Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-10-07

dust which had arisen therefrom blind
ed her. Could he not see?
"You are woman, Dora Help
mep'
These were the words ringing in her
ears. Oh, God had she no greater
need for helpp
"You love Cara?"
How calm and quiet her voice sound
ed, even to herself.
love her All, Dora, you who
have never loved can little guess how
much II
She laughed then. Something in the
words amused her; something that
showed her how well she had kept her
secret-an old maids secret.
Talk to her" he went on Tell me
if she feels, if she will ever feel, for me
that for which l long"
Nay, speak TO her yourself" she
answered "She scarcely can deny
you. pleading your own cause"
''You think SO? Then | will come
tomorrow. Good-by. God bless you !"
At last she was alone. The knowl-
edge came with long sigh Of relief as
some hours later the 'Good-nights"
had been said and Dora could face the
misery the morning had brought her.
How long-how very long ago it
seemed She drew chair beside the
open window, and sank into it heavily
At that moment FAINT tap sounded
on the door, and d goldcn-crowned
head pushed itself through the space
where it was held aiar.
please let me come in, dear Miss
Dora?" said 4 young voice. 81 can't
sleep, and ! want to talk with you"
Then, without waiting for permits
sion, little white-robed figure glided
in and sank on the stool at her feet.
The moonlight showed the fair up
turned face, and was il only the shad-
ow resting on her own soul which made
the older woman fancy that grayer
expression was upon it than its wont ?
She softly stroked the bright hair.
Il have something to tell you,
Miss Dora" the girl went on. after i
little pause. 81 love you so much that
| wouls like that you should hear it
first. But tell me tirst-am | still Il
child And do you not think that
children, AZ Ronald calls me, can lover
"You love, then?'
Almost breathlessly she put the
question. Her own pain was swallowed
up in the joy that at least to Ronald
his love would not be returned to him
is bitter Dead Sea fruit.
Yes, ! love-" said Cara. 1T was
such a funny accident, our meeting.
II was two years ago His regiment
was stationed nj The same town where |
was 1T school. He is onIya lieutenant.
hut he is SO brave, so handsome My
own father was an officer. you know. |
think remembering that made me first
care for him.
Them Miss Deane recovered her
breath
"A lieutenant Who is this man?
OF whom are you talking"
His name is Harry Linden. He
will he here next week. He il coming
down To ask my guardians formal per
mission 70 marry me. Oh, Miss Dora
do you think he will refuse or he an
CRY? He is SO old, perhaps, he has
forgotten that he, too, once was young.
Btterest mockery Of Fate So old,
she said, and not yet forty years
crowned his brow
Once again she met Ronald Raw
alone, ~ he came next day to plead
his cause. He listened with Il white.
drawn face, while she told him of that
other secret with which she had been
entrusted, meanwhile sparing him in
the telling all she could
In her tender plying for his wound.
she forgot that hers, too, bled.
"Iou have been very kind, he said.
when she had finished. II am glad
that she never suspected the truth. |
will not see her to-day. Tomorrow
will be stronger"
lie turned but as he gained the
threshold, he tottered, strove t. recover
himself, but failed, and fell forward on
the floor.
The fever was upon him. Already
in his veins. the shock had brought the
hidden enemy to light Tossing III de-
lirium for many weeks, Dora learned
hoy wholly the mans heart had
fastened itself upon the one hope
which SO cruelty had failed him. For
4 time il seemed as though it had
Slapped the foundation of his life: hut
it proved not so.
There came day when. opening hIs
eyes, he recognized the nurse whose
gentle touch had soothed all his fever
fancy hours Slowly lie rcgained His
strength but it seemed as though re-
turning health brought with il new
vision
Cara's acknowledged lover was with
them now. They who had welcomed
him for her sake soon did 50 for his
own. Seeing them together. none
could wonder that each had chosen the
other, but how the sight must pain the
other man
With all her ingenuity Dora strove
10 keep 1t from him, until he said 10
her one day.
Ny wound has been cauterized: it
hurts no longer
He was brave and hid ii, She told
herself. Did she not know that such
wounds never healed
Thus the weeks rolled on until it
came the time for Cara's wedding. She
had returned to her guardians home,
which she was now to leave forever.
1t was the evening before her mar
riage, when Dora, sitting alone, heard
the step she had learned 10 know so
we'll
As ne had done once before. entering
the room where she sat, he came
straight toward her, taking both her
hands III his
Dora, he said, do YOU remember
that you once told me that, pleading
my cause. could not be denied? Will
YOU make good your words? Must
he punished because for long years
have been blind? love you, dear! |
want you for my own-my vile Will
you forgive the infatuation which mis-
led me from the real cry of my heart.
ard now answer it, II is very empty.
VIII you fill iii"
She looked up into MS face. Was 1t
pity that she read there-pity which
prompted the words for which her
hungry heart had thirsted all these
yearsf No, no II was the light of
love, and it burned for her. She knew
ii even as she knew that it should light
her footsteps down into the valley and
shadow of eternity; and, so knowing.
she gave him the promise that he
asked.
A thousand servant girls are called
for at Winnipeg, Manitoba.