Mower County transcript., 1890-03-19

very fine sample Of the average dark
haired and dark-eyed boy of his age.
Mary Crawford was lighter than the
Chesters, and very sweet in face and
Louis spent q very pleasant evening,
and the next afternoon-half-past four
him approaching the Chesters
In tennis suit The rest of the party
were on the lawn, Joe and Gladys play
Ing careless game, while Dotty and
Mary talked to Mrs. Chester. Mary
did not care to play, and Louis found it
quite natural somehow to play with
GLADYS. He was, or had been, quite an
expert at the game. but, although
GLADYS played DWELL, Dorothy did re-
markable work for girl, and the game
was very even. When at last the sup
per-bel rang Louis had passed de-
nghttul two hours, and needed no
urging to promise to come again soon.
DAY after day. he played there, or
9ney all played at the court he had had
made at the "new place, as his uncle's
house was called. Mary Crawford was
always OF the party, and often one or
another OF the village youths. When it
ralned they played quoits in the
Chesters' barn. Joe discovered that,
after all, Louis could beat him at tennis
or almost any thing else he suggested,
and henceforth looked up to him as a
model Of athletics and manliness in
general.
The days and weeks passed, but
Louise found it harder every hour to de-
eide. The sweet reserve of Mary or the
quick wit Of Gladys? He would have
chosen the latter, perhaps, but for his
mothers evident preference for Mary.
Dotty surprised him most of all, and
was by no means an unimportant men,
Der OF the group; she was 50 full of life
IN the tennis court and 80 quietly kept
herself in the background elsewhere.
Finally, about the first Of September,
the Worthingtons decided, as their new
home was ready for them, to give q
"house-warming." Louis told himself
that he must settle the question that
night Two months were gone, and he
must have some time after his decision
Tor the wooing and winning. He felt
sure he could easily love either-but
which? The preparations for the fete
were extensive, as all the mill-hands-
his own and those from the cotton-mills
were invited to grand supper on the
lawn, while the house was reserved for
his own friends He liked the English
way of doing that sort of thing, and did
it in very generous manner. He had
found, after all, that there were other
eligible girls in Trainville, though he
had not turned toward any of them with
matrimonial views; and with these, their
brothers, and a few college friends, i'm
ported for the occasion, he thought the
affair might be success. It was.
The night was glorious-not moon
light, but with multitude of stars.
The lawn was brilliant with japanese
lanterns, and frequent fireworks de-
lighted the younger and the older of
the mill people.
After Louis had inaugurated their
supper with a mild toast-drunk in lem
onade, as he wasn't quite English
enough to think beer good for them-he
felt at liberty to join his other guests.
These he found enjoying the fine music
of the city orchestra, and, for the most
part, having thoroughly examined the
beautiful house, making good use of the
melody for dancing.
After greeting again various people,
Louis sought out the group where the
Chesters and Mary Crawford were, and,
after few moments, asked Gladys for a
turn. Then Mary. Then he would
have asked Dotty, but she was nowhere
to be seen.
'Where is Miss Dorothy?" he asked
Gladys. The girl had told him once,
with vehemence that amazed him, that
she hated to be called Dotty.
''I'm sure don't know" answered her
sister. II believe she had some little
mishap and mamma is probably repair
ing it, and she swept away into waltz
with smile at Louis.
But he saw Mrs. Chester talking to
his mother. He really must ask Miss
Dorothy for dance, you know, but If
she was in the dressing-room, he must
wait. Seeing every one occupied and
enjoying the music. hs wan
dered out to the only part a. sac grounds
he had reserved for his Special guests.
This was love- little nook natural
~ inclosed by hawthorn hedges, and he
concludsz it to be empty now. Very
good ?lace to think. Which? He was
as much at sea as ever, and was walk
ing along disconsolately, trying, man
like, to find some solution by plunging
his hands deep in his pockets, when he
heard the unmistakablc sound of Sob
bing near him. He stopped abruptly
and then went quickly toward the spot
whence the sound came. Here was
Dorothy, sitting on bench in an aban-
don of grief.
''Miss Dorothy!'' he cried, in alarm.
"What is it?'
Dorothy jumped to her feet and
showed rather distorted countenance.
As she nervously made little dabs at her
eyes, with very moist handkerchief,
she stammered:
"Oh, I didn't think any one would
come. IL am sorry, but 1 couldn't helm
it."
He looked puzzled and was at loss