The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-01-09

A19Is1 have found it out
LInVng young woman OF my
"assa 1N acquaintance. I've
~ Y been in love with her
fox five years, and it's wonder my
hair isn't white; sometimes think it
is turning gray, but when I spoke to
Dolly about it, she said not to bother,
I was old enough TO be gray anyway.
All! that's where Dolly hurts, and she
knows it, for am fifteen years older
than she is, and when that willful
young woman wished to be particular
ly cruel, she treats me- with respect.
I know that among my friends I an
considered to have fairly good sense;
I can talk nationally on most subjects,
and I stand we'll enough in my pro.
fession, ut least enabling me to keep
my head above water. But when I'm
with Dolly, or in her presence, I'm al
ass, driveling, foolish ass. 4 fanatic
from an asylum would be brilliant
conversationelst compared to me. And
alas! Dolly knows that too, and she
torments me and makes life IN unut-
terable burden to me. I start to make
sensible remark, when suddenly I
meet Dolly's eyes then ! stumble and
say the wrong thing. and she will re-.
mark, "Do you really think that?"
with such o wicked look in her beauti:
full blue eyes, while I don't think it at
MI but have just sai0 it. And so it
goes until I wonder sometimes il lam
quite right. When We go to dances
/ say We, I'm always there if [ know
she is going-things are a..httle worse
than usual, for Dolly dances past me
with beasts and cads of men, and |
stand about the wall watching her.
She never will give but two dances to
me, so i have nothing to do in the
meantime but watch her.
One night was desperate. 1 had
sent her vioIets as usual-she as is par
ticularly fond OF them, and most Of
my money goes that way. Sometime!
she wears them, and often carries
them, but this night they were no
where to be seen, and in her hand wa!
one large red rose. I went up to her
appearing to be sorry to see me wa
the particular form Of torture which
commended itself to her on this es
pecial night. "You here!" she said
lifting her eyebrows i'll astonishmen
and without n smile; oil put Oh, o
course, because / am always wher
she is.
ooh, no, I'm not here, I'm some
where else,' I said wltti]y. Sh
laughed immoderately.
"You're - SO 49, funny" she re
marked, choking.
eyes" said I severely, II suppos
I ON funny, very funny-but wher
are my vio]cts? ?"
"Why, had you - any - violets?
said she, II didn't know-how shout
T know" She said it seriously, bu
there was o look in her eyes that | wa
used to I'd have liked to shake her.
dolly, you know exactly what
mean; where are my violets?'
eff you mean the violets you ser
me-" sho replied with dignity, .
understood that after they lett 20
thew belonged to me; do you wal
them back?" This freezingly.
"Oh, Dolly;" ! said. reduced ont
more to my usual condition OF as
ninity, II didn't mean it, dear, | don
| want the d. beg your pardon,
f course I don't want them; ! on
: wanted you to wear them or carr
+ them, you know, darling"
But she saw that she had the be-
7 Of me, so carried things with big
5 hand.
"The rose was sent me by friend
she hesitated, ''and / suppose ha'
!. g right to weer what I please; but
: down, don't stand SO long. you'll
tired!" This was an allusion to n
age, and it maddened me.
S "You ere exceedingly rude!"
= said, turning away and leaving 1er.
J: It was the most severe speech l NJ
d ever made to Dolly, and suffered
/, the thought of it. For four days
n didn't go near her or send her vlole
e once It was an awful four days;
J. neither slept nor ute, but just revll
d myself as q fool for becoming
J, tranged from the only woman in t
d world. In my despair even went
N far as to take Jane Hunt to dan
Is where Dolly was sure to SEQ US, q
$ she did. And when I passed her a
she looked over my head with b
small nose in the Dir, wished NJ
- Hunt was in-wel], somewhere ell
that might rush over to Dolly thr
Q myself at her fect-aud kiss thel
, Yes, / acknowledge that l have OFT
] wished that.
! Finally I wrote to her, fully &C
scious that it was very silly lett
! wherein I told her l was mer'
; angry at myself for not knowing {
! cared for red roses, and l sent th
q dozen. The answer I received '