The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-02-02

SO / sent them-hundreds OF them
hoping that willtul and fascinating
young woman might be ~appeased.
But the greatestest of my misfor.
tunes had not yet been set down. There
was another young man, an acquain
lance and admirer of Dolly's, with ex
actly the same name as myselt-R'ch
ard Morton. /, of course, had taken a
huge dislike to him; in fact, I ha ed
him (fOr Dolly once remarked that he
was a nice fellow, and I don't think
he had an extraordinary aft sction for
me. We we're no relatives; I was glad
of that. A few days after I had been
such a cad to Dolly I called upon her,
and, heaven favoring me, I found her
alone.
dolly, dearest" I began, 81 am so
sorry"
DON'T" she said, ''that incident is
closed. There are SO many nicer things
to talk about-Jane Hunt, for in
stance" I shivered; 1 was about to be
punished.
rs she nice9" I asked.
what do you really think of here"
Dolly asked. with rather an anxious
look l thought; but of course l was
mistaken.
"Oa. she's a very good girl-very
goodI" with a desperate desire to make
Dolly jealous il l could, which 1
couldn't.
rs sheG" Dolly tossed her head.
"Well, Mr.. Morton, do you want to
know what I think she looks like9"
The "Mr. Morton" was ominous 1 shiv.
cred again.
II can't imagine" said I lightly,
think how very pretty Dolly was with
that pink spot in either cheek.
IT think she looks like a cookI" she
declared triumphantly. while 1, in.
wardly agreeing, protested:
"Oh, Dolly, a cookl"
Yes" she went on spitefully, land
not even like a good cookt'
Dolly Not like a bad cooke"
YES" she went on, like a very
poor cook"
1 was obliged to laugh; I couldn't
help it.
splendid wife she'd makeI" 1 said,
not meaning to Dolly.
But suddenly she turned and said
the most terrible thing to. me that
she'd ever said since I'd known herp'
This from Dollyl"
Obi began, but she was gone,
and there was nothing for me to do
but to pick up my hat and go, which 1
did, calling myself a beast and a brute
Rs / went.
That night leaving the theatre we
happened to meet a moment. She
was radiant and scornful.
Dolly" l said, resolving not to no.
tice the contretemps of the afternoon,
who are you going to dance the cotil
lion with at the Terry's to morrow
night9"
With Mr.. Norton" she answered
sweetly.
What a dear you are-r was afraid
you'd promised somebody else."
And then she laughed
with the pleasant, agreeable Mr..
Morton" she continued-"Who never
says the wrong thing" And then I
knew she meant the other onel I'm
afraid I said a bad word; her hooking
laugh followed me in the darkness,
and echoed in my dreams that night. I
wished I'd never seen her-and took
it back Immediately.
l debated a long tint within myself
whether or not 1 should go to the Terry's
but, as usual, ended by going. 1 could
dance stag and take Dolly out, and
lovely idea-perhaps she would take
me outl Then as I thought of the way
l had left her the night before, this
beautiful hope faded. What would
che want with a brute like met
I 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 we'll, too.
1 had to admit to myself that he was
rather a well appearing chap.
Mrs Floyd Hopkins, who aspires to
be something of a belle herself, stood
for a moment and followed the direc
ton of my glance.
miss Dairy mple is looking particu-
larly we'll this evening" she said, a
very gracious speech for her.
Very T. 1 replied, having sense
enough left not t discuss Dolly with a
woman.