The Osceola times., 1880-05-15

"Doll, you are really miracle.
never expected TO see you mind man
30 implicitly"
Dora was indignant. She knew well
that Grace could be spiteful but the
spite did not hurt her as much as the
answering consciousness that, in spite of
he fine theories, she had been most inn
plicitlv submissive TO Mr.. Horizons
| escort. The girlish, silly pride that was
her great fault rose in arms. She did
not answer Grace, but, with a resolutc
look on her flushed face, sprang onward
after her own fashion, stumbling and
clinping MS well as she could, every
moment expecting Mr.. Horton to advise
or demonstrate, but bent on needing his
voice no more.
She expccted in vain. He said moth
ing, and the smile ON her face would not
have pleased her, he only followed fast
| behind her till they came to Il little
grassy platform at the head of the stream
where the rocks retreated and the trees
had been swept away directly in front
of the last and highest fall, which de-
scended here at right angles with the
rest of the stream, behind a cliff that
hid it from the lower pool.
Grace had stopped far below; she was
heated and tired, and angry TO. Ned
| Schenck did not care for her; so he sat
down on the other end of the log where
she had seated herself, and proiancd
the delicate forest odors with cigar.
Dora stopped a moment 10 take breath
and admire the beautiful fall before
them, which dashed its white water
down the sheer black rock, andsprinkled
with bright dew the luxuriant ferns and
vines that fringed the bank of either
side. Then she turned to follow the
very slight indication of path upword.
Mr.. Horton was ready TO follow; but the
moment set her foot on the rock which
was her first step, and extended hand
to grasp a ledge above. which must be
climbed, he cried out in a loud, impera-
tive voice:
Dora, stop"
The voice was so decisive, so power
ful, 80 full of that command which is the
counterpart of obedience, that, without
thought OF rebellion, Dora stood like a
statue. In an instant Mr.. Horton had
put his arm about her, swung her back,
and began to strike rapidly and fiercely
at something on the crest of the ledge;
and In another minute he lifted dead
rattlesnake on his cane and flung it far
down into the stream. Dora turned sick,
and sat down on a stone, shuddering
and pale. Mr.. Horton only said:
Excuse me, Miss SchenCk; the danger
was too near for me to be less impera-
tive"
Dora shivered. Tf you had not, l
should be dead now"
".,ot at all, laughed Mr.. Horton; 81
know these woods too well to be ever
without the proper alleviations for
snake bite, though have never yet used
them, but have met and killed good
many. faltlesnakes are dull creatures
unless they coil to spring, and one good
blow with a heavy stick will kill them.
Very few people die of their bites. |
have only heard OF one case in these re-
eions, and that was a child who strayed
INTO the woods"
He purposcly heightened his explana-
ton, that Dora might calm herself; he
did not know how it was still throbbing
through her heart that he had called her
Dora" Her natiVely generous instinct
demand some thanks at least to be pad,
but she could moi speak yet; she was
shyly glad, yet angry with herself for
being glad; and, trembling so with the
nervous shock, she could not 70" some
minutes speak again.
Mr.. Horton stepped down to the wa
ter's edge, and seemed absorbed in look
ing at the fall, but his heart beat rs
wildly as her's; III that moment Of dam
ger he had discovered what hold Dora
had taken of his life. lie did not think
of herunftness to oe hls wife, of her
scorn, OF her wild impulses, her quick
temper. Like many another man IN his
case, he thought only Of her beauty and
its sweetness, and felt that she must
love him or lie would be miserable.
BLESSED ordination OF things Ii men or
women choose their mates as they do
their shoes or their books, with deliber-
alton and cool judgment. this dear, de-
lightful, naughty old wolll would come
| TO a sudden end, 1t il the wisdom OF
Providence that they never do.
II seemed an hour 10 those astOnished
people, vet il was barely five minutes,
before DaIa looked at Mr.. Horton and
said:
81 don't know how TO thank you. ]
| can acknowledge now it is good to mind
a man-soaetimes.'
There was soft, arch look in the
| beautiful dark eyes that contradicted
the quivering lips; but the lovely, blush
| ing face told what Dora never meant to
| tell. Nj. Horton knelt down on the
grass beside her.
"Oh. Dora, would not be a tyrant,"
he said And Dora dropped her head
so low that il rested on his shoulder.
| Mrs. Horton also declared her husband
never asked her to marry him. which he
| Indignantly denied as otGen rs she as
| Sarta1. n hOwpypr thp union came
| ABOUT, il was uuC-foT every body said
| sC-that no gentlcr, sweeter happier
/ minister's wife ever iillcd that difficult
| position in the city of Ludlow, where
| Mr. Horton was settled. Even Grace
Hamilton could find no fault with this
match, though She had predicted all
sorts of sorrows from its radical unfit
ness" But time had not softened
| Grace's spite, though she controlled it
/ during her brief visit to the parsonage.
| On the next Christmas morning pack
age came by express, directed to Mrs.
| Horton. On the inner cover of the thin
box was written "ior Dolls room,p and
as the la fold of tissue paper was lifted
an elaborate Illuminated motto APP
peared:
Come when you're called,
Do you're bid;
Shut the duor aJcr you
And you'll never be chld.
Her husband was looking over D'ra's
shoulder, and they both laughed. Grace's
arrow was poiutless Tor such trust and
happiness.
"l've only chfnred my mind" said
Dora, "and that is every woman's privl-
leee."