The Portland daily press., 1888-03-03

1 DCluB blc lllitu blIl blIOWS US bOBcbucI
| good deal; and although this country life is
absolutely delightful, | am not sure but it
| might be little dull at times If there were
no one in the house beside Mr.. and Mrs.
4 Henderson"
| 81 didn't know that Helen Lad relatives
| by the name of Gerald" said Mrs Miller,
| thoughtfulIy, as she read the letter. "They
| must be some of Mr.. Henderson's family
from northern New Hampshire-obscure
i farmers, / suppose"
Meanwhile the days and weeks were hur-
| rying by
| June, with its singing birds and orchards
| smothered in apple blossoms, had passed,
and midsummer was at hand. The green
| were silent, and the long grass in the fields
| hardly stirred, SO motionless was the air, save
| as 1t fell beneath the mowers scythe.
!, Dorothy sat on the back porch, watching
| the men at work in the fields, listening nan
unconsclouEly to the mOnOtonous dronlng OF
the flies, and feeling as if, for the first time
| in her life, she were really happy.
The sunny outlook from the house, the sur
| rounding hills, with their eyer-changlng
| shadows, and the simple country life, with
| its freedom from restraint, were all mex
| pressibly delightful to her. Ihere was put
| one little cloud and that no bigger than
| mans hand, to mar her happy serenity,
Only the day before cousin Gerald had
| told her that he had about made up his mind
| to remain with Mr. Henderson tor the rest
| of his life and Dolly felt almost sure that it
1 was not altogether on account OF the bis
| emit. "Of course" she said to herself, IF
| think such thoughts" And then, in more
| generous mood, she said TO herself: He is
| far too much of a man to waste his life in
| little country place like this. VIII tell him
| so, and then go home"
But although Dolly was not wanting in
| courage, she did not Immediately put her ex-
| cellent resolves into execution. Sober Sec
| ond thought convinced her that she had been
tod
it might, yes, it might possibly be the bis
cult after all; so she remained, and July
merged into August. As Mrs. Henderson
watched her Cousin Gerald and her pretty
young handmade sitting together on the
broad stone step that led to the lllac-shaded
porch, talking, evening after evening, In the
old, old fashion of youths and maldens, she
thought Of her own youth and smiled not dis
approvingly.
One afternoon, early in September, Dolly
went into the orchard for apples. They lay
on the ground in lavish profusion, and it was
altogether unnecessary for Cousin Gerald to
leave his work and come TO her assistance.
Because he chose to do so, however, Dolly
chose to blush, and as she felt the warm col
or mounting to her cheek in such an UNI
called-for and eXasperating manner, she be-
came all at once convinced, by some lnscrut-
able feminine logic, that the time had come
for her to put an end to the innocent decelt
which she had been practicing for the last
three months.
"Mr. Gerald" she said, as they turned
toward the house, Il Gm going away to-
morrow. Perhaps | shan't have any better
| opportunity to say goodbye"
"Going away?h he echoed. isn't this
very student? Has anything happened9
Are you dissatisfied?
'Yes-no. What mean is" said Dolly
suddenly embarrassed, Il didn't expect when
came, to stay here always. and l think per-
haps my mother will be glad to see me by
| this time"
Il have no doubt she WILL" said her COM
paniOn, planting himself in front OF tree IN
such way as most effectually to bar. Dolly's
progress. 81 should think she might. You
have never told me very much about your
mother, by the way, or where you live Per-
haps you will be willing to do So. now"
There is not much to tel, answered
and there are three of us girls. But what
wanted to say, Mr.. Gerald" she continued.
