West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-05-29

doom. She loves that little gray
donkey--they've growed up together,
Mrs Emmerick-and she'll rake il awful
hard when she finds he's gone"
"But IL was such a good offer" said
Dorothy's mother--a pale, pink eyed,
washed out specimen of humanity-who
sat at "a table, shelling peas, land really
the beast was unsafe for a woman 90
ride"
Never unsafe for Miss Dot" said
Pamela, beating savagcly away at bowl
OF egg "If ever two crceturs under
stood and loved each other, il was her
and Neddy."
And Mr.. Emmerick needed the
money" added the lady, conclusivcly.
1T was really foolish extravaganza for
us to keep the animal. Dorothy is
quite able TO walk where she wants to
60"
"All the same," persisted Pamela, .'it
was cruel thing to sell the crccter while
she was gone.
she realized why the little gray donkey's
stall was empty, the bars leading to the
highroad let down. "My Ncddy !
Mother, why didn't you sell met But III
buy him back again, see il DON'T
Didn't you know that Neddy never could
be happy away from meG"
Like n whirlwind she rushed across the
fields to where tho Crowninshield man.
sion stood graudly up against the Grim
son sunset sky.
"Colonel Harold" said she, painting
and breathless, ''you are rich Will
you lend me some money! can't pay
1t back just yet--but will some day.
I'll work hard and earn il. I'll sign a
note, or give mortgage or something;
but oh, please lend me 800 to-day"
Colonel Crowninshicld was sitting at
his desk, writing. He rose and drew
forward chair, but Dorothy was by far
too much excited to seat herself
'lts To buy back my dear little gray
donkey" explained she. "Papa has
sold Rim, aud do love him so dearly !
On, never, never could part with him
And / don't know of any one who has
money enough to lend me to redeem him
with except you"
Colonel Crowninshield hesitated sec.
ond; then he opened his pocketbook aud
drew out crisp, new one hundred dol
lar bill.
Dorothy grasped it as starving white
kitten might grasp at food.
II never saw one-hundred- dollar bill
before" said she. "Oh, thank you
thank you so much. But was sure you
would be kind to me-"
MAY ] ask you question:" said he.
AS many as you please" " she an
swercd
why didn't you ask Edward selleck
for the money!"
Dorothy looked up at him with blue,
wide-open eyes.
Edward Selleckl Why should I ask
himf How could ask him2 Isn't he
cruising somewhere around the coast Of
New South Wales? And Edward SeIleck,
poor fellow, never had hundred cents
Of his own, much less hundred dollars. y
Colonel Crowninshield coored.
''I beg your pardonl" said he. ar
had an idea you were engaged b him
that nc had returned from his cruise"
~ engaged 10 Teddy Selleckl Never -
Wasn't IL to him you were talking
this morning in the red barn1"
Dorothy thought minute. Then she
burst into a merry peal of laughter.
ooh, remember now7" cried she. "I
was thinking out loud TO dear little gray
Neddy, the donkey. / otter do that.
He looks at me just exactly as il he under
stood me. But mother says it's very
silly habit Of mine, and now see that
she is right. And you--you thought l
was talking TO n man2"
The o,,HIor eDorIok no.oI -.
temples, her blue eyes corruscated like
old mine diamonds.
She flung back the hundred dollar
bill to him.
Take til" she cried ~ won't have
il now"
"The little donkey Ah," exclaimed
the Colonel, 'I see il now7 What n
fool, what a dolt have becnl No, Dor
othy; you shall not go until you say you
have forgiven me. And am the culprit
after all. IL was I who bought the gray
donkey. I never supposed that you cared
for him. II / had But, Dorothy,
look herer
IIe threw open easement draped with
pale yellow japanese silk, and Just below
the terrace steps she saw her little favor
tic feeding in the plush-like thickness OF
the soft, green grass.
cit was to be playmate for my sis
ter's children when they came here in
August" said he, "but ! comprehend
now how cruel It would DO to part you.
Hc Is yours once more"
81 won't take him 7" stoutly reiterated
Dorothy. IL am so ashamed 70 think
l asked you for that money"
why, Dorothy1 Cannot you trust
meg"
"Oh, can, ] cani" she cried, fervent
ly. '1 think you must be like Sir
Launcelot, OF even King Arthur himself,
Colonel Hsrold--a 'chcvalier without
fear and without roproachp y could trust
you with anythingP
with anythingl" lie advanced a
step OF two and held out his hands On.
trcatingly. Well, then, IN try you'
Will you trust me witb-yOursolf1 Oh,
little Dorothy, you don't know how truly
and tenderly I love you how earnestly I
would strive TO make your life dream Of
happinessi Darling, what is your
answer to BET II is true that, compared
with you, 7 am On old man, but
"You are not old ~ cried Dorothy. in
IL =