Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-03-04

Three years came and went To Dora
Grayle they brought changes that she bal
never dreamed OF. She bad waited hopefully
for the time 30 come when her lover should
return % claim her as his own. She heard
from him now and then be WAS always work
ing. and slowly he was winning. Ba. tho
years were very long to her.
The end Of the ,bird year broasht death Ia
70 her home oae DAY her fs,he: complainol
Of feeling. III the next day hew dead and
she was alone in the world.
After the funeral fact came to light, OF
which few had drca1Ie!. THO OLD man had
spcculs,ed heavily his e,ta,e was bankrupt,
So, a, the beginning Of the fourth year, Da-
ra Grayle went out into tic world with ouly
her hands to depend upon. But she had
stout heart. ana she knew John would como
beck when he heard o; what bad happened.
She took room in poor little tenement
house; and almost the only thiog she brought
from her old home was the rose her lover had
riyen her. That she would take with her,
she said wherever she went. Everything else
she was willing to give up 10 pay her ia'hcr's
debts. But that was hers aud nothing could
buy !. from her.
She had thought that she had many friends
before her fathers death, but she found cut
now that those who had been glad 20 visit hor
n the elegant homc she bad lost. quite forge:
that they knew the lonely girl who lived up
two pair Of stairs, in poor little house, on a
very plain, Questionable street. ,
She waited and watched, and the days grew
into weeks, aud the weeks into months, and
the months to years even When her father
died. she considered herself free from any ob-
legation he had imposed, aud had written 10
John Carthew telling him ofwhat had taken
place She thought hc would cone to her;
But he did not, aud was silent May bo ho
was dead. She did not once think that La
might have forgotten her.
1t was New Years Eve, and she was unut-
,erably lonely Suddenly she remembered
that she had heard that child was i'll in a
t.nement-house down the street, and that iis
mother was alone, and wanted some ono to
come and sit with her. She put on her bon
net and shawl and went out. All at once sho
thought of her rose. A new blossom bad
opened that morning; royalty oeautiiu'
flower aud she said TO hersel! She wou!i car
ry it to the poor sick boy. go
She returned 10 her room, therefore, aud
broke of the blossom, aud one hall-opened
bud growing beside it. A tear or two fell
into the roses golden heart as she did sbis.--
She had learned to thiok that rose her friend,
Every tine II had blossomed she had told her
self tia. her lover was thinking a sweet
thought Of lcr. .s.s,
When she reached the Eocm where the child
was. she found that death had crossed tho
.hreshold before her, aud was standing o; the
cradle by which the weeping mother knelt.
He is almost gone" the poor woman sob
bed. Poor Denuie! What will mother dog'
Dora put the rose in the cbild's hand. uo
opened bis eyes, and saw the Hover ana
sa.lc came over bis poor little face.
Pretty poey," he whispered, and held II
against bis cheek lovingly. And holding II
there, fell asleep forever.
Dora dressed the child for lis burial, and
laid tho rose upon its breast, between the liz
tie folded hands. And all pisht long she sac
; there, with the dead baby aud its mother,
willie outside the suow fell, soft and white.
making the world beautiful FOR the New Year.
Some friends came at daybrcak, to stay in
her place. aud Dora went home. She looked
at the dead child before she left, aud she cav
that what had been bud yesterday, L.i
5 opeued into beautiful, golden hearted roso
to-day 1t lay there on tie babes breast,
pure as the snow out Of doors the snow tia,
made ;he world seem Ike bride 10 wbitc
garments.
1t was growing dusky 10 The streets on New
Years afternoon, when she heard swiis, impa-
tien, steps on her stairs Her heart beat fast.
she hardly knew why. The footsteps stopped
before her door. There was knock.
"Comc in" she said, breathing quick.
The door openel All man, catering, stood
there in the shado%s.
Dora" he said, hopefully, softly, question:
ingly. Have folni my rose at last"
"ob. John, john" she cried and then
strong arms were 'ornd her, and her happy
tears were hidden on the breast Of the maa
she had been waiting FOR 50 long.
By-and-by he told her bis story. lie had
received be. letter, and started at once for home,
bringing the money lie had earned IN tho
years Of bis absence The ship be sailed IN
was wrecked, and for months FIVE Of the crew
and himself had lived upon little mid-ocean
island, from which they were rescued at last,
and brought, tha. very week, to New York.
{" Bu, am poor man" be said; "my
money went to the bottom Of the sea-"
"And am poor woman" she made re-
ply. "But am not poor, after all. have
you, John"
Add am rich, too, for have you, be
sid, tenderly; "and you are via. was
working to win. have hunted fOr YOU for
days, up aud down this great city, but yyH
had slipped out Of sight, and could not fad
any trace Of you. This afternoon, not an