The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-09-30
SHE KNEW HER MIND.

"What'd she have on?"
"Blue-burnt-orange tones"
Doll made little face. ugly with
her hair. to be sure"
mo, she looked quite WELL"
Don doesn't like her, though" try
Ing to get the lettuce-shade out of her
eyes, as she turned; was he attentive
to herr"
"Fairly-oh, she's well enough and
decidedly up-to-date! Her skin is
lovely, too / wouldn't fret about it,
Doll; they met by chance, no doubt"
/ Doll had swung to the mirror.
Lovely skin, think?"
Yes. 1t stands strong light" III
Doll WINGED. 80
"Oh, these freckles!"
Don't mind the freckles, dear"
But do mind them" cried Doll.
You're bound to have them, child,
with your copper-colored hair; that
hairs a gift from the gods, and the
freckles don't show at night"
Am ] never seen by day? I don't
dare go out without a veil-a thickly-
dotted one, too! A summer girl
cant be-"
You're something a thousand times
better" said Jane, "a 'winter-up-to-
date You're morbid about your
freckles, Doll, definitely and down.
rightly daft. You're worse than ever,
lately, and know exactly why"
isn't he great, Jane?"
"Dons all right" said Jane, with de-
cision, but as if trifle fatigued;
come, dear, I'm going home"
She stabbed her smart hat with two
spikes, as she spoke. and lifted her col
lars fur hem. She was groomed and
gowned to perfection, with a cool chin
refined well in the air. One thought
of a thoroughbred. A big diamond
blazed from her hand. She gave it a
sort of impressive pat, as she drew on
her dark, castor glove.
Happy" asked Doll, rather sharp
ly, following the motion of the hand
"As you'll bel" said Jane, with ex-
preston, nipping her cheek, as she
pdosCu I1Cl ohll 10 0hlulutu lue SJeDS
with crisp frou-frous.
letter." she called back, laughing
Il believe have once seen that hand"
Doll gave the postman a dazzling
smile that made him think August was
near, then, in haste banged the door in
his face. She flew to palm-screened
corner and kissed, then rent, the en-
velope. A clipping from newspaper
fluttered out. She caught it up and
read:
"Freckles painlessly and permanent
ly removed. Nine. Duval, after life
long study of the complexion, has at
last discovered a simple, harmless, and
effective cure for all disfigurements of
the skin; such as freckles-'
Hang all women!' cried Don. Then
he drew note from pocket, and read
1t again, for change.
'Your impertinence should receive
the silence it deserves. But fearing it
might lead you to call again
Don crushed the paper to pulp; he
grew white about his tight lips; then
he smoothed it carefully out again,
drinking in it's odor and sheen. It
seemed to him he could see her pretty
hand tracing each gracilent line; the
supple curve Of satiny throat; the
swiris of copper-red hair.
"Jove!" he cried. "I'll not lose
girl like that, without tasting some
body's blood!"
He swallowed his dinner heedlessly,
then dressed with deliberate pains. He
had heard that he was handsome, but
had never cared much before. Now,
he took keen notes in the glass; Yes,
his features were well pat together, his
coloring, strong and clean. His fig
ure was built for action, with sort of
virile grace. Women liked him, he
knew.
Women? Who cared for the plural,
when one woman turned her face?
Eight o'clock found him ringing at her
door. A new maid opened it to him.
Thus far, Providence smiled. She
stared when he said: mo name"
1t seemed to him century until he
heard the swish of silken skirts. The
portiere fell with fiounce DOLL be-
w.tchipg and trifle curious, stood be-
fore his eyes.
You, Mr.. McLain?"
Eyes, Its II" he cried holly:
you've treated me unfairly, Doll-Ive
come to tell you sol"
She laughed queer little strangled
laugh, and lifted one hand to her
throat. Never had he looked to her
SO handsome, so earnest, so manly, SO
dear. She swallowed the big lump
that choked her, and gazed at him with
stony scorn.
I'm not the only fellow, Doll, that
ever told girl she was loved!"
Doll gave little gasp.
Il don't-understaHd you," she said.
Il don't think you do" replied Don.
Now, Doll, what does it mean?"
She drew an envelope from her gown.
I've not looked at it since,' she
cried.
my wretched tact, suppose" said
Don; sit serves me exactly right.
should have spoken myself, as l ought
to have done, and not sent a proxy of a
poem!"
"Poem?' cried Doll, with staring
eyes; sit was horrid wash!"
Don turned the slip he held. He
felt too serious to laugh, just then, but
a smile curved his handsome lip. Doll
snatched the slip from his hand and
read, this time, its other face:
Does she love me?
Does she hate me?
This, | question, night and day.
She read no more. The paper fut-
tered down. He caught her hard, by
both wrists.
Which Is it, Doll?" he cried, low
and tense, (which is it? Tell me
quick!"
Her ruddy head made sudden wreck |
of his splendid Roman tie.