The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-07-02
DOLLY BRANDON.


"NO, wouldn't any such thing I'd name it
The Tom Brandon, so thcrc!'
That shows what you know about naming
boats. Nobody ever gives boat boys name. You
ought to give It girls name beautiful one, after
somebody that's done something fine"
ooh, Tom" said Dolly, wstfuly, Il do hope
you'll win the race." She wished her own name
was beautiful; she wished she had done something
fine. How lovely it would be to have boat named
after her
Hello, jeff said Tom, where did you come
FROM"
A tall, blond boy came through the bushes. Hell
To- How you getting on
"There's lot to do yet but if you'll help can
get it finished in time"
Tom looked about among his tools and odd pieces
of wood. well, declare, forgot the two wooden
braces. Dolly! They're III the barn. Run and get
them like good girl, and get back quick as
you can! I'd 90 myself, but there isn't time. The
boats have all got to be entered this evening, you
know"
But Dolly was already out of the'boat running
away toward home Although she hated the barb
wire fence and afraid of the Dolly decided
to run back with the braces through the meadow
and down past Tilly's cabin because that the
quickest way. When she got within sight of 1iy's
cabin, there lilly running up the road waving
her apron.
de doctah; jimmy upset de presarve kettle mos
burn herself to deaf Run right quick, whites [ try
to hesh her cryin'. | dissent leabe her..
ooh, lilly" said Dolly, with painting breath,
TIN so sorry, but 1 can't"
ooh yes. you kin. honey! Go by de brook way!
Hits de quckes'! Run right quick, honey! Oh,
my po' chilel Ny po little jimmy"
Dolly stood irresolute. If the boat weren't fin
ished and it was her fault, what would Tom say?
ooh, lilly, what made jimmy do itg" she said. Il
wish she hadn't" But she was hiding the braces in
the blackberry tangle, and was off across the mea-
dow toward Doctor Carriers home, lilly calling fter
her. God bless you, honeyt"
1t was long way, but she hurried on. When
she got to the brook she found it much swollen and
the log bridge had been swept away. The water
surged and gurgled and ran smooth agin She
followed the bank trying to find place to cross.
The sunlight was getting mellow and late. Tom
must be wondering by this time. She would not go
for Doctor Carter, after all She would go back to
Tom. There was no bridge across the brook, any
way, and that excuse enough. She started back
through the woods. A long blackberry vine caught
at her skirt as though to stop her. ooh, DEAR, she
said, what shall I do 2"
She turned at last and ran back to the brook.
She tried to test the depth of the water with her
foot. Then she splashed into the stream, etching
her breath as she went. What did it matter about
there being bridge. lilly had trusted her to get
the doctor. The water was deeper than she thought
Half way across she stood shivering and ready to
turn back. Then she went and slipped a little;
then the current caught her and she went down. but
scrambled up again, and splashed OH through. The
swift water tugged at her clothes, and more than
all, she was afraid, very much afraid She got to
the other bank at last, and scrambled up, muddy
and forlorn. The woods looked dark ahead of her.
She ran on cold and afrid-up the little HILL then
to the woods edge, and there was Doctor Carriers
house. At the gate was Doctor Carriers Jim"
mending the fence.
ooh, JIM" cried Dolly, her teeth chatterng,
"run and tell Doctor Carter to come to Tillys
cabin! Little Jinny's hurt!"
BLESS gracious, missy, what is you done?" said
jim
ooh [ came through the brook because it was
quickest. Rum jim. quick ever you can, please"
Dolly watched Jim moment while he ran to-
ward the house, then she started back-not by the
woods this time, for the almost down, and
she dared not. She must go back by the long way.
She hurried on. The wind made her clothing cling
to her Jelly. BY and by she began to feel weak and
her head swan. When she got to Tillys cabin she
called that Doctor Carter coming, and then
took the braces from the blackberry thicket. The
evening was beginning to darken A little more,
however and the path to the river would come In
sight. She looked up. Tom and jeff were coming |
across the hill.
tom. Tom" she called "here are the braces"
II don't want them" called Tom, sharply Its |
too late! There's no use now | can't get the boat |
done and it's your fault! I'm going over to Jefsw
ooh, Toni" called Dolly but her voice somehow |
felt smothered. Then she forgot to be brave any
longer She looked after Tom and Jeff, then sat !
down on a stone and sobbed and sobbed, and could |
not stop.
Later, old Doctor Carter, driving by. drew rein
and looked down at what seemed to be in the dusk |
a heap of bedraggled clothing by the roadside
Then he got out, and stopped over very limp little
figure.
"'Pon my SOUL" said he. STOPPING closer near
sightedly IF it isn't Dolly Brandon" He took the
limp little body up in his arms. "Wet a drowned
rat! Pom my honor, / believe the worlds gone
mad!"
He bundled the silent little figure into his buggy,
and climbed in Then he drove at a furious rate,
muttering to himself
Dolly looked around her bewildered. The sun
light was streaming across the redandwhite checks
of the quilt on the big bed in her mothers room.
She did not quite know where she was. Her head
felt so strange and light. Then there was Tom sit
ting IN a big chair.
"Heo, Dolly, are you awake!" Tom got up, and
leaned over her gently Say, Doll, | didn't mean
to be so dreadfully cross about the braces 1t was
Just plucFy of you. Yes, it was
ooh Tom, was too late wasn't | :" said Dolly.
Don't you bother said Tom. 81 didn't know.
thought you had poked. jimmy is better, and that's
because you got the doctor"
Dolly Law still a moment then she turned to him