Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-12
AFTER FIVE YEARS.
A Fair Exchange Of Love Which
Was Indeed No Robbery.
N. Y. World.l

N. Y. World.J
Dianal my own darling Diana,"
With a low cry of utter gladness the
young man hurried forward and clasped
the girl to his breast-clasped her and
kissed her, and looked down joyfully into
the startled violetblue eyes; but she,
laughing and blushing in lovely emoarrass-
ment, tore herself out Of his arms and stood
shyly before him.
"Pm not Diana-rm only Dolly" she
explained, demurely. "And you must be
Roy Van Alstyn, though l did not know
Diana was expecting you home so soon."
She was not expecting me; planned to
take her by surprise. IsAit possible this is
little Dolly? You were in short frocks
when went away, my dear. You are the
living image of your sister," he said, re-
garding her with mingled look Of sur
prise, confusion and admiration.
"Oh, lndeedr' answered Miss Dolly, not
particularly battered ''But she is not a
great deal older than lam"
''Of course murmured the young man,
more and more confoun6ed; you are the
picture of what she was five years ago
when l saw her last"
II am eighteen and my sister is-twenty-
three" remarked Dolly. with little air of
superiority, looking straight up into the
eyes of this tall, fne-looking fellow whom
she thought the most taking" gentleman
she had ever met and who, she knew, had
made a clear SIS, coo by his fve-years' La
bor
But Diana Is Just as pretty as ever"
she added, patronizingly, land will be
awfully glad to have you back, suppose.
She doesn't have much fun, you see, for
the fellows all understand she's engaged;
and Pm glad you've come for her at last
before she gets to be downright old maid.
Shall run to the house and tell her?'i
II have been in& the house and spoken to
your mother; Diana was out here in the
garden, she said; and that was one reason
/ made the mistake, l suppose" he said,
dreamily, his eyes still lingering on the
beautiful, foweF-like face, SO fresh, so
piquant, so perfect. Dolly was born
coquette, and selfish to the core of her vain
little heart. She was fully aware OF the
impression she was making; even now she
was thinking, with a thrill, would it be
possible to cut Diana out, and catch this
handsome and generous fellow for her.
self!n
For the Davenports were poor, and Dolly
longed for costlier dresses and jewels to
set off her beauty; she envied her older SIS
ter her good luck; beaux Miss Dolly had
il superabundance, but among them none
such as this-rich and fascinating. She
glanced up at him from under her long,
curIing.lashes.
''It's too bad l got the first kiss she
laughed, the soft color flying to her wild
rose face Diana will be furious"
"Don't tell her, then,'' murmured Roy,
laughing little, too, and unable to with
draw his adulising gaze from the lovely
young girl Give years, | never thought
about their changing Diana; yet Of course
/ am older as well as-she."
'NOh, but mana man ought to be eight
or ten years the older"
''You think that, do you, Miss Dollyl"
"Why, of course. Ny lover must be al.
of that"
"Have you any one in particular in your
minds eye, Doilyl'' he asked, laughing be.
cause she laughed.
Not yet,'' with a little affected sigh.
Somehow the youths of our rural neigh
borhood hardly come up to my ideal But
really l must look about for my sister.
You must be dying TO see her, l know, after
all these years. Why, five years to me
seems like half life-timel / wonder
you've had the patience to stand here lis
teningsto my nonsense; | won't tell Diana
how you took me for her"
Roy Van AlsrYn himself wondered why
he had remained by Dolly and let her talk
without demanding to, see his sweetheart.
He had come into that sweet June garden,
eyes and heart aglow, his whole soul rush.
ing IN advance of his footsteps. For now,
at last, after ~'long toll and eDoeavor," the
supreme hour go intensely lcnged for was
here, when he,should ''feeFthe arms Of his
true love around him once again"
Meantime, not SIX feet away, outside the
leafy arbor, sitting In the deep, giistening,
fragrant grass, book iushersiap, showers
Of rose-pesals dFeb4ing over her gold hair
and pale-blue dress, was Diana Daven port,
a moment ago dreaming happily over her
coming lover, bpt noKy white as death, her
hands clenched, her lips quivertng- She
gave no token Of her nearuess. and the two
moving away IN search Of her did not learn
that she had overheard their little chat
Dolly was always entirely SELFISH she
70 herself after a time. Il have
given up every thing else 70 her, and now
she will try 10 win hin"
She crept carefully out Of the garden
INTO the house
My dear, Boy has come" her mother
called out joyfully, as she was slipping
Up 20 her ROOM
. Yes, mamma must smooth ny hair.n
Once safe IN her room sSe looked al her
self long and ssdly-in the mirror.
If ! am pale ard grave and thought
hi" she rturnured, Il have become so
waiting and watching for him II lad
Owed him lass I11igat not have pined away
NJ roses. Yes. Dolly Is ioveiv-soft and
sncer and lovely as the roses cut there
md as sosuess. But he vii see only her
zirllsh bloom, and she-she VIII break NY
heart"
II was half an hour and over before Dolly
thought Roy to~the house In the search for
Diana who was waiting IL the caol. din,
pAr.or. pale and quiet ard
old
Tie fsryNtsail oAred October was overt
u the LAND. There were o1rsi seed-czps
n the Wines oScr tie treless, but roses 20 !
oager~ Gress c,1E.ps OF chrySau1tsEsEus
laneS1aniho gz11en, but the hehcszupoazd
aignoaeste were noEcre- a peEa- xIOry
4 moonlight flooded the long porch which
,ase grace tothe plain, roomy cottage svterr
widowed mother had reared two lovely
augnrers - daughters whom .o-merrcv
nc was :alose. as g2eiAers lose gszls1Kho1.l