The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-17
DOLLY'S CATCH.

ward from force Oh use, DecdIhS HSA
name. she was sweet sixteen. little, dam
~, slender and pretticr than a doll
Time had changed her little There
was less sparkle in her eyes, but more
synlDathy; heI waxen complexion had
suffered and her face was beginning to
show wrinkles Notwithstanding her art
OF concealuent: and, worst OF all, she
was growing stout. She would look at
herself in the glass and exclaim:
of all things. a short. stout womdni
l VIII oiet myself thin. Il die in doing
it"
But Dolly had healthy woman's APP
,etits ana there were many dinners.
and suppers, and teas, and luncheons,
and banauets in tine set in which she
moved. and the good resolutions dietetic
shared the common fate OF good resolu-
lions.
favorite among the young men, for with
her beauty she combined not few ac-
coinDlishments; she was sprlghtly IL not
witty. and tactful ii not clever, anu
withal a sieater t1atterer never nVeu,
and what does any man like so wen as
7atterv? Then she had a way of look
ing her batteries with admlrlhs eyes.
She was a thorough eCoquette, ana any
competent coquette has her way Win
mel for time
Dollv's pan ents were not among the
rich. but they were far from poor They
and she went where they liked and nad
,,-l33f tbev wa Med. if money would buy
it. Dolly delighted to be wooed, ana III
those early days she had sultors II,
sb1.rdanee There were suitorS long ana
short literally and metaphorically, ana
there were suitprs grave and gay Win
titles and without But Dolly en1oyeu
the game of being sought too wen "
end it by being ossdght. Or, perhaps, ~
be absolutely just TO her. she was TOO
particular With each requisite a Wo-
man adds to her ideal the list OF men
who can meet the requirements IS cut II,
twain At any rate, the summer all9 1
the heyday of youth had passed. anu
Dolly had made no hay.
Al one time she would have married
but for the rnischance of loving d man
who did not comply with the speclhca-
tions in her table of requirements loi a
husband First, the man she loVeo was
moor. and poverty she could not aplde-
Next his name was Nathan Brow brown
shortened Familiarity to Nate BroWA
and the thought of giving up her aflSto-
cratic patronymic for such name aS
Brown, especially when she couid I'd V I q
baron by merely dropping her eyes, was
sMamna. she said one day during
this neriod. Il think every huspahu
named Brown is to be congratulate,
for at least his wife loves MN OF sile
wouldn't have married MN. INTO ,,
You could do worse than take MATE,
renlied the mother. He is poor, put ne
is a man who will make his way Anu
he loves you to distraction
Rut Dolly refused him, as she con.
feesed to herself, to save some shred OF
-. norI,oI,s system. He left the city
for a while after that. And Wheh ne
returned it was to give himsen TO pus 81
ness with a devotion that causeo nm "a -
abandon society altogetneiI' -, r9 of fa,-
circle saw him no more. And nafu dltS ate,
hin, went the baron and others. until
all were gone. -,-,.a 80 ,,-aiol,t
and the Indifference of men VINO useu
to talk love Dolly PECAN 70 "a ,1leas-
mistake. But of all the sad ana pleas s.sc
! inc memories of her triumphs the one
always with her was tnat Oh tiie -, -
making of Nate Brown. ana sH IsE M W "
now she was sorry she I'D"
| bear his plain name ,,,o +,
one winter day Dolly was alone II
her fathers great house. Sne Was
| wearied of over much feminine so 1.t.a y
and when her parents went ouI eI Iso1 ~
! 70 remain at home and read her mover -
1 rrefarence to accompanying them lhle
! the buzz 1t was maids Gay oul' aIio
| both cook and housekeepef WEI, SUI SUI.
| The 'coachman and man OF genera u 1,ll,
~ about the house lived under anotnel
go nollv's parents lived modeslIS
/ FOR neonle of their social rank Ihe y
bad always made a great virtue OF II
And so it was that Dolly was eHtii ei-
alone in the great house 49, oosias
easv chairs in the small parlor 70 req
her book 1t was faVorlte seaI -,
her BY her chair there was ~ ~ &c
little table containing hlddeh ora I'VE
onened by a spring; and TINS oIawe
opn+ained many precious and curious
oU+ic1es Money and jewelry were KEEP
there. with several gifts of frlenos sil
one thing always in this hlouen pc pc
was loaded, gola f ia DojIv.s pap;
NV his friend, the general. 1t was
Dangerous as well as heautltui WeapU ~,
and was kept in the secret drawer man III IN
ly to be away from the hKehlioou VI ''0
ing harm. -.,+i, .sbe fell t
dav dreaming. and from day dreanaIl
: over what might have peeh sne o1,e
: asleep and to real dreaming. sliiA o'e
what might have been .
She was awakened py d ssn9e
danger. and found herself with ne
, fTs+ waking consciousness listening IN
: ltentlv and gazing about with IeaLl .
axpectancv A moment later she neal
, soe+ stem ascending the front star
Dolly was by no means coward
with the thought of possible houSe
6 breaker came the suggestion OIL ~
hidden spring and the pistol. IN Ile
ment the shining weapon was III ne
hand and she was stealing on tlptt
+oIvsr5 the front hall. moment late
> the uortieres were parted ana tai
\ | bearded man stalked into the room,
n find himself cOn1fOnteQ ny an Ai9
d stout middle-aged woman holding
pistol to his face. -.
"Hold your hands above your hea
e SIR She exclaimed, with fierce inter
+ sit--.
. He COMPLIED. !
what are you doing mere sne "
The man peered at her curiously' Il
- a trapped burglar.
I came to steal" he said.
. AREN'T you ashamed to own II W
0 didn't YOU tell some plausible lie?
8 will ask YOU to kindly sit down the
by the front window.
Again the man complied Dolly d
not want vulgar spectacle, or 81
3 would have marched the man away
3 The point of her pistol to find help
: securing him. She made him sit dow
= because she thought him less dangero'
z sitting, and she wanted TO get time
= think what to do next 1t was Ola