The morning call., 1891-10-20
"IN ONE YEAR,
DOROTHY" !"
BY W. b. DUNBAR.

''Yes. there she is. Oh, Molly. We are so
glad to see you. And how sweet you look,
doesn't she, Dorothy2"
Half an hour later the three same girls
were sitting in q pretty room in large, old
fashioned house situated on the main street
of one of the quaint old towns in New
HapIpshire. which has lately received the
dignItied title of city, much TO the aStonlsn-
ment of the staid old inhabitants.
THE three" had not been together since
their boarding-school days, and the present
and future of all had to be discussed.
Cecil was a maiden with brilliant color,
hair as black as night. and never-endng
flow Of language. Dorothy CrowninShield
was directly opposite in her personal ap
pearance. but. though as innocent as dove,
much mischief lurked in the depths of her
blue eyes, and more bewitchlng little tllrt
could scarcely be imagined. Sweet Molly
PeTcival was a simple beauty, home glrl,
with no special attraction Deyonu heT loEey
eyes and beautiful hair.
a You are not too tired, girls, to begin fes-
tivfties at once, are you? Senator Rce's
niece is visiting him now, and we have IN
yitatiuns tonight TO some private thcauE,
Gals and little dance given IN her honor,
Tired! On. no; we shall be charmed,
they both said IN one bresthi ana tell US,
Molly, shall we meet our fates?'
" Just wait and see: all the fellows are
home from college, and there will be plenty
TO choose from, al all events.
At9U'clock the Senator'S handsome par
lors were filled with a gayly-dreSsed thrOng
eagerly watching the doors OF the spacious
diuing-hall, which was devoted to the
HCjuTs.
The three girls were ensconced in luxuri-
Gus chairs placed at precisely the best point
To g2ln a view Of the play, and soon
1GfnDlATslV QhsOThn1 muph
so that she was ignOTantof the halt-amused,
wholly admlTlng gaze OF handsome man OF
eight and twenty who was leaning against
one of the folding doors.
"Ou, was not that pretty?" she turned
and said TO Molly, "aud did they not act
beautifully? How | wish | could and
then She stopped and c0lored g vivid Grim
son, for she had caught the gaze OF Jack
Coolidge, VINO was slowly moving toward
them: ,,u
"0h!' a she caught sight OF Jack, now
Dorothy. do be careful; Jack is the worst
firI | ever knew and has broken no end OF
hearts"
Dorothy made no reply, as the young man
was close upon them and begging Miss
Perciyal, in an undeItone, TO render him
suPTeueiy happy for at least one moment
by introducing him TO that dear little fairy
ID blue al her side.
Molly. in her heart, was glad; for, not
withstaudiug his many faults, Jack was
thoroughly ggOd-hearted fellow as well as
noble aud unseldsh, and if no could only
TALL in love with girl Ike her friend, she
was convinced he would prove himself to
be the man she believed him to be. But
she said to him in low tone, as she granted
his request: Take care, Jack, Dorothy can
meet you on your own ground to peTfee-
ton"
Apparently she did, for after that Jack
Coolidge absolutely devoted himself 10
'the pretty girl in blue"
"Well, jack l really believe you are hit
at last" Ned Sylvester said as they rode
home together after the party. and he
looked cuTiOusiy al his friend, who, for once
il lis life was absolutely silent.
The next day number OF the young men
whom they ha1 met at the dance called on
The Three among them Jack Coolidge,
but there was no doubt in the minds Of any
present then or through the week that tol-
lowed who il was that occupied his thoughts,
fer he was always at her side.
II was the last night of the week that
they were to be together, and all were sit
tiug on the piazza IN the moonlight, when
carriage drove up to the door and a man
alighted and came slowly up the steps In
the moonlight The Three" could see his
face was gIdstly white, and 1t was the face
OF Jack Coolidge.
Coca evening"" he said, with low bow.
Miss Pcrcivai. may ! be so selfish as to
take your friend from you on the last night
frr a little driye?' and he looked pleadiugly
al Molly.
Why. certainly" D." Molly said. with pity
ing look, ~ Dorothy cares to GO"
Dorothy scarcely dared look into the eyes
which y ere fastened So eagerly upon her,
but she answered careessly: why, yes;
much as l dislike to leave you girls for even
4 moment, ride on such a night as this
would be perfection, and | cannot resist it.
We will not be gone long, will we, MI.
COOlidge?"
They drove rapidly down the street, by
the river, and out into the open country;
then, letting tile reius drop loosely on the
horses back, Jack leaned back and look ed
at his companion, who had been as silent as
he had himself. He reached ont and took
one uuTesistiug hand in lis while he said:
Dorothy, darll &, love youi will you be
my wie?"
Dorothy made no reply, only half smile
rested on her lirs.
Dorothy, Dorothy, viii YOU not answer?
Do you not believe me2 You surely do not
doubt me. Oh, my darling, you DO not
dream what you are 10 me, how much | care
for you, what a paradise this week has been
to me, Oh, Dorothy, tell me you love me
OF my soul will sink into utter darkness
tell me, darling" and his eyes sought hers.
"No, Mr.. Coolidge, | do not love YOU;
can never be your wife. have never cared
for any man, and | never, never shall"
And she looked steadily into his eyes; but
even as she did so mist came between her
and the man whom in her soul she knew was
more than life itself to her.
He turned shade paleT, but he pleaded
no longer, simply saying: you do not be-
Heve me now, Dorothy. Some time you will
believe me, trust me and know that love
you with love that no other man can give
you"
They drove home as silently as they came.
Il viii see you at the station Tomorrow"
he said in parting, and she silently bowed
and ran lightly up the stairs into her little
room. Then, taking off her hat and bathing
her eyes, she went down into the parlor
where the gay company was assembled. Just
the same sweet Dorothy as ever.
There were laughter and tears at the sta
tiOn rext day. aud various little tokens in
packages and flowers from the gay party
who came to soc them off. Jacks gift was
one perfect rose, in the heart OF which, hid
den among the petals was tiny slip OF pa
per with the words, "In one year, Dorothy"
Just one year after, AS Dorothy was sit
ting on the porch in the soft twilight. man
came rapidly no the walk and paused, look
ing at her. rs it my Dorothy?" he said,
holding out his arms.
Dorothy started to her feet, gave one look
at the man standing so close to her, and
then, Yea, Jack, dear, if you can love such
bad little girl" Then Dorothy felt her
self gathered into the arms Of the man she
loved.
"And why would you not tell me one year
ago Tonight"
'Becsuse-because, JACK, dear-oh, Jack.
it was my foolish pride My heart had
never been touched by any man, and
could not endure then the thought that
there was one whom l had to confess life
would be empty without, and without whom
could not be happy"
but, now, darling?"
"Oh, Jack, dear" with happy little sigh,
so many, many timeS l have been so lone
some.'-BoStOn Globe.
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EXPERT COUNTERFEITING.