The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-12-11

y
cotillion with at the Terry's to-mor-
row night?"
with Mr.. Norton" she answered
sweetly.
"What dear you are-I was afraid
you'd promise somebody else"
And then she laughed.
with the pleasant, agreeable Mr..
Norton she continued, "who never
says the wrong thing" And then |
knew she meant the other one! I'm
afraid | said bad word; her M ,king
laugh followed me in the darkness
and echoed in my dreams that night.
l wished Ia never seen her-and took
it back Immediately.
] debated a long time within myself
whether or not l should go to Ter
rvs, but as usual ended by going. |
could dance stag and take Dolly out
and-lovely idea-perhaps she would
take me out! Then as / thought of
the way had left her the night before.
this beautiful hope faded. What
would she want with brute like me?
l never saw her look better than that
night of the Terry's dance; she was in
white, which best became her, and she
seemed TO me like an angel. And that
beastly Morton looked pretty well too
| had TO admit to myself that he was
rather a well-appearing chap.
Mrs. Floyd-IIopkins, who aspired to
be something of blle herself, stood
for a moment and followed the direc-
ton of my glance.
"Miss Dalrymple is looking particu-
larly well this eveIGng." said she,
very gracious speech indeed for her.
"Very:' / replied, having sense
enough left not to discuss Dolly with
woman.
"But what an awful firt!" she went
on; this left me gasping.
"And engaged, / understand, to Mr..
Morton all the time
"Who said it?" l asked hoarsely.
Dolly engaged-and to that-cad--
with my name.
ooh, everybody says SO" and then
she looked at me with such an unpleas-
ant smile. "That's your name too, isn't
ii ?"
Eyes, believe it isl i said bril-
l;ently, moving away from her.
1t seemed centuries until supper;
tried to think of what l should say to
her but my mind was, in such a cha
otto state that l decided to depend on
the inspiration of the moment.
At last supper was over and found
her, tucked her arm in mine, and
marching off to a quiet nook, put her
in the only seat, and stood accusingly
before her.
dolly" / began, "loox at mel"
This she did, a little timidly, I thought,
and almost forgot what I was going
to say in the JOY of looking at her.
'My darling" I went on, 81 have
loved you SO long, SO well, and hoped
that in the course of years you might
come to care" she dropped her eyes;
just then 1 remembered that horrible
gossip, "but tonight, Dolly, I heard
something that turned my heart to
stone"
What was it?' she asked
"That you were engaged to"
"Whom ?" breathlessly.
Morton" I gasped, that wretched.
caddish-"
"Stop!" she said, with dignity.
"Tell me, you SHALL" I grasped her
wrists; sis it SOP"
If it had been any woman in the
world but Dolly l should have said
she was embarrassed. She actually
blushed.
NO." she said slowly, cit is not so,
but-"her hands went up and covered
her face. My heavensl suppose she
should cry!
'But what?" I insisted cruelty;
you're not engaged to him, but you're
in love with him?" She took her
hands away and her face was very red:
il it had not been such a serious mo-
ment 1 should have said she had been
laughing.
"Mr. Morton has = never = asked
me to be his wife-if he does-I
shall"
l was beside myself.
"And if he does?'' 1 Kissed
81 shall say yes" very softly. A ter
1ible silence ensued; the earth was
sinking beneath my feet.
"You love this Mr. Morton ?" I said
sharply.
And then the very queerest thing in
the world happened; Dolly's face
whitened a little as She rose and put
out her hand.
eyes, you old goose" she said, 81
love this Mr.. Morton!" 1t didn't take
me long to gather Dolly into my arms.
The next five minutes are not to APP
pear in this narrative.
Dolly" said /, blissfully, did you
ever know such stupid old fool as I
amp"
"Never in all my life" said the
sweetest of girls, her voice coming
from the vicinity of my coat collar.
"And do you suppose that woman
meant me when she told me that Cos
sip, my darling?"
"Of course she-did," said the voice.
"and I'm glad SHE said i'll don't be-
l;eve you'd ever have asked me, other
wise!" My answer would not look
well on paper.
do you know, Dick, that you never
lave asked me before?''
And when I came to think of it, I
lever had.-Midand Monthly.
TRUTH CRUSHED TO EARTH.
Sad Effect of Too Much Candor In an
AristOcratic Mansion.