with sudden rush of words lest her cour-
age might desert her, If you will excuse me
for saying it1and we have been suc zen g SIn
feeling as if you were doing yourself an In
Justice by staying here. OF course 1t is very
pleasant for a while; but. If | were your sis
Ter, should tell you that you were throwing
yourself away and wasting your abilities"
II am rather glad, on the whole, that you
are not my sister," remarked the young man,
apparently quite unmoYed by Dolly's crltl-
isms; c"but tell me what you would like to
nave me 10. NC Nlliih5 w W. "
good deal"
80, only thought that if you ever had
any plans for another sort OF life ana knew
that THAT other people took an interest In
them it might make difference. -,
ut would make dltterence-a great dll-
ference" said young Gerald, earnestly; "and
you do take little interest in me, he added,
''even if you are not my sister-a very lit
tle?"
under her hat. Then, as he started forward,
with what desperate intent he himself only
knew, she continued breathlessly:, but not
enough for that-oh, nor And she made q
little rush past him, disappearing through
the trees in manner which she always al
terw ard regretted.
And then she reproached herself Tor her
bushes and needless confusion, atOnlng Tor
her misdeeds by bidding them all good bye
the next morning with unapproachable Dig
nifty, and assuring Cousin Gerald as he
helped her into the cars that she had left her
address with Mrs. Henderson.
Then the train rolled away; she shed lew
furtive tears, but dried the salt drops with
angry resolve.
Six weeks later, she was sitting with Lii
liam in the back parlor, discussing family
affairs. Indeed, they had done little else
since their return for Mrs. Miller could no
longer conceal the fact that their fortune
was irretrieyably lost, and there were ques-
tions of the greatest Importance to be settled.
Lillian, as the betrothed of Mr. Clement
Rich, had an assured future.
"Of course" said Dorothy, Il can take
care of myself; l can cook, and mamma can
live with you; but what are we to DO with
Grace and her everlasting embroidery
Now, if this tiresome Mr.. Farnleigh had only
proposed for Grace instead oil me, everything
would be right"
but Dolly DEAR" said Lillian, in her most
soothing tones, you are very brave OF
course. and independent; but you know this
Mr.. Farnleigh is perfectly unexceptlonaple'
Mamma says that papa used TO know MN.
He saw you once somewhere, and fell IN love
with you at first sight; and I'm sure, Doll,
can't see what else you can ask Tor.
LILLIAN you have no more heart than
kitten. If he fell in love with, me, didn't
with him. don't even remember his face;
and / am going to write this minute and tell
him that | can't and won't think OF it.. :,
"But you won't say it in just those words,
interposed Lillian, with gentle air of ex-
nostnlation "Do be cautious, Dolly, and
well, it wouldn't do any harm to walt day
or SO and think it over. am sure would
mo YOU wouldn't" exclaimed Dolly
But would rather be rash than calculat-
At that moment Grace came in with card
sit is Mr.. Farnleigh," she said, land he
wants to see you, Dorothy, in the library"
Then shall be spared LII, the tron9le OF
Very kind in him, am sure to call for his
Dismissal" and she left the room.
Dorothy was gone long time, and the two
girls awaited her return with Impotence.
81 shouldn't think it would take so long to
saw no." said Grace, meditatiyely. IF it
were yes, now, one could imagine how 1t
might" ,.,,,,,. .,.,. a..
of experience, zone might.
At length Mrs. Miller, who had also been
summoned to the library, came upstairs
looking more contentedI than her daughters
had seen her since the failure OF the house
of Lee. Hubbard q Sons, which bad involved
them in its downfall. - d,
mamma, do tell us what it all MEANS"
Mrs. Miller sat down in an easyschair and
rested her head against its high-cushloned
back. c..oo. hut hafore
Mrs Miller had time to reply to the eager
query. Dorothy came in with her own eApia-
nation. . - -. ,,,.o.ov+od
TO your future brother-in-law, Mr.. Gerald
Farnleigh. have known and-and liked
him ali summer, but it did not occur TO me 10
ask if Aunt Helen's Cousin Gerald had any
other name. He allowed me to call nm MI.
Gerald, and now he declares that was as
much of an imposter as he: 10, IA
$50 you didn't refuse him after all?' said