The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-11-17
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and dismay at the fact which 1 had Jus,
communicated TO her.
81 must say / really had too good an opin
ion Of the 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 I piticd her. what
fuss she made at the time. l really
thought she never could get over it; but
she's done herselfup for me, now"
opened my lips to speak, and then, on
second thought, closed them again. There
would be no use in my defending my dcai
friend Dora West, to such person, and
yet, do not misunderstood me, reader; Mrs.
Mills was a kind hearted, good sort of a
woman, and would have made almost any
sacrifice for friend or ncighbor who was
in trouble; but she was narrow-naindsd, and
of course, she was guilty Of all that vast
burden Of petty sins, and little unchariata
bleness, which are tho indigenous fruit Of
this quality.
So l replied, "Oh, Mrs. Mills, you don't
understand Dora as do; but I havn't time
TO discuss the matter now. Good morning"
And walking slowly down. the little gras-
sy road, my thoughts went back to night
two years ago, that had burned itself into
my memory.
1t was evening, the early October, and
rain was falling slowly and languidly out
side. The day had been a languid one
too, with kind of wistful, blue gray sky,
and slight chill in the still air which was
a far off whispered Of the Winter.
Dora and I sit sewing in little back
parlor that evening, by the ronnd mahog-
any table, and there was sort of rivalry
kept up between our tongues and our fin
gers-I cannot tell which was the nim-
bier.
How pretty she looked that night; she
the well beloved wife of five years. with
the smiles darting between tho dimples Of
her sweet lips, and the light of glad heart
banning out from her blue eyes.
"To think, Alice" she murmercd, "Har-
rvs been gonc a week, and tho't it would
seem an age, that morning ho kissed me
good by. It would, too, if you hadn't
been with me but he will be home to-
morrow. Oh how glad shall be to soc
him."
At that moment the bell rang loud and
sudden.
"Oh, dear! l hope nobody's come to
bore us tonight. We'rc so coy and hap.
py together"
"Here's dispatch for you, Mrs. West"
said small boy, whom the servant girl
ushercd into the room..
Dora sprang up quickly. "rt's from
Harry, know"
She brought it TO the light, and opened
it with her eager fingers. Her eyer
those blue, beautiful eyes ran across the
page. "My God my God" And then
Dora West clasped her hands, and laughed
loud and wild. Oh, how that laugh rings
down now, through those two years, and
curdlcs the blood in my veins, and fairly
stops the beating of my heart!
Then she came round to me with that
wild, scared pitiful look in her face, that
was more terrible than the face Of the
dead. "What does it mean, Alice 2" she
whispered. 81 can't read it; but it struck
my head just now, something did, aud frozo
it,"
"Nothing's happened to Harry, has
thcreT
"Hell como home tomorrow, and put
his arms around me, and call me his dear
wife, won't he, Aliccl'
"Yes, yes ho will,' tried to say, but
l hardly think succeeded, for my lips had
grown dry and parched, and my voice died
away in my heart, wherc terrible fear had
come down.
But I drew Dora in my lap, laid her head
oil my shoulder, and then, bending down,
! read tho paper which she held tight in
her hand.
There wcro but few words: the great
crisis of life arc generally acted and told
briefly. There had been collision on tho
railway. Somewhere between New York
and Boston. Several passengers were kill
cd. Among them was--yes, l looked
twice, bonding down my eyes close to the
paper; il was his namc
| hugged Dora tight to my heart. I
do not remember what passed tho next five
"He will come back, Alice. Harry will
come back y
These were the first words that aroused
me; Dora was smiling and playing with
my hair.
Then the truth rushed over me, and I
could neither move nor speak
At that moment, Mr.. Lee, a neighbor
and friend of Harry's burst into the room.
elias she heard it y hc cried, and our
faces answered him.
Dora sprang toward the gontleman.--
'Oh, Mr.. Lee y she cried, ''nothina's hap
pened to Harry, has thcrc9 You know he
always thought so much of you. Do tell
me he's coming back TO morrow! ~ and she
against him, and lie caught her
n his arms, and the tears ran down the
strong mans face, fast as they run down tho
ACE Of tired child.
lie laid her on the sofa, and slowly broke
.he truth over the darkencd mind Of Dora
West What night that was. God in
lis great mercy save mo from such anoth-
n!
After this, | thought for many weeks
hat Dora would soon walk with her hus-
,and through the fino rooms of the man
lion preserved for them on high, but God
spared her, and at last her life began 10
axe up somo of its old symptoms and in