Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-09-17

best! pOily Dlurted out. "Hov
can YOU say that. when-when"-
dolly, YOU are not really foolish
about him. ere you?' Mrs. Barclay
face dropped into deeper seriousness.
Dolly looked away and was silent
| for moment, Then she faltored: IL
don't know. mother. Tim afraid If
keep on feeling like do now I'll never
| get over it,
"Ah. hut you'll not keep on feeling
! like YOU do now" consoled the older
woman 'Of course, right now, Just
after seeing how hard he took il, yo,,
! VIII kind of sympathize with him and
want to help him; but that will all
pass away remember when | was
about your age ] had falling out
with VIII Dcsprec, a young man my
father didn't like because his grandfa.
Their had been an overscer. And. do
you know thought would actually
, kill myself. | refused to eat bite and
threatened to run away with WILL To
| this day | really don't know what I
would have done If your era ndfathcr
hadn't scared him away with a shot
gun. VIII kept writing notes to me.
l was afraid to answer them, but my
father got hold of one and went after
him on fast horse. Wills family
heard what was up, and they kept
MIN ort in the swamp for a few days.
md then they sent him to Texas. The
whole FeSprec family took it I'D and
talked scand' lous about us"
And you soon got over il. MOTHER"
asked Dolly almost in tone of dis
may.
WELL" said Mrs. Barclay reflective
ly. "Nill acted the fool 40 terribly. He
wasn't out in Texas three months he.
fore he sent back marked paper with
an article in it about his engagement to
the daughter of rich man who. we
found out afterward, used to keen
hNery stable; then | reckon hardly any
girl would keep caring for a boy when
MS folks was telling such lies about
her family"
Dolly was staring studlously at the
speaker.
Mother" she asked, don't you be-
lieve in real love?"
Mrs. Barclay laughed ms II highly
amused. II believe in different sort
to the puppy love | had for that bow.
Then after that there was another
young man that ! thought more of il
anything, than l did Of Will, but he
was as poor as Jobs turkey. and nv
foiks was all crazy for me and your pa.
who Ia never seen. to got married r
heid out against the idea Just like Won
are doing with Frank, | reckon but
Wnen your pa come with his shiny |
Droadcloth coat and spotted silk vest
no, II was satin, l think, with red SPOTS
on H-and every girl in town was crazy !
10 catch him and there was no end of
reports about the niegers he owned
ana his high conncclions-wc as
say, 1t wasn't week before | WAS
afraid he'd see Joe Tnsley and hear
aboct me and him. NJ father was in
Tor the match from the very jump. and
so was your pas folks. He PVT m at
our house with his Niger servant and
dldht want to go about town much.
l reckon | was pleased to have him
PICK me out, and so we soon fixed if
up. l.ordy, he only had to mention Ice
Ilnsley to me after we got married to
make me do anything ne wanted. To
thls day he throws him up to me, for
Joe never did amount to ANYTHING. He
tried to borrow money from Your M
after you was born. The neighbors had
to feed his children"
But you loved father didn't you?'
Dolly breathed, in some relief over
what she thought was coming
well. l cant say | did" said Mrs.
barclay. 1--WE had terrible time get
'ilg used to one another WAYS. You
see, he'd waited good while and was
some Older than | was. After awhile.
we settled down and now I'm
awful glad | let my father manage for
me. You see, what your pa had and
what my father settled on me mode
us comfortable, and if a couple is that
It's a sight more than the Door ones
are"
Dolly stood before her mother, close
enough to touch her. Her face wore
m Understandable expression of dissatis-
faction with what she had heard.
Mother, tell me one thing" she said
Did you ever let either of those bows
the two that you didn't marry.
youy"
Mrs. Barclay stared ND Mt her daugh.
er for an instant, and then her face
broke into broad smile of genuine
amusement. She lowered her head IN
ler knee and laughed out.
Dolly Barclay, you are such a fool"
the said, and then she laughed again
Utmost immoderately. her face in her ,,
ap.
Il know what that means" said ,
Dolly, in high disgust. Mother, don't /,
mink you can do me any good. You'd
letter 20 to bed"
Mrs. Barclay rose promptly.
i think ia better, too" she said. at .
makes your pa awful mad for ms to sit =
p this way, don't want to hear him +,
all ont Ike he always does when he 1,
atches me at it, +,
After her mother had gone Dolly sat .
own on her bed. she never was in =
1ve' she told herself. "Never, never !,
ever. And it's pity. She never could =
ave talked that way If she had really +,
'Ved anybody as much as But Dol -
old not finish what lay on her q
lhgue. However, when she had drawn !,
ne covers up over her the cold tears :,
use III her eyes and rolled down OH her I,
HOW as she thought OF Alan Bishops .
n "a Il Al.