The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-11-19
.Marri~a Again.

and dismay at the fact which had Just com
/ municated to her. 81 must say that | really
had too good an opinion Of that woman, but
there's no knowing what folks will do in this
world. And it's only two years since her
husband met with that awful death. How
pitied her, and what fuss she made at the
time. really thought she would never &c,
over it; but she's done herself up for me,
now.o
opened my lips to speak. and then, on
second thought, closed them again. There
would be no use in defending my dear friend
! Dora West to such person, and yet; do no,
misunderstood me, reader; Mrs. Mills was
kind hearted, good sort of woman, and would
have made almost any sacrifice for q friend
/ or neighbor who was in trouble; but she was
narrow minded, and of course, she was gull
I ty of all that vast burden Of petty sins and
/ little unchari,ablenesses which are the indi-
! gcnous fruit Of this quality.
/ So only replied, sob, Mrs. Mills, you
don't understand Dora as do; but haven't
/ time to discuss the matter now. Good NOR
ming" and walking slowly down that little
grassy road, my thoughts went back to a
night two years ago, that had burned itself
/ into my memory.
1t was evening, in the early part Of Octo-
4 Der, and the rain was falling slow and Ian.
4 guidly outside. The day had been languid
one, too, with q kind Of wistful, blue gray
/ sky, and a slight chill Ia the still air which
was far of whisper Of the winter.
J Dora and sat sewing in the little back
j pnrlor that evening, by the round mahogany
4 table, and there was sort OF rivalry KEEP,
up between our tongues and cur fngers-I
cannot tell which was the nimbler.
I How pretty see looked that night she, the
wel-beloved wife Of FIVE years, with the
smiles darling among the dimples Of her
sweet lips, and the light of a glad hear,
1 beaming out from her blue eyes.
"To think, Alice," she murmured, CHAR
ry's been gone week, and | thought ii
would seem an age, that morning he kissed
me goodbye. 1t would, too, if you hadn'l
been with me. But he'll be home to morrow.
! Oh, how glad shall BIO to see him."
At that moment the bell rang loud and
sudden.
sob, dear hope nobody's come to bore
us tonight. We're so coy and happy to-
\ gether,"
'sIIere's a dispatch for you, Mrs. West"
said small boy, whom the servant girl ush-
| cred into the room.
Dora sprang up quickly.
SITS from Harry, know!"
She brought it to the light and opened it
with her eager fingers. Her eyes-those
blue, beautiful eyes ran across the page
"My God my Godp' And then Dora West
casped her hands, and laughed loud and
wild. Oh, how that laugh rings down now,
/ blood in my veins, and fairly stops the beat
1 ing of my heart.
| "What does it mean, Alice ?" she whis-
pered. 81 can't read it, but it struck my
head just now, something did, and froze it.
Nothing has happened to Harry, has there ?
He'll come home tomorrow and put his arms
round me, and call me his dear little wife,
won't he Alice 2"
''Yes, yes, he wiil,' tried to say but
hardly think | succeeded, for my lips had
grown dry and parched, and my voice died
away in my heart, where n terrible fear had
come down.
But l drew Dora into my lap, laid her
head on my shoulder, and then, bending
down, read the paper which she held tight
in her hands.
There were but few words the great
crisis of life are generally acted and told
briefly. There had been fearful collision
on the railway, somewhere between New
York and Boston. Several passengers were
killed. Among them was-yes, | looked
twice, bending down my eyes close TO the pa
per it was his name.
Rugged Dora tight to my heart do
not remember anything that happened Tor the
next Eve minutes.
SIZE will come back, Alice! Harry will
come back ?''
These were the first words that aroused
h mS Dora was smiling avg playing with my
Then the truth rushed over me, and /
could neither move nor speak.
At that moment, Mr.. Lee, a neghbor and
friend Of fiarry's, burst into the room.
''lias she heard i,!' he cried, and our fa-
ces answered him.
Dora sprang toward the gentleman. sob,
Mr.. Lee" she cried, 'nothlng has happened
to Harry, has thercs You know he always
thought SO much of you. Do tell me he's
coming back to-morrow!'' and she staggered
against him, and he caught her in his arms,
and the tears ran down the strong mans face,
fast us they ran down the face Of a tired lit
tie child.
lie laid her on the sofa, and slowly broke
the truth over the darkened mind Of Dora
West. What night that was. God in his
great mercy save me from such another.
After this, thought for many weeks that
Dora would soon walk with her husband
through the fine rooms Of the mansion pre-.
served for them on high, but God spared her,
and at lust her life began to take up some of
it's old symptoms and interests.
remember the hrst time she rode out. X
was bright day in the early spring, and Mr..
Lee and accompanied her. He and Harry
had always loved each other rs brothers do,
and it was not strange the young man was
moved with much pity for the widow Of his
! friend.
| In the course Of our ride, we came across
patch Of early yiolets on the sunny side of a
( bank, near q small stream.
sob, how beautiful they are 20 cried Dora,
| clapping her hands, with something Of her
old animation; and then change came owe,
her face. "Harry loved violets, and don't
you remember, Alice, he used to twine them
! in my hair. oh, TO think now, he will never
see them any moren' and amid her quick
sobs, her head sank down on my shoulder.
! Aud could only tell her there were fairer
violets in the land to which Harry had gone
! Mr.. Ice did not speak, but saw the glance
he bent down on her a moment, and knew
that his heart was stirred with something
more than pity for Dora West.
She did not, know, suspect this for some
time. and thought it was only for Harry
sake that he called so often, showed her a
thousand little nameless attentions, and was
50 thoughtful Of her happiness.
Well, the truth came out at last; Dora WINS
still IN her youth, and she had one ef those
cinging, vine-like natures that need some-
thing to lean upon; in short, love was, with
her, great necessity; she could MT walk
through life alone.
"He says he will take lIarry's place to
me. Shall give it to him. Alice 20 whis-
pered Dora.
And lifted up her face aad looked at it.