The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-05-07

grasp q ledge above, wnicn must be
climbed, he cried out, in a loud, impera-
tive voice, Dora, stopW
The voice was so decisive, go power
full, so full Of that command which is
the counterpart Of obedience, that with
out thought Of rebellion, Dora stood
like statue. In an instant Mr.. Horton
put his arm about her, swung her back,
and began to strike rapidly and tierccly
at something on the crest of the ledge;
and in another minute he lifted dead
ratlesnake on his cane and flung it far
down into the stream. Dora turned sick,
and sat down on stone, shudderlng and
pale. Mr.. Horton only said, Excuse
me, Miss Schenck; the danger was too
near for me to be less imperative"
Dora shivered. IF you had not,
should be dead now"
g Not at all, y laughed Mr.. Horton.
know these woods too well TO be
ever without the properss salleviations for
snake bite, but never yet used them,
though | have met and killed good
many. Eattlesnakes are dull creatures
unless they col to spring, and one blow
with heavy stick will kill them. Very
few people die Of their bites. have
only heard of one case in these regions,
and that was child who had strayed
alone in the woods"
He purposely heightened his expla
nation, that Dora might calm herself;
lie did not know how it was still throb
biDg through her heart that he had
called her "Dora" Her natively gen
erous instinct demanded some thanks at
least to be paid, but she could not speak
yet; she was shyly glad, yet angry with
herself for being glad; and trembling so
with the sudden nervous shock, she
could not for some minutes speak
again.
Mr. Horton stepped down to the
waters edge, and seemed absorbed in
looking at the fall, but his heart beat as
wildly as hers; in that moment Of dam
ger he had discovered what deep hold
Dora had taken of his life. He did not
think Of her unftness to be his wife, of
her scorn. her wild impulscs, 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 he would be miserable.
Blessed ordination of thingst If men or
women chose their mates as they do
their shoes or their books, with deliber-
alton and cool judgment, this dear, de-
Iirhtful, naughty old world would come
to sudden end; it is wise they never
do.
It seemed an hour to both Of these as
tonished people, vet it was barely five
minutes, before Dora looked at Mr.. Hor-
tom and said: II don't know how to
thank you. | can acknowledge now it
is good to mind man-sometimes"
There was soft, arch look in the beau
tiful dark eyes that contracted the
ouiyering lips; but the lovely, blushing
face told what Dora never meant to tell.
Mr.. Horton knelt down ON the grass be-
side her.
ooh, Dora, / would not be truant," f"
he said. And Dora dropped her headso
low that il rested on his shoulder.
Mrs. Horton also declared her hus-
band never asked her to marry him,
which he Indignantly denied as often as
she asserted it; but however the union
came about, it was true-for everybody
said so-that no gentler, sweeter, hap
pier minister's wife ever filed that diff
cult position in the city Of Ludlow
where Mr.. Horton was settled; even
Grace Hamilton could not find fault
with this match, though she had pre-
dicted all sorts Of sorrows from its "radi.
cal unfitness." But time had not soft
ened Grace's native spite, though she
controlled it during her brief visit to
the parsonage. On the next Christmas
morning a package came by express, di.
rected to Mrs. Horton: on the inner
cover Of thethin box was written, g For
Dolls ROOM" and as the last fold ol
tissue paper was lifted, an elaborate il.
Illuminated motto appeared:
Come when you're called,
Do as you're bid,
Shut the door after Won
And you'll never be chid.n
Her husband was looking over Dora;
shoulder, and they both laughed
Grace's arrow was poin tless for such
trust and happiness.
GIVE only changed my mind" said
Dora, "and that is every woman's privi
| lege."
GAnd have only abdicaled, and that
any king may do," retorted her hus
band.
"Haye you?" said the vile, incredu
lousy
The truth was that neither knew how
to differ from the other with comfort.
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