Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-07-04
A BROKEN EuGaGEmENT.

as salesman in the very small estab-
Iishment of Mr.. Brusle, stationer. 1t
was not very remunerative situa-
ton, but old Mr.. Brusle was kind
old man, Mrs. Brusle O nice. talka-
tive old lady, aud Dolly Brusie often
came into the store on busy days and
stood behind the counter beside me,
and just for this last reason l would
not have taken double wages with
Mr.. Throgmorton, the only other
stationer OF the town.
Dear little Dolly! she had brown
eyes and dimple in her chin, and
sang like prima donna. She had
lessons from u German Fraulein and
from an Italian Signor, and the old
man quite forgot Throgmorton and
his gilt window when he sat with his
handkerchief over his head of an
evening and listened to her. The pi-
ano was old and tinkling, but none
of us ever thought OF that. Old Mr..
Brusle and my father had been
friends, and was not q clerk only,
but privileged friend as well, and
all the excuse / needed for coming
every night was given in the words,
Il want to hear the singing" Well,
any one might have wanted to hear
H., for that matter-not merely a
boy who was in love.
Things went on in this way for
three years, when one afternoon old
Mr.. Brusle, shutting the drawer OF
his desk with bang, said:
It's no use, Tom, l may as well
give in. Throgmorton has beaten
me. I'm not making a cent, and l
shall break up. The old woman and
can manage on what l have, with
only one child, and / can rest and
stop fidgeting. Isuppose Dolly can
teach little. too. There's no other
music teacher in Hamilton. But
the old shop is mockery, and I've
known it u good while"
So that was the end Of Arcadia.
The stock and fixtures were sold out.
Throgmorton bought the stock, and
the shop was altered into parlor;
and wrote to my uncle in New York
who had promised to takelme into his
business IL l wished it, and he tele-
graphed. Come next week." And
then one day asked Dolly to walk
down into the meadows and see IL the
blackberries were ripe. Before we
picked one, drew her to quiet
place under a great maple and put
my arm about her waist, and said:
Dolly, you know just how feel
toward you, don't your"
She nestled up to me little closer,
and / took both her plump brown
hands in mine.
Twill you wait for me little
while, Dolly? Will you think that
am doing my best all the time to
bring the day nearer when can ssk
your father to give you to me?
She said nothing for while, and
in the pause / heard bird sing a
whole song through. Then came her
voice.
"Yes, Tom, I'll wait"
And we picked the blackberries,
and went home again through the
meadows.
"We'll not speak OF 1t yet, Tom, -
said Dolly. "At home mean; they
think me such child yet. / don't
want to break the charm. In time
they'll guess that I'm woman; and
they like you, Tom"
For o while l was bewildered In
the city, then very busy, then flushed
with the prospect Of being rapidly
advanced, and of being able to ask
Dolly to be my wife sooner than
expected. ! wrote her Joyous let
tiers. She wrote pleasant ones back
to me. We did not make them oper
love letters, but both understood the
love at the bottom OF them. And 81
the months glided by. For six,
had no holiday. Then o grudgingly
given week was given me, and | hur
ried down to Hamilton. / visited
my old friends, and had gloriou!
time. Dolly was lovelier than evel
She walked over to the depot will
me when left, leaning on my arm
The train had not come In yet-th'
one for New York; but the other hat
set down some passengers from the
city. One. stout gentleman o
85, dressed in fine style. having giver
his portmanteau to q porter, I'D
vanced to Dolly.
How do you do, Miss Brusler
said he.
She held out her hand shyly.
How do You do Mr.. HollyS Tom
this is Mr.. Holly. Mr.. Holly, Mr.
Hearn."
He bowed 50 did I. But the fel
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