge of humanity clouds the spirit,
take me to your tender breast and let
me find shelter there from life's griefs
and disappointments. What recon-
pense a heart blighted as mine has been
can bestow will strive to make to your
angelic sympathy and goodness.
''Is it not beautiful?" cries Dolly, in
an ecstacy. 81 wonder what he means9
I suppose some horrid woman threw
him over once?"
''I think it is exceedingly impertinent,
and hope you will resent it."
"Resent it," almost shrieks Dolly.
''Why,. it is declaration"
sect me my blotting- book off that
table," commands Mrs. Dalton resolute-
ly. "Now," she said, beginning to write,
"you will answer it in this way, or I
wash my hands of you, and tomorrow
he viii have reduced you to abject misery
again
md then, with heightened color, reads
he draft aloud:
"Dear Mr.. Lascelles, Il have received
your melancholy letter, and am truly
sorry for all you seem to have suffered.
But, for my part, look upon the world
rs very pleasant place, and have made
up my mind to enjoy myself as much as
possible; so, as I could not console you,
and you, with the ideas you express,
would make me miserable, / think you
had much better look for somebody
whose temperament is more like your
OWN. I suppose you mean me to under
stand that you have been much more in
love with some one else than you are
with me, which, to say the least, is not
very f1attering. No. must have an un-
divided heart, or none at all.-Your
sincere friend. D. s."
There is a desperate fight between
Mrs. Dalton and Dolly before the latter
can be persuaded to copy and forward
what she considers heartless and flip
pant missive. In the end Marion
triumphs. Mr.. Lascelles does not ap-
pear at breakfast, and Dolly, though her
soul quakes within, laughs and talks to
Dick.
Later in the morning, when they ere
playing lawn-tennis, Clement Lascelles,
feeling much smaller than he has ever
done in his life, seeks counsel from Mrs.
Dalton. With an angelic smile she al
B11ChS IILlI Will ut1RctS ana
makes him gulp down bowls of poison;
but she does him an excellent turn by
taking good deal of the nonsense out !
Of him. He oonfesses that he adores
Dolly. How, o how, is he to win her
Has he the ghost of a chance?
Mrs. Dalton, looking solemn, declares
her inability to reply to this. She hints
1t DoIly's youth and love of amusement. |
She hints, too, at Dicks unfagging |
good spirits and temper. And the mp |
shot of it is chat when Dick returns |
,restfallen, from his afternoon ride with
Dolly, having spoken and received his
answer, Clement Lascelles carries off |
5he young lady to her boudoir on pre-
ence of wanting to be shown something,
md, replacing the melancholy of Hamlet
Oy the cOnquerlng airs of young Love-
ace, takes her in his arms, swears he
las been fool, and has never really
owed any one but her sweet self, and
hat if she accepts him her life shall be
me round of pleasure.
Twenty minutes later, Dolly has
passed on all his embraces and more to
Marion.
GLOW clever you are, darlingl" she
ays admiringly.
To which Mrs. Dalton replies, ''Now
-ou know how to manage him, make
.ood use of your knowledge"