The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-12-17
splendid wifa she'd nnake!" san I,

hOI AhSniiALS W hOuSC 4(OAlS'
But suddenly she turned and said
the most terrible thing 20 me that she'd
ever said since I'd known her.
Then you'd better marry herr"
This from Dolly!
oh" began, but she was gone,
and there was nothing for me to do
but to pick up my hat and go, which
did, calling myself a beast and brute
as l went.
That night leaving the theater we
happened to meet a moment. She
was radiant and scornful.
Dolly" l said, resolving not to
notice the contrctemps of the after
noon, ''who are you going to dance the
cOtillion with at the Terry's to-mor-
row night?"
with Mr.. Norton" she answered
sweetly.
What a 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 I
knew she meant the other one! I'm
afraid | said bad word; her mocking
laugh followed me in the darkness,
and echoed in my dreams that night
I wished III never seen her-and took
it back Immediately.
] debated a long time within myself
whether or not 1 should go to Ter
rvs, but as usual ended by going. I
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?
| never saw her look better than that
night of the Terrp'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-Hopllins, who aspired to
be something of belle herself, stood
for a moment and followed the direc-
ton of my glance.
Miss Dalrymple is looking particu-
larly well this evening"" said she, Il
very gracious speech indeed for her.
VERY" l replied, having sense
enough left not to discuss Dolly with a
woman.
But what an awful flrt!" she went
on; this left me gasping.
and engaged, ] understand, to Mr..
Morton all the time
'Who said it?" 1 asked hoarsely.
Dolly engaged-and to that-cad--
with my name.
"Oh, everybody says so" and then
she looked at me with such an unpleas-
ant smile. That's your name too, isn't
it?"
Yes, I believe it is" ! said bril-
liantly, moving away from her.
1t seemed centuries until supper; 7
tried to think of what should say to
her but my mind " as in such a cha
otto state that ! decided to depend on
tie inspiration of the moment.
At last supper was over and I found
her, tucked her arm in mine, and
marching off to a quiet nook, put her
az ZIG VII otNil, anu SlOOu dCCuSlDSiN
before her.
Dolly" I began. "look at mel"
This she did, a little timidly, thought,
and l almost forgot what | was going
to say in the Joy Of looking at her.
My darling" 1 went on, Il have
loved you so long, so well, and hoped
that in the course of years you might
come 10 care" she dropped her eyes;
just then l remembered that horrible
gossip, but tonight, Dolly, I heard
something that turned my heart to
stone"
"What was it?' she asked.
THAT You We're engaged 10"
'Whom?" breathlessly.
Morton" gasped, that wretched,
| caddish-"
"Stop!" she said, with dignity.
'Tell me, you SHALL" l grasped her
wrists; SIS it SOP"
If it had been any woman in the
void but Dolly 1 should have said
she was embarrassed. She actually
| hlushed.
"No," she said slowly, at is not so,
but-'her hands went up and covered
her face. My heavens! suppose she
should cry!
But what?" l 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 l should have said she had been
laughing.
'Mr. Morton has never - asked
me to be his wife-if he does-I
| shall"
was beside myself.
"And if he does?" l Kissed.
81 shall say yes" very softly. A ter
| lible silence ensued; the earth was
sinking beneath my feet.
"You love this Mr.. Morton?" 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.
"Yes, you old goose" she said, "I
love this Mr.. Morton!" 1t didn't take
me long to gather Dolly into my arms
| The next five minutes are not 10 APP
| pear in this narrative