Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-06

tho lapse OF time. She was a woman.
she hated herself for noticing this lack
o. goiiantry. In fact, she would have
made his negligence the ground Tor de-
cided action. but her opponents amiabi-
lily completed disarmod her. And then.
too, a certain indeanable element OF
sympathy I'm John Dobbs's composition
was occasionally manifest. and this.
combined with the fatherly patience he
exhibited Ole was now thirty-eighO. made
opportunities FOR discord impossible.
Brownies prettiost new dresses failed
even to attract his attention. lie never
appeared to see them. She disliked him
cordially for his obstinate blindness-for
some how she half-suspected that hts
blindness was but obstlnacy. And then.
too, when on several occasions, he was
expected. and did not put in an appear
ancc, she despised herself. for something
told her she was disappointed. Dsappoint-
ed at vhat? At the absence OF a
man who was absolutely devoid OF APP
probation. and who never intimated. even
IN frivolous way, that she was
pretty? What was TO be done with such
q fossil. Moonlight failed 20 move him;
tho winters freside had absolutely no
effect upon him, and music did not even
seem 20 reach his ears. Brownie even
tried her photograph on him. Surely he
would have the ceccncy 10 ask for one.
lie merely looked 1t il and remarked.
Your artist puts q nice finish on his
work. The other young gentlemen pre-
sent were all admiration fer the picture.
and paid hackneyed conn l'mcnts, which
irritatcd Brownie She put the picture
OF the sweet little face on the mantel.
Any man with common sense would nave
known that a photo put i'm such a place
was intended TO be stolen. Several young
gentlemen, not fossils. being present
when this incident occurred, the photo
was stolen.
To make alimself more intensely dis
agreeable than ever. John Dobbs disap-
peared entirely one winter No note
did be write, ana no message did
he send TO Brownie. How she
hated him, when on the Friday eve
ming he was expected to call (as was his
CUSTOM. ne showed no sign Of ais exist
ence. How she loathed him, when on the
following Friday his absence was still IN
explained. How she scorncd him I'm the
months that followc8-that is, sc0rned
him in her warm litte heart. But what
satisfaction did this AFFORD her? She
could not despise him, loathe him. or
scorn him without thinking OF hlm. and
was not this thinking process rather
concession on her part? one cannot hate
and ignore at the same time. Brownie
however. was nothing. II not determined.
One dark day she made up her mind that
hatred and loathing We're but compM-
ments Of John Dobbs, and that he should
be forgotten. At this juncture her heart
became vlndictive. Something whispered:
"See him. and show him your Indifference
ere you pass him 10 oblivion" Cruel
Brownie, she yielded 10 the persuaslons OF
The temptcr.
The next day the revengeful little ex-
ward, accompanied by dignled chape-
ron. found herself threading her way
through the crowded thoroughfares 10 d
certain law block. Her destination was
the Office Of John Dobbs, Esq, attorney at
law. Her errand so she persuaded her
self was TO consult him about q BUSH
ness investment. her intention was TO
freeze him with her coldness, and to stab
him with the Offcr OF a fee for his ad-
vice. When she assembled the steps
Brownie realized that she had a heart
and that il was beating wildly-beating
much more frdntically than the import
ance Of the business Investment required.
Followed by the chaperon, she gently
opened the door. The Office was as stilI
as death. John Dobbs. the fossil. was
not there. The winters sun, struggling
TO assert its warmth, fell on a dusty
table, and shimmered on long rows OF
iorbiddlng books. No FIRE burned in the
crate. and an air Of desertion overhung
the apartments. The old-fashioned pic
ture still did duty at its accustomed
place. Somehow, the face suddenly i'm
pressed Brownie as d sad one Possibly.
the woman had been a mother once. in
stead OF some female in a lawsuit
Brownie and her companion felt that
the Office had seen but few visitors OF
late, and something told the EDWARD that
10 had known not the presence Of John
Dobbs for weeks. Something told her.
too. that she was harsh-that the offer OF
p fee TO her old friend would indeed have
been a stab. Had he not gently but
firmly repudiated all claims 70 his per
cent. commission on transactions IN he
behalf when they were guardian and
ward? Had he not displayed his gener-
osity in many a little token OF regard,
even though they had been unaccom-
panied by idle fiattery. Repentance fol-
lowed the spirit OF revenge. And then
something sweeter stlll than repentance
came into that heart a moment later.
when Brownie. accidentally glancing
Through the door which appeared TO lead
into q bedroom. saw her picture on the
mantcl II was the photo. which had i'm
pressed John DObos go little, yet had in
cited him TO petit larceny.
There might have been room for senti-
ment here but at this iuncture gem
tleman-a plain, prosaic old gentleman
GENE into the Office. and perceiving the
ladies, he naturally supposed they were
the lawyers clients. Ladies" he said,
"you cannot see Mr.. Dobbs to-day. He
has had a long, long Illness, and death has
been almost at his door For three
months he has fingered. but the end
fear, IS close at hand. Lack OF attention
IN the beginning IS the cause OF all his
trouble Something might have been
done II I could have moved him from
these rooms
1--WE regret 10 hear Of HIS Illness" SAID
n cold. dead voice but we must not fur
Their disturb you. doctor" And Brownie
having spoken the ladies' left. The elder
had her motherly instincts aroused, and
EXPRESSED her sorrow. The younger was
silent. She was listening TO a voice which
kept repeating:
where IS your mother" Dead"
"But your father Also deceased"
"You have sisters and brothers,
though" Il am the only child"