The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-04-30
THE GOLD CHAIN.

Dead leaves raining down al every
gus; Of the inc xind-sirsDge,
spicy e n rising out Il the ground
aud a new moon hanging ike q
sickle Of blood low over The purple
dark OF the S~ontberly ky.
Dreary aud chilly /; a dying year;
a fast gathering duck; Yet the viz
dows Of Mrs. 0xgate's old brown
farm house hung out their CHEEKY
signals behind the ffiOged cotton cur
,ains, asd when the kitchen door
opened soa could see the red shine
Of the blazing logs, the hgures coming
aud going like a miniature magic Ian
tern
it WIS Dora Oxgate who opened
il, spd came duting cut TO the well,
With a scarlet shas vi fastened over
her bead. aud an empty G. dsr pail ID
her baud. As her light feet p%artered
over The carpet of Ium leaves 10
the path way, she sang a snatch OF .
good old fa-hioned hymn.
my goodness olive! What's
thar p
For as the words trilled sweeily
from her tongue, q tall, dark hgure
had arisen from the low wooden
bench under the apple tree, whose
bougb s overriding The well.
Dent be alarmed said a deep,
sweet csnlralto, with a scornful H.
tonaiion 10 its sound. "It's only me,
Dora. Joanna Elfeld. WHAT then 7
Have | fsllen so low that | am no
longer worthy TO sit beneath the old
apple tree ? If so, TEL me at ace and
IN quit"
"You know that ] did not mean
that, joanna"
TITS bard to tell what people mean
or don't mean, now a-days," said Jo-
anna, picking at the NANCY fringe of
the fraye0 rag Of = suawl. q" was
tired. l wanted a drink Of water, so
1 came to TIE old well; I'll go away
if you say So"
"Joauns,n said Dora, hesitatingly,
"are you hungry
Hungry No. There's a sort Of
craving. though, 10 my stomach,
which is next TO it. ] suppose"
would you like to have something
TO eaIg"
IL don't beg"
Nv all a minute, Joanna"
Like an arrow, Dora 0xgate sped
back into The house, where her thrifty
mother was just setting The teapot On
The table. Fresh baked waffIes steam
ed On one side. bot biscuiIs were
piled 10 driils Of snow on The other ;
preserves cleaned redly through the
u glass walls OF the tall dish, and
iimpid honey oozed from a lump of
como. For Mrs. Deacon Peabody
and her daughter Comfort had come
70 tea, and Mrs 0xgsle was a house
sife TO be excelled by none.
Come, Dora, quick with that
water" said Mrs 0xga;e. Aud
shut the door. Woat d. you sup
pUse Is The use Of fires. ill.,
Mother sid Dora, speaking in
u slightly embarrassed LOue, 'Joanns
E.neld Is out by the we'll! she Is
csld aud hungry, aud"
Mrs 0xgatels lace hardened into
lines Of stone MIos Comfort Pea
body Drew her skirts close around
her sln al involuntary movement,
aud Mrs. Peabody looked hard into
the bowl Of Der tescup
Then let Der rtay cold aud bun
gry. for all If Del Joanna El6eid is
no associate for either you or me,
Dorai she bss run away firm hume,
aud acted with common stroiliug play
actors-sbe has sung al los concerts
instead OF keeping that fiae voice II
hers fo. The temple Of The Lord-she
has, of her ovn tree viii. given up
all that is decent aEs repu able, aud
people do say that she has tssen to
drinking! Aud you expect me to
open NV door to such as heri
Mrs. Peabody uttered a sympa-
thetic groan.
"Bat, mamma" faltered Dora. BALI
affrighted at her own boldness. don't
YOU remember that He came TO call,
not the righteous, bat sinners to re-
peDtance Z"
"Shebce. girl! How dare you
quote the Scriptures to me =" cried
Mrs. Oxga:e, Der stern brow clouding
over dsrkly.-"Bring In that pail u
water at once, and let Us have no fur
Their discussion"
Thus rebufed, Dora Oxgate crept
back again into the chill, frosty
twilight dejected and empty banded.
"Ah," said Joanna Elheld, shortly.
Il thought how it would be. Wei,
it's nothing new. Everybody's doors
are shut against me-"
lis it true, Joanna Z" whispered
Dora, coming close 10 her.
"Is what true Z"
THAT VOC drink Z"
"0f course it's UGe. You would
drink if you were driven as am
Driven aud hunted! There are times
when you would sell your whole soul
for a chance 10 forget Aud that
chance = to be found in-drinkl"
Sorry /! say that again, lass peo-
Pile have mostly left oG being sorry
for me-" said Joanna. wiIh q hard
laugh.
but ~listen, Joanna Do be sc-
riou-. Won't you try TO do different
ly 2"
IL am not SO baa as the folks think
me, Dora 0xgate, except toy the hor-
rio craving for drink. ! have been
nothing gorse than wild aud willful
Believe me-, child. it is Gods truth.
0uly. when q girl gets on the down
bill eEery christian man or Eoman
think it their dpty 10 give her SEA
another push"
Then will you try 10 Tetri, ge
YOUR own self"
How can /? What il there left
for me ,"
"Yols superb voice, joanna
You would have me sing myself
into responsibility, eh Aad in the
meantime | should starse."
You mead not starEe, Josnns.
Here"
Quick as lightning, she drew Q
small gold chain, with a gold locket
shaped like a heart dangling at its
ends, from her neck.