Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-12-03
The Story Teller.
IFRoM LIppINcoTT's MAGAZINE.
THE RECORD
OF
DORCAS BENTLY,


accounts, said he. " came to see If W
should all gu up. There will be musi
to-day"
''By all MEANS" answered his mother, s
promptly as to surprise him.
Julia would have declined the Invitation
but for this. Her mothers consent to shar
In the excursion was a fact in itself so re
markablc MS TO compel surprise and con
sideration. Mrs Bently had said "By a.
means, for two reasons. Firstly, for he
childrens sake; and, secondly, for he
own sake. Julia, 1t was to be observed
had lost most of her checrfulness sine
school closed and Clara went away. Joscpl
was working SO bard that he actually need
cd the recreation. She herself-she, Dor
cas-had since Clara Bentlys visit, fel
drawn by irresistible curiosity toward tina
great, gay world so remote from that il
which she had her being-the world O
pomp and fashion, the world of wealth apt
power, to which Hosea Bently's family be
longed.
"fou nigh: go to the Park every after
moon, and still have time for all the work
for you to do" said Joseph, addressing his
sister. You see every variety of people,
and would be sure to meet friend now aud
then You know we never went up there
that we did not"
Julia felt slightly disgusted that Joe
should talk in this way, aud perceiving that
her mother was talking with Mr.. Troll, who,
to their surprise had invited himself intol
their party when they left the house, she an
swered, 'as if to punish him for his pretence,
"ies; how many times have we been
there, Joe, you pleasep'
Joe felt that he was like fox caught in
trap, but he answered good dhumoredly,
'DO you remember, Julia p
Exactly twice. Once we met Mr.. Mann,
and the other time, Miss Fyfe."
: You are difficult to please, my little sis
Ter"
''To sit on benches and listen to the music.
able to do il because it costs nothing, may be
delightful to you, but it is no enjoyment to
me. Asto meeting acquaintancces, there is
no chance for ii, Tor have none"
MY sister! exclaimed Joe, in very diff
iefent tone from that in which nc had lust
now claimed relationship. He had, ia fact,
never been more surprised than to hear such
words from Julas lips This came of as
sociating with persons whose worldly for.
tunes made them conspicunus-lik Miss
Cara Bcntly, for instance. 1t was great
mislake-JOe had thought so at the time il
was dune--to take Julia from the Twelfth
street school and send her to Mrs. Burn
hams for II diploma. No wonder his wise
mother had nipped that friendship in the
bud.
II would have been difficult for Julia to
maintain this mood long Had she been
ever so much iiclined, she would have felt
ashamed to do 1t with Joe and her mother
Tor witness. To present so shabby figure
before this grand brother of hers, this Ma
lures nObleman whom no difficulty could
daunt and no degree of poverty abase, she
could not
II will sit here while and listen to the
music While you and mother stroll about
don't want to walk," shc said, after they
had proceeded $ me distance past the Arm,-
ry. 81 had much rather be alone. don't
want to talk" Looking up, she saw Mr..
Troll gazing at her, half surprised and half
amused She appealed to him "Need p
''lf you will let me sit on the opposite
bench. | will show you how good a mute
can be, said he, choosing these words for
the reason that he would have preferred
greatly 10 offer Mrs Benlly his arm and
stroll along the walks with her, anything
but deaf and dumb For Mr.. Trolls imagi-
nailOn had been instTucing him, and he had
learned the story so that II would have pass
I'd all your power to convince him to the
conlrary-instructing him that Mrs. Bently,
rs a woman, had not her equal in this world.
You can sit here beside me, if you
please, SAID Julia making room for him on
The bench, as blind as bat-that is, as
Blind as Joseph, or Dorcas even-tO the true
state of things, The old bachelor had kept
his secret as only an old bachelor can.
Joseph and his mother therefore walked
down the path, and were soon lost to sight.
They went to take note of the stream of
shy'y dressed people, the stream OF cariia-
gcs, The hursemen and the horsew0me the
gtitss, the sheep, the swans, the rocks and
tpwcrs and vines, aud to see indeed, that
this was quite another world from that of
which the rooms in Cottage Place were the
centre.
When she found herself so nearly alone as
to have only Mr.. Troll beside her, and he II
determined deaf-mute, Julia brushed a tear
from her eyes. she was so offended at her
stlito hink of the things she had been say
ing.
After a silence of a few moments she said
TO nr companion:
''lt you look down the path 10 the right,
You will see somebody wish could avoid
seeing to-day; but know he is coming to
speak with me"
Salmon Kids y asked Mr.. Troll. ''Shail
keep him off? What of him!'
"Nolhing-I don't know him quite. No
think you had bstier just keep on deaf and
dumb"
Du.cily in front of the bench on which
Slr. Troll and Miss Beuily sat, Mr.. En0s
paused and llourished his switch in the air
while he said the simple things which came
easily enough to his lips, and which sounded
foolish enough as he spoke them, because he
was conscious that always In the observation
of JOseph's sister lie occupied false, u
wrong position.
1t Was bright day. cs, she had come
to hear the music. 1t i1as delightful
Delightful enough to keep them there for
lima 4 nj
stayed probably And then there were tue
promenaders to look at, aud the equestriars,
and the endless procession of carriages =
They agreed that finer sight could not be
seen than the Park afforded on Saturday
while Dodworth's band was playing. Mr..
Troll wished himself invisible, as well as
deaf and dumb; especially when Julia ask
ed, "Are you alone, Mr.. Enos?" for he, rs
well as Mr.. Enos, took that question as an
invitation to join her party.
Il wandered away from my friends" Mr..
Enos answered, looking very well pleased,
''and lost them without knowing it-a very
easy thing to do. l am not distressed about
it."
"Will you sit here while?" asked Miss
Julia in the same tone. She knew what
she was doing perfectly well. Joseph
might have frowned had he stood there, and
even might have rendered it impossible for
her to speak in this way, but he was not
there. And Mr.. Enos bad as he might be,
was better than nobody.
Joseph and this Mr.. Enos, who looked
like the wreck of himself, were both In Mr..
Mann's office; and her brother had told hel
what waste of time and talent the young
man was making. Though he had been SO
long in the office, he could not now pass an
examination to save his life. He had said
besides, that he should not be surprised any
day to hear that Ents had gone of, and thai
if he did, it might as well be to Botany Bay
as to any other place, for he would be sure
to disgrace himself and turn up, finally, q
wreck. AS Julia looked at Mr. Enos, she
hoped In the earnestness of her pity that Mr.
Troll would search deep enough into the
dissipaled, worn and most melancholy face
before them to feel little moved by II.
he would only see that she regarded him al
friend. and on that account take an inter
est In Mr.. Enos, she for her part would fee
everlastingly grateful. Wouldn't he pleas,
to forget that he was deaf and dumb ?
"This is us good country as we can ex
pect to get In the city," said Mr.. Enos, look
Ing alrt}yH fha fsy,stsn at tho el,peu xfWsipf