Nevada County picayune., 1892-02-25
4 FAIR EXCHANGE.


the young man hurried forward anC
eIasped the girl to his breast--clasp
ell her and kissed her, and looked
down joyfulIy into the startled
vloet-blne eyes; but she, laughing
and blushing in lovely embarrass
ment, tore herself out OF his arms
and stood shyly before him.
Il IN not Diana-Im only Dolly
she explained demurely. And yop
must be Rubort Leslie, though | due
not know Diana was expecting you
home so soon"
She was not expecting me;
( planned to take her by surprise
Is it POSSIBLE this is little Dolly :
You arc the living image OF your
sister, he said, regarding her
with mingled look of surprise, con-
fusion, and admiration.
"Oh, indeed - answered Miss
Dolly, not particularly battered but
she is u great deal older than |
am.
"Of course, - murmured the young
man, more and more confounded
YOU are the picture Of what she
was five years ago, when saw her
last.
1 am eighteen, and my sister is
twenty-three, " remarked Dolly, with
little air of superiority. But
Diana is just as pretty as ever" she
added, patron'ingly, and will be
awfully glad to have lou back, l
suppose. Shall | run to the house
and tell herr"
Il 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 mis-
take, | suppose" he said dreamily,
his eyes still lingering on the beauti-
full, hower-like face, 50 fresh SO pi-
quaint, 50 perfect.
Dolly was a born coquette, aud
selfish to the core Of her heart, She
was fully aware of the impression
she was making even now she was
thinking with thrill, would it be
possible to cut Diana out, and catch
tins handsome and generous fellow
for herself;
For the Davenports were poor,
and Dolly Ionged for costler dresses
and jewels to set off her beauty; she
envied her elder sister her good luck ;
beaux Miss Dolly had, in super
abundance, but among them so much
excellent parti as this-rich and
fascinating. She glanced up at him
from under her long curling LASH
es.
"It's too bad | got the first kiss -
she laughed, the soft color dying to
her wild-rose face. Diana will be
furious"
"Don't tell her then" murmured
Leslie, laughing alittle, too, aAd un-
able 10 Withdraw his admiring gaze
from the lovely young girl. Five
years never thought about their
changing Diana; yet, of course, | am
older as we'll as she, -
"Oh, but mana man ought to
be eight or ten years the older!'
"Haye you any one in particular
in your minds eye, Dolly he ask
ed. laughing because she laughed.
Not yet" with a little affected
Sigh. "But, really, | must look
about for my sister You must be
diving to see her, | know, after all
these years Why, five years seem
to me like half lifetime, lwonder
you've had the patience to stand
here, listening to my aonsense;
wont tell Diana, nor how you took
me for her +.
Rnbert Leslie 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
apIow, his whole soul rushing IN ad-
vance of his footsteps iof nov. AZ
last after long toll and endeavor, "
the supreme hour, SO intensely long
ed for, was here, when he should reel
the arms of his true love round him
once again
He had seen her, he thought far
er than ever, standing there IN the
old rose arbor, dressed in white, and
1910, foryord and caught