Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-04-09
DOLORES.

DOLORES.
II was late in tEe month OF May; the
evt ming sun had gone down behind a
pile of crimson and purple and gold,
the air was balmy and clear, and it
seemed as though nature had done her
best 10 shJw approval of Judge Hart
wells bal.
And to this ball Mandy True was
goingl 1t would lie a great event in
MANDY life, AID she had purchased a
white dress for the occasion. Iiney
Miller, who lived on the next farm,
and who, according TO the young pee
pie, mad been around, and according
10 the gooH old church goers, was a
terrible gad-about,' had told Mandy
size must Lot think Of appearing before
Maytie'd society III any but white
dress. which was then all the fashion, :
1t was such an event to be asked at
all 10 Judge Hartwell's. that the occa-
sion warranted an extra struggle on the
part of Mandy, and while she wondered
how the tlrrss would be forthcoming,
never once did Il enter her mind to dis
Obey Tiuey's advice, for Tiney knew
the styles and was authority. Accord
ingly, by much coaxIng and many
promises, Farmer True had yielded,
ami the dress WAS bought and made.
No one had ever called Mandy True
a pretty girl, though her large, dreamy
looking brown eyes might have war
ranted as much. However, all agreed
that she had the kiudeSt heart and
most gentle disposition or any girl
around Mayiield- And il was not Won
cered at that y at Barker, on his return
from college, had found that she pos
SIS ei part cular attractions for him. 1t
was two years since his return, AM
Mandy had rra he'd the age of eighteen.
During these years he had been her
devoted admirer. 1t seemed understood
by all that they would some day lie
married.
In Mandy's mind the thought was
firmly settlei 1. while Nat believed 1t as
ch as he believed anything that lie
was party II, feeling always th Il 1t WAS
his particular privilege TO withdraw
from any contract. II said contract lc-
came ukSome TO him. But as tn ;
opinion OF his vas never expressed, lie
was held in much esteem in Maytiell,
there being but ole person in town
vino could not be brought to look favor
ably upon Nat Barker, and that was
Young DIR. Muller, v.ip had recent Y
COME lIOAA l-dhtN4AAGa anu " AlO Il.A'A
been heard more than once denoUuc nG
. Nat as 4 most couceIted poplnlay.
Tie night of the ball Mandy'S heart
eat rapidly as she stood waiting for
her brotEcr, who WAS the last TO lie
ready. She MAS al unconscious that
her dark skin seemed never So darA,
and her hands reI and rough from farm
work, looked all the more SO in contrast
to the dea White OF the dress. Size
WAS thinking how the strangers from
Iakeyille. who were Mrs. HartWe.l's
guest. would admire her haudSO.n-
lover, and maguanImously decided lr
should dance mos: of the evening wIi p
them. 1t woull De sulIlcien, plet>GI
for her to see the pleased lCok in H.>
eyes as lie greeted her. Perhaps, sAc
thought, he might even whisI er cOll-
pliment to her new dress. that clouu %
ruffi-s and puffS, and her mind - .r
filed with such thoughts until thy
reached the gate leading into the ave-
nue..
Wha: a fairy place it seemed! The
bright, highll col red japanese lan-
terms that lined tie avenue made an
arch over the gate, and swung from all
the trees on the lawn; the word I'VE =
come in colored lights seemed beauti
ful mystery 10 Mandy.
. When she entered the drawing roOn
blazing with lights and heavy with the
perfume of flowers, she heard as III I.
dream the pleasant greetings OF Mrs
Hartwell. The bal WAS just be:ng
opened by the old-fash oned Virginia
reel. Never before had Mandy seen
men in evening dress; as for The young
girls. such visions of beauty, grace, and
sp!endor o! costume, sent chill TO her
hr.rt. The dress which half an hour
before had bern Ler pride, seemed
worse than plain. The ST Il frIl.s, the
uncompromisiug bulgy puffs, were ell
tirely unlike the fl ecy looking roDes Of
the dancers. Mandy was longing 10
be at home when her heart wills
: per,d thoughts Of Nat. Glancing
along the line of dancers. her face
beamed with pleasure as her eyes lighted
upon him. Handsomest of all lac
seemed to her, even among SO many
gOod-looking strangers.
Nat, observing her intent looks, l'e-
came first annoyed, then let his lrrii a
tion turn INTO anger, while she thOug I
only that the danI e would lead him OH
directly IN front OF her, and she wait d
for his welcoming smile
! The lady near her had gone for rwarl. L.
Nat came up, let his glance rest on
Mandy a second. then looked away
without al indication of having se:.i:
: her. The warm blood rushed over /, 1
face Just as the pleasant voice of De
tor Muller asked fox the waltz, which
was to terminate the reel Grateful
for the opportunity of covering her con-
fusio.. she pla"ed her hand upon his
arm. AS they whirled past group Size
heard a light laugh, and a merry voice
: eIclalm:
What not waltz, Mr.. Barkerp Then
come-we shall teach you
The evening was half spent, and Ma
Barker had not once approached Manly
to ask for a dance. Meeting in Il
quadrille, he had spoken a few CON-
: monplace words to her. but that was
all. She had left the heated room, aud
finding an obscure corner on the We
.anda, sat down, leaning her thrObbug
oea1 upon her hands. She heard Some
,'erson come out quite near her, but
:ould not escape from her corner with
out showing her tear-stained face