The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-03-23
THE END OF IT ALL

Dolly and I had been arguing-as We
usually had. But, strange to say, neither
/ OF US had enjoyed IT. It was regularly
understood Institution between US that
/ We would quarrel about once in so often.
1t was such a lot Of fun making up
Dolly and were not engaged. but some
time we were going to be- This was an
other regularly understood institution be-
tween US, This was 4 lot OF fun also,
| particularly as our respective families
the heads OF them, rather-had long ago
decided that we had better keep apart
Tor some time 10 come Because they
had so decided, and sternIy forbidden anv
engagement until we should both be of
age, we had gloried in the fact that we
should be engaged some time. And to-
night, for the first time, we had enj0yed
neither the quarrel nor the reconciliation.
and neither of US had made any reference
TO that coming engagement.
had been rather silent about Il for
some time. I was so anxious to make the
engagement reality. anu I hardly knew
now to set about it. Dolly. feared had
been silent recently for quite other
causes. The grim old aunt with whom
she lived and who was her guardian
! would harm my cause all she could 1
felt sure Dolly reporter that she, too.
had been silent concerning the coming en-
gagement for some time. AS opposition
/ IS always food for Dolly's determina-
ton, I was not as grateful for this ST.
lence on the part Of her aunt as I might
! nave been.
While I was wondering now how to rem
der the engagement an actual fact in
stead of an ephemeral promise, Dolly's
voice broke the silence snappishly.
This IS the last quarrel I win ever
have with you it announced, TO my as
/ constituent.
Il hope SO. Dolly" I answered. going
over and sitting down on the sofa beside
her.
7 detest cowardioe." said Dolly, still
more acrimoniously.
I loathe it, answered, still very
much in the dark.
We've done nothing but quarrel and
! ng.-l for years" 1 fancied tears in her
voice, although her swapping eyes belied
! the fancy I'm tired Of il, and I never
mean to quarrel with you again"
Dolly" said I, pleadingly, tell me
I what " edone TO annoy you"
1 was conscious, Immediately. OF having
/ taken the wrong tack.
/ Nothingi" You would nave thought
/ she was ready to eat me, from her tone
and manner. I've been just as much to
( blame for all the duarreling as you have.
/ But In tired and sick of - all
She turned from me pettishly and
/ pulled the fringe off an entire side OF
the prettiest sofa pillow beside her before
/ she spoke again.
/ Everybody is making fun Of the way
we quarrel and fight was her next re-
mark, spoken in a low voice. THE girls
make my life a burden, teasing me-"
They make mine a burden asking me
when you are going to let me propose"
Dolly shrugged her shoulders dfsdain-
fully bur I knew I was on lie right tack.
l dared not draw any closer, but did
venture to lay my hand on hers-a little
! timidly, but she liked the action none
the less for that--and pushed my adj
vantage to the fun and Immediately.
It's rather unkind OF you to keep
me in this position so long, Dolly" I
continued Its hard on a fellow to be
known as hanging about a woman with
nothing settled, for so long. Haven't I
proved my devotion yet, Dolly?"
I knew she's like this sort Of talk. Wo-
men always do And when they're dying
to be kind to you they don't mind accept
ing any reasonable opportunity Of yield
ing their forgiveness graciously. Besides,
it was stating the matter nicely to say
Dolly had kept me in this underlined posi-
ton. We had both taken and staid IN it,
for reasons of mutual fun and enjoy
ment, and, until recently, ] hadn't suf-
fered at all. The fellows had troubled
me a little bit of late.
Dolly regarded me gravely and her
swapping eyes softened. The hand over
which mine rested trembled a little |
took my cue, from that hand. Gathering
courage, folded my long fingers around
it. Then ] said what 1 had been long
ing to say for so long.
Dolly" I whispered, why need either
of us suffer from fun-making any longer?
You were of age last Monday although
I really hadn't remembered the fact in
this connection before was of age
some time ago Why shouldn't we leave
off talking of the time when we are go
ing to be engaged and be engaged i'm
mediately? We're neither of US children,
to be dictated to, any longer. Let's be
engaged right now, Dolly!"
"Rignt now" Dollys eyes were wide,
her tone wondering. You don't mean
now-this minute?
Il do. Dolly" said 7, firmly. This sec
ond, now, this moment and I empha-
sized my dissertations with a kiss.
"Youn have to persuade me-" said
Dolly, laughing, when she emerged from
'persuading her when the door opened
and he aunt walked into the room.
Both Dolly and 1 are rather nervous.
temperamentally, and we can both move
quickly, upon occasion. Dollvs aunt,
who is a most observant old lady. noticed
that we were as far apart as the room
allowed us to be as soon as she had
come in.
''Heyday! What's all thisg' she cried,
interestedly. THE beginning of another
of your spasms Of quarreling and fighting,
1 suppose.
And then it was that Dolly gave evil
dence Of having been successfully per
suaded"
20. no, dear aunt she said. softly, with
lovely glance in my direction, tits the
end Of them all"-Chicago Tribune.