The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-06-08
NO. 81.

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the occurrence which l have related, and
which contained two more fifty dollar
bills, with the words
"We are very happy, may God bless
you, Dora"
/ But in all that time, have never for
gotten that beautiful angelic face, nor the
mute appeal which it made to my heart;
the answer to which cost me the deep
scar which is the object of your present
curiosity, and one thousand dollar fee
less the amount received from the young
folks. Neither did l in all that time, re-
gret the course l took.
Some ten years ago, as you probably
remember, l spent winter in HAVANA.
boarded with Spanish landlord, whose
house was generally filed with American
visitors. But, strange to say, Ipassed one
week with him without a single American
arrival; and l was mentally resolved one
day to leave for New Orleans, where
could find troops of friends, and rid my
self of tho enui consequent upon my soli
tary position, when heard my host cal
ling me:
"Senor, Senior, los AmericanOs-A-
mericanos."
Looking from my window, I saw fine
portly gentleman attending to his lug
gage, and answering the demands of
thousand and one leeches of pOrters who
each claimed to have brought something
for bin. Thinking [ might be of service
to him, | went out, and with two or three
dimes dispersed the villains who, know
ing me for an old stager submitted to my
orders. The gentleman turned to thank
me, but suddenly started back, then
glanced at my temple, and seeing the end
of my candle stick mark peering out be-
meath my sombrero, he caught me by the
hand exclaiming:
"We have met before, Sir. how glad
am to see you !"
And then, without explanation, he
drew me to the doorway in which stood
a m atronly but still beautiful woman.
See, Dora" said he, "is not this our
old friend 2"
At the word q Dora" I started, and
there before me, sure enough, stood the
Dora Of thirty years previous, still re-
tanning many of her charms, but with
the marks of time, notwithstanding i'm
pressed upon her features.
You may well believe our reunion was
most pleasant; and after our dinner was
over, and we were out enjoying the sea-
breeze, the whole story was told me. L
will not give you the details of it; it was
long, but the main features of it were a
bout what | had surmised. Dora was
the only. child of wealthy father, her
mother died when she was mere child;
old Angeline had remsined with her faith
er in the capacity of housekeeper, and
had, while Dora was away at school, &C
quired, as is generally the case, complete
! influence over him. Dora was wooed
and won by poor clerk; the father
would not listen to it; an elopement was
the consequence, and the old man in his
rage broke up ouse-keeping, and taking
old Angeline with him started for the
/ South. Dora had followed him with her
husband although she knew he would
not see her, and although he had always
been harsh and unkind to her, yet she
knew he was in the last stages Of con-
sumption, aud she determined, if possible,
TO be with him when he died. At the
time of his death, they had been follow
ING him about month from place to
place, keeping concealed from him, and
eluding even the keen eyes of Angeline.
When Dora appeared in the room, it was
only because the man-servant, who had
been with her father, and, who, as you
remember, left the room when | entered,
had observed their arrival and had kind
IL gone to her and informed her that her
father could not live an hour, she was
entering the room to make one last effort
at reconciliation when my voice reading
the fearful words Of her fathers curse
caused the outcry and announcement
! Her husband, who followed her in, found
the old man dead, Dora in a swoon, me
senseless, and old Angeline in vain, try
/ ing to put the many pieces of the will to-
gether, raving and cursing like Bedla-
mite. He and the man servant put the
old mans body in the bed, took Dora to
her room, and while the servant kept
guard over Angcline he took me home in
a carriage. The rest you know.
| l have only to add that, whenever l
wander north, either alone or with my
wife or family, we always stop at the
/ house of our kind friends. They have
spent one winter with us at the South,
and expect them again the coming sea
son. And the young gentleman who
studied law under my instruction, with
my name on the sign with his (aS senior
partner although he does al the businessO
is Doras SOD, and from certain conscious
looks and bright bushes on my pretty
daughters cheek when he calls, | imagine
he may possibly be mine, too. But of
this Harry, rest assured-I will not curse
her if she marries him.
eSp.Tha avtr, annronriationS for the