Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-02-26

Jobs. and made himself generally useful in farmer
Browns establishment-a man in years but child
IN mind.
Tommy whispered Dorcas. softly.
Yes. Miss Dorcas said the poor fellow, star
ing suddenly from his doze
Z" | want you should take this note to Mr.. War
ner for me- And. Tommy
" Yes Miss Dorcas."
"Be sure and don't let father see it. Remem-
Der that, Tommy
Tommy promised, and started on his mission,
but meeting farmer Brown in the keeping room,
he acted sheepsh that the farmer suspected some
thing wrong, and cross-examiued him severely.
After the old man had left, Tommy looked for the
note he had hidden away, and at last uttered
purring sei-congratllation as he drew a little bill
let ont from the :ahle drawer.
d" / don't exactly member putin II there, but
s'pose ! must ha done SO. Now Mr.. Royal shall
have it quicker"
Aud Tommy sped away under the sbeltering
shadow Of the elm that iringed the lawn
" For me, TommyY
" Yes. for YOU. Mr. Royal. Miss Dorcas saws,
take 10 to Mr. Warner for me, and don't let your
father see il on no account. So didn't let him
see it.n
lie watched Tommy edging along quickly by
the road side before he opened the folded bnlet.
lt was utterly and entirely a blank, but scarce
~ hlanker than Royal Warmers face, as be turned
the sheet this way and that. The next moment
the hot angry scarlet sutused MS lace as ne ult MS
lip almost cruelty.
The insult was almost gratutous, he muitered
under his breath. d" She need not have added that
TO the burden Of modification. Well, the dream
is over-l've been fool and I'm glad know It "
He crumpled the sheet of unwrtten paper in his
band, and flung IL among the sllVer-white daisies
in the pasture-feld where he was standing
" lie will come TO see me, tonight SAID Dor
cas- Brown TO herself as she sat in the doorway
dreaming over bit OF delicate ncedle-work, and
looking very enchanting in a blue muslin dress,
and blue ribbon mlnglug with her bright proinsion
OF cnis-" He will surely come tonight. think
he ought to have come last night. Why, Tommy,
what's the trouble 9N
For simple Tommy was coming up the path wip-
ing the big tears from his eyes with clenched
knuckes.
Hes gone " faltered Tommy.
" Who =
"He--Mr. Royaln
Gomez o well don't cry--he'll be back again
soon -
'No he's gone to New York and he's never
coming back no more He told me so himself"
The soft rose died out Of Dorcas cheeks.
Tommy are you sure you are not mistaken"
Yes I'm sure / saw his trunks put on the stage
myself He's gone and he's never coming back
no more"
Tommy' exclaimed Dorcas, sPriuging to her
feet, " did YOU give him that letter?'
'Y Yes and he gave me a dollar, and said | was
good fellow, lamented Tommy piteously.
Dorcas stood a moment or two, absolutely
watching the red strains of the sunset glowing on
the western horizon then she turned and went in
to a world that had changed and life that had
grown dark Alas, poor, proud little Dorcas.
"And so they moved away"
ROYAL Warner was more disappointed as he
leaned on the garden gate, no longer the STRIPPING
farmer bat a tall dignihed young member. Of
Congress. from one OF the Western States.
80 yes, two good years ago. Gone to Wat
sons Corners-furniture sold at public auction
Royal Warner hrsitated moment.
Ill am very foolish | suppose, but | would
like to own something that used to belong to my
old friends. DO you know OF any article that
"Oh!' interrupted Squire DAILY, good humored-
ly, you are welcome to the Webster's Dciiona-
~ wife bought at the sale. Hosea has brought
later edition home from college and the old one
amt any account anyhow. I'll fetch it.
An old battered volume with yellow leaves and
dog.eared corners, there certainly very little
value to the book but Royal Warner took it rev
erently, and carried 1t to his rooms at the village
hotel as trnderly as if it had been the Koran itself
and he a faithful disciple OF Mahomet.
He sat down by the window aud turned the
leaves caressly over. thinking OF Dorcas Browns
violet gray orbs and long eye ashes.
" Poor Dorcas, he mused-"l wonder if she
ever"
lie paused abrupty-between the yellow time
stained leaves before him lay a small billet direct
ed to himself-drected in Dorcas well known
handwriting. Mechanically he broke the seal
and read the message that had been so long on
its way.
"Ny Dear Royal-Yes.
Dorcas Brown
There was no date--but he knew when i; had
been written--he knew as if by instinct the whole
sad story
" Five yearsln he murmured, pressing both
hands to his levered forehead.
" Five long weary years Oh, my poor darling
girl"
One moment he sat there, arranging his seat
tered thoughts, and planning his future, while
within his breast his glad heart bounded with
strange buoyance and then he went down stairs TO
enquire what time the evening stage went out to
Walson's Corner.
She recognized him at once--her heart seemed
TO stand still in her bosom for minute, but the
next moment she came forward and greeted him
as of old, with marvellous self-command
=" Dorcas," he said, drawing the folded billet
from his pocket and laying il in her hand; q
have just received this note
She blushed wildly as she recognized the di-
rection.
." 1t was written FIVE years ago this very SUM
mer."
81 know it Dorcas, but never saw it till this
afternoon
And he told her of the blank sheet that had so
turned the current of her existence.
"Of course it was poor Tommy's fault but how
was | to imagine that? only supposed you scorn-
ed my humble Offer aud dearest it cut me to my
heart. Is it to late for me to renew my suit 7"
- Is it TO late Tor me 20 return the original an
swcrP' said Dorcas smiling and blushing as she
handed him the note.
Well,n said Farmer Brown, when he heard Of
his daughters engagement, "mebhee the girl
was right after all. 1t is better 10 be a member o
Congress wife than plain Mrs. Joe Trimmer
But when Dorcas had first said " Yes her ac-
cepted suitor could only have made her plain
Mrs. Royal Warner
i1ortru.