The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-29

his eyes and they were bright as though
he had washed them in euphrasy His
cheeks. which had the stain of wine in
them. had grown clear since he had
lived plainly.
.'wenr'~
He smiled at the good woman's open
mouthed admiration
You are like the bridegroom. sir
well. who knows but that 1 may be
one before the summer is olG?'
He went off twiriing mis- cane and
singing. and the same song was on his
lips perpetuanv in the weeks that fol-
lowed while the sweet spring turned
round to summer:
Dolly dabbies fingers brown
In the wlitest milk that flows;
Dolly a rosy gown,
Smells OF roses as she goes
1t was always Dolly; always and for
ever Dolly.
1t was not long before the gossip of
the village came to Mrs Lumley. and
she knew that the Dolly of the song
was the Dolly OF Redstreah Farm. 1t
seemed that Mr.. Jones had made friends
with glum Dick Stone, who was well
pleased that his daughter should marry
gentleman And about the girl her
self. no one seemed 70 know Young
Oliver Buckenhaln. of Meadowsweet
Farm. had been counting her before Mr..
Jones came, but cow they had quar-
relied. and no one thought it strange
that she should have thrown over Oliver
for her splendid rev lover. although ne
was middle-aged.
And for the matter of that, he grew
younger every day. although he could
not hope to have the smooth cheek ana
thick yellow hair Of a lad like oliver.
Yet Oliver grew old, while his fortunate
rival grew young, and sang no more TO
ms team Of horses. nor as he moved
the hay.
one day. when Mr. Jones was absent,
as he usually was the greater part Of
the day. two gentlemen rode up to THE
Spotted Lamb" and asked if such one.
describing him. had lodgings in the vii
lase
ley. If your honors would be pleased
TO wait He generally returns about
this hour
The gentlemen gave their horses to be
fed and watered. and while they waited
for Mr.. Jones they ordered and con-
sumed Of meal OF Mrs. Lumley's cold
roast beef and fresh garden salad. with
home-brewed ale, and were so free with
their money and so finely dressed and
had such way with the serving maids
of the house that the good woman set
them down in her mind as highwaymen.
When Mr.. Jones came in suddenly
upon them his eyes flashed and the old
gloom fell upon his face. and when they
cried out. Laughing. that at last they
had run him to earth, he fell to swear
ing at them so that Mrs. Lumley shut
the, door hastily for Mr.. Jones had been
times doubted that he was a man Of
fashion, and his new violence troubled
her
For more than two hours there was
the sound Of much argument from the
parlor. and Mrs Lumley learned. be-
cause there was a cupboard in her store
closet adjoining where the wall was
thin, that they were trying to prevail
upon Mr.. Jones to go with them. urg-
ing upon him that some one. whose
name she could not catch. was inconsol-
able without him. But to that Mr. Jones
e. ,ev,arod bft+orlr, thsf thor y,areo, bod
no loyalty 20 anyone. except in so far
as he or she ministered to his pleasures
Moreover. that he was tired Of that per
sons insolence, being a better man than
he; that he had loved him once, but
loved him no longer, and, finally, that
he would never return.
The two gentlemen rode away at sun
down, calling to Mr.. Jones. as he stood
bareheaded in the road TO see them Off
that he would soon tire Of his stay in
ARCADIA and come back to town, and
he was gloomy that evening. But the
next day he was as merry as ever. and
for many days following.
His clothes had come down from town
many chests Of them on the coach, and
he hardly ever seemed to wear the same
suit two days running His attire was
the delight and admiration of the vii
Iage.
One day as he passed out he paused,
and asked Mrs Lumley If she remem-
bered what she had said about the song
Of Dolly and him the. made it. and how
IT was litter for a lad than a mature
man.
do you think STILL" he asked. that
she would prefer a rustic lad in home
spuns with hay in his hair and smelling
of his occupations, before a town gal
lant?"
why, 1t would depend. sir, on