Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-12-27

girls mother, her step-father, her sister,
brother, aunt, and the auncs little girl.
Aunt Polly seemed to be the leading man,
for to her belonged the two best OK teams,
one Of which was driven by herself the
other by her girl, Dorinda. She hired or
bought her niece from the step-father for
this purpose, after she lost her husband by
lightning, and Dora had been faithful to
her task, although nearly worn out cross
ing the Desert from Maricopa Wells to Gil
Ia Bend. After George had taken deep
look into the girls eyes, he very disinter-
estedly, not only invited the whole family
to come into his house-as far as they
would go into rest from the long,
hard journey, but the hospitalities extend
ed to the best the place afforded, for both
man and beast.
The Texans, content, were in no hurry
to move on, and George was apparently in
no hurry to have them go. Dora, Sis, and
the -year-old brother soon became warm
ly attached to him and they, with the big
deg, Bose, daily wandered Off to Gila TO
catch fish wading into the stream, with
ever fresh zest, as they recalled that dread
Nul drag across the waterless desert. George
alone remained on the bank, fshing-line
in hand.
One day, when Dora had watched the
cool, clear water gliding swiftly over her
sun-browned feet, in silence, she raised her
eyes suddenly, from under tie long, shad-
ing lashes.
"Why do you never come into the water?
II \ aass
of George.
"Cone, sit here, and 1 will tell you"
She nestled down beside him, and calling
Bose, who laid his head on his masters
knee and looked inquiringly from one to
the other, he said "About three years ago,
before l had built this house, lived in a
| little shanty, about mile from the river.
The summer was very hot; had suffered
much from the sun and the want of water
in crossing the country, aud after the man
who came out here with me had gone on to
Fort Yuma, / was LEFT entirely alone.
When I see you over your ankles in the
water now, am often tempted to call you
back, only l know you are young and
strong, and rem ember but too well v'hat
| pleasure there Is in ii. Besides, you do
not remain In it., as l did, for long, weary
hours, every day, standing in the shade Of
a willow, catching fish for my dinner.
There was little else here to eat then, and
l never left off fishing, till l was taken
with rheumatism, from which / had suf fer
ed years before. l wasall alone, and could
not move, and would have died of thirst
alone in my shanty, if it had not been for
this good dog. A dozen times a day Bose
would trot down to the river, dip up a
small tin pail of water, and bring it to me.
Otherwise the faithful old fellow never left
my side, day or night; and though he
would, no doubt, nurse me through anoth-
er spell of rheumatism, it would be dread
fu to he sick and alone here, after you and
your people are gone"
Dora was tenderly stroking the dug's
rough coat. at would be dreadful" she
repeated, absently, tear rolling from her
lashes to her cheek. Her words, and the
look in her eyes, thrilled George to his in
most soul.
"DorI"-he said, arresting the hand trav-
:, cling over Bosses head -"Dora, I am old
enough to be your father
"Yes," she replied. looking up artlessly
but there was something in his face that
made her eyes drop and the warm blood
flush her cheeks.
When he spoke again it was oc some
thing quite different. and, after a while
the conversation turned to her family. Her
step-iather did not always treat her well
he struck her cruelty once, and her mother
dared not interfere, knowing his temper
but too well. George could hardly hell
putting his arms about her to shield hei
from the mans rough ways; and in his
heart he vowed it should be different, Il
Dora did but will it so. The step-fathel
and aunt had spoken of pulling up stakes
soon but Dora was averse to going.
In the evening George proposed to the
STEP father that he remain at the station
and "larm it, near the river, while The
mother kept house for them all, and served
meals to the travelling public of Arizona
From chronic perve rseness he refused, say
ing that he wanted to go TO California ; anc
George determined to hasten matters il
another direction. He lowered as muci
as possible, about Dora, who, since the day
by the riverside, had taken Bose into her
confidence and affection. Wherever sh(
, went the dog, went, too, and his maste
augured we'll for himself from this, though
Dora was shy and more distant than wher
she first came to Gila Bend.
One day the Texans commenced gather
; ing up their "tricks" and making ready t,
! go. Dora's eyes were red, and George-tt
} cheer her, perhaps-proposed walk to tn
: river-bank. When they came back, sh
= seemed even more shy, though she stole VI
to him, in the twilight, where he stood by
! the mesquite-tree, and hastily put hel
hands into his. He drew her to him quick
ly, pressed her head TO his breast, and mur
INJURED, Thanks, my little GIRL" as h
, touched her hair with his lips. An hou
} later, there was noise and confusion at ill
Bend. George caused it all, for TO him tn
aunt vehemently declared that she woult
8 have the girl to drive her ox-team into Cal
r iiornia-she had hired her and paid for her
( and the step-father shouted that he ha,
control of the child, and go she should
whether or no.
Poor George passed a sleepless night
The picture Of Dora-barefootsd aud wea
ry, toiing hopelessly through the sand o.
the deser-was always before him, and b
] swore to himself that she should moi 90
that he would shelter her henceforth frou
the cruel, burning sun, and the shar
/. words and sharper blows Of her step father
=, Exacting promise from the enigrants
] remain until he returned, he started ou
L alone on his trusty horse, Bose runnin
] close to his side. Afler he left the shelte
o of the trees, he halted and looked keen
about in every direction. A sharp bar
from Bose detected Dora crossing III
D stretch of land between tho road and III
/ river and whoa she reached the lone.horse
. man light bound brought her foot int
@ the stirrup, and her flushed face on levC
q with his