Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-09-17

| OXgate, except for the horrid craving for
drink. | have been nothing worse than
wild and willill. Believe me- child, for it
is Gods truth. Only, when u girl gets on
the down hill every Christian man or woman
think it their duty to give her yet another
pushY
"rhen will you try to retrieve your own
SELF"
"aow can | 7 What is there left for meS"
"Your supurb voice. Joanna"
"You would have me sing myself into
responsibility, eh.Y And in the meantime |
should starve."
"You need not starve, } oanna. Herep
Quick as lightning, she drew small gold
chain with II gold locket shaped like heart
dangling at its ends, from her neck.
"Dear Joanna, take this 1t is worth
money know and il is all that have to
give! Sell it, and use the money for your
needs Joanna Efield stared vaguely at
the cleaning trinket.
"Are you in earnest, Dora 2"
"Of course | am. Hush Mother is call.
ing me. must go.'
"God bless you for this" said Joanna
huskily. "And, Dora-one word more am
only Joanna Elfield, buff you will let
me kiss you just once"
BY way of answer Theodore 0xgate threw
her arms around the tall girls neck, and
pressed her soft red lipse close TO the others
cold mouth. And as she did 80 something
splashed on her cheek-a hot, round tear
! The next minute Joanna Eliield disap-
peared into the world Of shadows that was
lowering over all the autumn landscape
And as she went she murmured to herself
unconscious that she was speaking aloud
"Some one believes in me yet In me
It's strange sensation, and yeti gives
one something to live for, after all ~
VI
Dora Theodore Why don't you an
swerY But no one thinks il worth while to
listen to me now-a-daysW
1t was Mrs. Oxgates shrill piping voice
and Mrs. Oxgate, helpless from paralysis,
sat in her cushioned chair by the sunny
doorway
"What is il, mammaS" Dora asked, com
ing TO the door.
The Oxgate farmhouse had drlfted sadly
to decay. Fences had fallen, gates hung
crcaking on one hinge sunny pasture lands
were neglected grass meadows had toppled
over their own weight Of harvest And Mrs
Oxgate herself looked, ny she sat in the
doorway; like the very genius Of decay.
"lhe carriage with them grand people
that has bought Glenwood Place. A gen
teman we'll dressed like the Prince OF
Wales, and lady whose diamonds flashed
fit to blind one. All me It's fine TO be
young and rich Look the carriage Ia stop.
ping Praps they've dropped something.
Sure's | live the Indy coming back, trailing
her purple silk dress in the dust like il was
domestic gingham. oh, dear me, | wish |
had my best hat on !"
She gave her apron twitch and tried to
settle her scant skirt over her poor useless
feet as the tall, stately figure swept up the
door
"Ths is the Oxgate place, IL it notS' tho
lady asked, in deep, sweet voice that be-
trayed her at once. Dora answered promptly
"This Is the Oxgate; and you are Joanna
Elfold"
"Not Joanna El6eld now--but Joanna
Avenel," she rcjoined, smiling and blush
ing. "Ilere is my husband. George, this
is the friend | told you Of whose hand ten
years ago, lifted me out Of the darkness and
get me in the right path. Oh, George, you
know how much owe hcrp
Mrs. Ayenel was weeping softly now
yet the smiles shone brightly through her
tears
"Dora" she added, "that was the turning
point in my life. Scel / have your gold
chain with your heart yet / knew then |
that one human creature had faith In me
still, and IL renewed the fountain OF life |
within me Dora, Dora, you arc my guar
dian angel God bless you for itP'
People wondered much that those rich |
Avenels Of The Place had an insignificant
chit like Dora Oxgate 80 much with them
10 say nothing OF that tircsomc old bore,
her mother. But Mrs. Ayenel was great
lady, and Of course could be excused for
having her whims-one Of which was al
Ways 10 wear thrcad.like chain Of gold
around her neck, with heart-shaped locket
hanging from H."
"When she could have diamonds instead
said Miss Comfort Peabody who had Of late
observed that she always had thought Joanna
Ellcld 10 be a genius
And Dora Oxgato, although sho had vet.
tied into a solitary, Woodworking old maid
know that her apparent life had not bccn in
vain