The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-05-29
APardORabIe Deceit
By Anise Milford.

| t; and yet l would do it over again.
t was entirely Dorothy's fault for
being SO stupid; but what can you
expect from girl whose nickname
S Doll or Dolly? She has never been
jailed by her real name, but always
OCll, and as name it certainly suits
aer, for, with her fair hair and large
Glue eyes and soft and pinky dimpled
SKIN she is just like doll from a
very nice shop-and nearly as help
less. 1t was while l was staying
down at Darlington that l discovered
how deeply and completely Bob
! Eversleigh had fallen in love with
| DOLL
My dear child l said, as we sat
chatting together over the fire. 81
can't think why you are horrid to
Bob, when you know you intend to
marry him.
Doll, who is little dear, but very
spoilt, pouted and gave the fire a
| vicious dig, and then gave me a side
long look.
But l don't know" she said, with
much assumed ambition and pride.
perhaps l shall make much more
brilliant match" She screwed up
her lips to show how much.
Perhaps" l said, but | doubt
1t as you are so much in love with
Mr.. Eversleigh."
IL" said Doll, opening her blue
eyes very wide. why, whatever put
such an idea in your head?"
Nothing" l responded, airly;
only when people blush when other
peoples names are mentioned, it's
no use pretending they are not in
love-" and I glanced at the soft and
pinky face.
MY dear Nell" said Dolly, with
smile, your room is really very
hot; think I'll go upstairs and
Dress
Something has happened since yes
terday, although hardly know what
1t really is. I only know that Bob
Eversleigh left in hurry this morn
ing and Dolly has been suspicious
cheerful all day long; but have not
seen her now for nearly an hour, so
think | will go upstairs and, meta
phorically speaking, take her even
ing temperature.
l found Dolly lying on the sofa
in her room, her face i'll a pillow that
was very damp, and small wet
handkerchief by her side.
Hello, Dolly! What's the-have
you got the toothache, dear?"
A stified voice came out of the pill
low. Don't be silly, Nell."
We'll, l said, apologetically.
you see, both words end in ache. .
She sat up, looking like much
disheveled and well-worn doll. ooh,
Nell" she cried, ''he-he's gone away
forever!" And she burst into floods
Of despairing tears.
New York is only sixteen miles
away" said tentatively. Its not
far to motor, and l have biked as
far, so he might even walk it if he
were in good condition; and then the
train-there is always a train!"
Don't be horrid and-and make
fun OF mel" sobbed poor little Doll.
II refused him last night"
Why?" / asked, in genuine -
tonishment. You refused him
but why, my dear girl?"
Il don't know" cried Dolly. 81
Il think l meant him TO ask me
again. l said didn't want to get
e. aged, and of course l thought he d
peg me to reconsider it, and make a
lovely scene"-and she hung her
head little-"and then, of course.
| meant to come round in the end"
burst out laughing; l could not
help it. MY dear Dolly" l said,
men don't make scenes in these
daysAexcepting in books. of course,
II you said you didn't want him and
told him to go away
Yes-but he ought to have known
that l did not mean it," sobbed little
Doll. Il don't like girls who jump
at an offer, and l didn't want to be
too eager; but l wish | hadn't re-
fused him now, and oh, Nell, | am
so very miserable."
why don't you write and ask him
back?"
What" she echoed Indignantly.
Write and ask him back again.
How can you ask me? Neveri L
I'd sooner die"
Then, my dear" SAID with sym.
pathy, I'm sorry, but you'll have to
die
Dolly was really growing pale and
thin. There is no doubt that some
women fade almost perceptibly under
the very first break of grief, and
began to be really alarmed about my
little childish friend, and really
afraid she would fade away. She
declined to go to any parties or take
any interest in anything, and as she
had not told her people about her pro-
posal and had bound me to strict
secrecy, no one knew what she was
fretting about. l knew Bob Evers-
leigh fairly we'll, but not well enough
to mention so delicate subject tc
him. What, therefore, could l pos
sibly do to bring them together?
| thought of all sorts of schemes
but none of them looked promising
In my desperation even considered