The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-11-22
CHAPTER II.
+rnNTTNrED

FCoNTINUED.
"Hush, dearest! You must learn
what Dolores may have to say about
it," Mrs. Hamilton said, with an IN
dulgent smile; for it was as easy to
promise this ssister'' to her daughter
as it had been in her babyhood to
promise a new doll. And though this
gift might present other difficulties,
there was time enough to inquire
about that. So when Dolores at
length awaked, after q refreshing
sleep, Mary quickly stopped over her.
and kissing her with enthusiasm, ez-
claimed:
"You are never going to leave us,
Dolores! You are going to stay with
rs always! You are to be my sister"
A warm flush of Joy overspread the
young strangers face, and her eyes
became dewy and soft with grateful
emotion; and Mary Hamilton was
quick to see that it was not the pros
pect of ease and luxury that caused
that flush, but the far greater Joy OF
having found affection and apprecla-
tion in a world that had so long been
q cold and Earren wilderness.
"You don't know me-" she said
tremulously, but with the happy con-
seriousness that even such serious
drawback was going to be disposed OF:
'sI may be-you don't know what
may be-" -, .sTho+
only helps to make it all more inter-
esting. Whatever you may be, it is
sure to be something fine. Oh! you
NAV trust me! I'm better than gypsy
for reading faces-women's faces, L
mean. I don't understand men bit.
But I forget: I'm not to talk to you.
Doctor Mac said I was not; but, you
see, I am an awful chatterbox. Now,
Just one word more, dear: Tell me: Is
there any reason why we two-you and
I-may not be lawfully joined together,
as they say in the marriage service, as
sisters, for better, for worse, in sick
ness and in health, through good or
evil report, 80 long as we both shall
Eve?"
"No," answered Dolores, with q
smile that merged into a deep sigh,
"no reason at all, 80 far as I know, for
/ sm alone in the world, without rela-
tive OF friend or guardian, quite alone,
without a soul to love or even hate me
till met you this morning"
"How delightful" exclaimed Mary
Hamilton. "I mean, you dear thing,
how sad and dreadful for you, but how
delightful for me-because I can have
you all to myself. And now. just one
word more, Dolores, have you no other
name? Something for everyday use,
YOU know. wouldn't have your
name changed for anything, it is so
characteristics real Spanish name.
But it means 'sorrow-sadness; 1t
would make me cry if I had to call you
Dolores all the time" .
"My mother called me Lola" said
Dolores softly, and her companion
noted the quick catch in her breath,
and instantly remembered that the
Spanish girls worn dress and hat had
shown all the humble signs of mourn
ing their owner had been able to be-
stow on them. She guessed rightly
that Dolores had but recently lost the
mother whom she could not yet name
without emotion.
"Lola, and sometimes Lolita" the
girl continued, ''for these are the
pretty diminutives of my name in the
Spanish language, But my mother
wes not Spanish. She came from the
Scotch Highlands, and I have often
heard her say she loved the canyons
and mountains of California for that
reason. Myfather was of Spanish an
cestry, and it was to please him that /
was called Dolores. 1t is family
name, and there is q legend that tells
how a far.off ancestor of my father &C.
companied Columbus when he discov-
cred this new world. But he was not
an ancestor to be proud Of"
Glow splendidr' exclaimed the de-
lighted listener. cit is like story,
only so much nicer when one knows
the characters or their descendants.
But won't call you Lola or Lolita
wouldn't let any one call me by the
dear little pet names sacred to my own
mother. Any one care for enough
may call me Mary or Polly or Molly;
but no one may use mammals pet
names; and so it shall be with you,
too. T will choose something for my
very own; what do you say to Lora or
Lorita or Rita? They are all pretty,
aud I shall call you Lorita. And you
shall have name for me, too; choose
une for yourself"
"Why not 'Maruja?' You see I am
fond of Spanish names. and 'Maruja
is our prettiest for Mary"
"Agreed" cried Polly, clapping her
hands like child. "And now we
must be good If Doctor Mac finds
you feverish when he comes to-mor-
low, I shall be greatly blamed; and he
will think me incapable of having
charge of mis- patient.
Dolores smiled happily, and as the
eedative administered by Doctor Mac
donald still held possession, her eye.
lids presently dropped and she was
soon in deep sleep.
Within the next ten days these two
young girls who had met so strangely
had become devoted friends; and the
Spanish girls history, SO far as she
knew it herself, had been freely ant
frankly discussed.
CHAPTER III.