The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-10-15


day evenings, and Dora pushed them
down an inclined place Of disappoint-
ment so gently that they scarcely knew
whether they had meant to court her or
not. 1t was not the least OF her trials
To meet the cntreaties of her mother
and the rough arguments OF her father
when one or two more PERSISTENT suit
or, would take nothing less than mo-
for their answer
Dora could give no reason for repeat
cd reiusals to marry, only she loved no
one well enough --areaSon which would
be all-sullicient ii parents remained
immor,aly young, but it loses weight
after sixty.
As the seventh year drew to a close,
Dora heart beat light within her.
Joe had mentioned seven years, as ii
he meant TO come home then, ut any
rate. She wore out the frs day of the
glad New \ ear with busy cares till
late in the afternoon, when an Old man,
spent with much walking, stopped to
rest himself in the farmhouse kitchen.
Prudence bestirred herself to give him
a hearty luncheon, and, when he was
warmed and fed. he began to talk of
his travels He had been to seek his
fortune all over the West, and. never
finding it, had come back to die ut
home. He mentioned Colorado and
Denver and, when ora found herself
alone with him for a moment, she said
did YOU ever see Joseph Raymond in
DENVER"
Joe Raymond? Oh, yes! knew him
well; lived with him nigh on to month.
His wife was a real good cook; couldn't
be beat nowhere III them parts"
lyon say he was married?'
"To be sure: right smart Teller. and
mighty fond of his wife. Women are
scarce out there"
Prudence came in, and the old man
went on his way, all unconscious of the
great stone he had cast into the still
waters of Dora heart
"What's the matter?n said Pru-
dence; you're as white as Il sheet"
Dora's only answer was to dart out of
the house and run, "a for her life,
down the frozen orchard-path by which
she could gain upon and overtake this
terrible old man. She stood before
the old man at the turning, barehe ded
and breathleSs. How did the Joe
Raymond look that you lived with?'
gasped Dora.
~ never said zoe Raymond " said
the old man peevishly; 81 said 'Jtm
Raymond They had a bic boy named
Joe, who" but Dora was off again
before he could finish his sentence
She ran back through the orchard,
giving thanks with all her heart that
she had not suffered herself to be per-
suaded of Joe's faithlessness on one
hearing. Her feeling of grateful awe
rs if she had escaped from sudden
death kept her from mourning much
over the passing away of this seventh
anniversary of Joe's departure with no
sign of his return.
His letters had wholly ceased, and
there was nothing left for Dora but to
possess her soul with patience. When
another new year dawned upon her, she
put on the old red dress more from
habit than from any CLEAN of hope in
her heart, and did not care to look in
the glass. In the twilight she walked
slowly down the orchard-path and
leaned on the gate that opened into
the road.
Suddenly n man sprang out from be-
hind the wall. Theodore, my gift
of God'r' he said; and Dora, though
she recognized no mark of the lover
who had left her eight years before,
fc't that no other knew that pass
word, and suffered herself to rest
silently in his arms in the inellable
content that comes after long waiting.
When Joe and Dora went into the
house and she looked at him by candle
hn, ole
his luxurant beard and the manly as
surance OF his manners were not at all
like her Joe of beloved memory, and a
terrible barrier seemed to rise up be-
tween them, while Prudence remained
in the room with her company man
ners, which sat more awkwardly upon
her than her Sunday gown.
When Dora tiptOed softly by her Sis
ter's door at very late hour that night,
Prudence was lying awake for her
" Don't tell me-" she said, "that you've
been waiting for that Joe Raymond all
this timer'
Il won't tell you, if you don't want
to hear it," said Dora.
"Do you know whether he came
home any better off than when he went
awayP"
- really haven't thought to ask
him." said Dora, carelessly. Prudence
groaned and turned her face to the wall
Joe waited only till the next day to
tell Mrs. Hall the story of his success,
which looked very moderate in his
travelled eyes but seemed a noble for
tune to her homely ideas.
Il never thought BEFORE" said
Dora's father at the wedding, THAT a
woman could keep a secret; and guess
it amt much more common than snow
in dog-days."
"How long would you have waited