Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-12-16
A@& { e s5aaSs
8 HOW THE OLD YEAR WENT 0UT&.
nv NAllatc,E CCt ENAN II
"a MAURICE COLEMAN.


~ card of Dora's engagement, sup
10 pose?' asked old Col. Foster briskly.
'tCapital fellow, George Standish, lit
tie old for the girl, perhaps, but she
seems to like him, and of course my
wife is pleased"
l nodded and murmured something
conventional How could | tell Col Fos-
ter that for the last two years l had
regarded him as my prospective father
in-law, and that l had even been fool
enough t. come down TO the Grange
with an engagement ring for Dora in
my pocket.
Well. well, had been fool. it seem
ed, an utter fool, and the sooner | got
back to Chicago the better; if they had
not been having that dance, the annual
New Year eve affair. | believe / should
have made some wild excuse and got
away Dora fitted into the study; she
looked wonderfully bright and pretty.
20, here you are, Jack. When did you
arrive? Fancy sitting here with father,
whcn you might have been having nice
tea with mother and me in the drawing
room, and mullins, Jack, o, such heaven
ly mullins"
Il must congratulate you, Dora"
1 spoke in ray best manner. stiffly and,
] hope, sternly, putting as much reproach
in my glance as l could.
THANK you so much; the house is up
side down with excitement and the
girls, as you viii find, can talk of moth
ing but bridesmaids dresses. As to
mother, she is radiant with pride, for
l shall be quite a great lady, shall l
not daddy, dear? o, here's the ring"
She held up slender finger for my
inspection, crcled by a cleaning hoop
of large and scintillating brilliants. In
voluntarily | contrasted the costly gage
with the simple ring reposing in ny
waistcoat pocket Oh, yes, Dora had
been wise in her generation.
had privately determined not to ask
Dora to dance. but, all the same, valse
No. s found us sitting out together in
the darkest and most bescreened Of re
treats.
rs it not nice. and dark, and cozy?'
laughed Dora gleefully. Il rugged it up
myself this morning. why are you so
gloomy and silent .Jack?'
The truth isl ! answered. 81 don't
feel happy over this engagement of
yours; Standish is so much older than
you are"
FL "Well. l know that" She tapped her
pretty foet impatiently. But listen,
Jack. to the true position of affairs. l
was rather fond of somebody-years ago,
though he evidently did not care about
me. Well, l am not the sort of a girl
who goes breaking her heart and max
ing everybody uncomfortable and miser-
able. Mr.. Standish appeared and show
ed pretty plainly that be liked and ad-
mired me"
But have you told him that you are
not in love with him, Dora2'
''0f course / have, and he is rather re-
lieved, for he is not really in love with
me. He has spoken the truth honestly,
too: he adored his first wife; he was
devoted to his daughter and almost
broken-hearted when she died last year.
He wants me TO take her place in a way,
to have youth about his home again,
some one to pet and spoil.''
Here is a wedding present, Dora" 1
said. Il wish you all possible happiness.
dear"
"a wedding present! Rut you did not
know, Jack, till father told you this af-
terlloonT'
She looked at me with brows slightly
knit, a wistful expression in her eyes:
then. unwrapping the paper she flushed
all over the face.
1t was a simple ring. made to my own
design-one pearl. with a stem and leaf
of small diamonds, made to resemble
mistletoe.
Il think it lovely. Jack, but don't
quite understand. Did you mean it only
for New Years gift?"
told her all, them told her how | had
loved her from MY college days, and had
always had before me the hope of win
pns her for my wife.
why did you not tell me, Jack?''
abe cried. 70, Jack, Jack, why didn't
you speakw
because / was a poor man, Dora. /
have worked hard, Dora. and last week l
was offered a place that means bread
and butter and jam, so | went straight
of TO the jeweler and ordered that little
ring for you"
She burst into a sudden shower of
tears. o, how | longed to kiss and com
fort her.
Il have loved you so. Jack l felt
ashamed II myself at last, thinking you
did not care. and then mother was so
pleased at the thought Of my making a
great marriage and Of course it would
be nice for the sirls-and So"
Dora rose to her feet with a little
laugh: she brushed away all trace Of
tears with dainty lace handkerchief.
take back your ring. Jack. dear. can
not wear two on the same f-ger, and.
Jack, have a queer sort OF fancy 70
dance the old year out and the new year