The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1881-09-24
DORA DEANE.

disappointment about Do.a Deane's
mouth; no troubled expression in the
clear, grayseyes. Yet she looked
woman to love and to be loved. She
was not beautiful, but people had al
ways called her pretty girl. They
called her so still so youthful was
the graceful figure and mobile face, }
until they stopped to reckon on their
fingers, and discovered the term
woman" was more appropriate.
There was about her, too, certain
distinctive charm-a something
which made strangers turn again as
she passed them by for a second
glance. She was neither belle nor
beauty. She could have married
many times, but-perhaps because
she felt that love was orfe of the es-
sentials lacking, perhaps because the
ideal was not attained-she remained
Dora Deane still. Thus the gossips
reasoned. Pry as they would, they
could find no early disappointment,
no hidden romance in all the years
she had lived among them. Yet,
peeping over her shoulder, as is our
privilege, noting the delicate flush
upon her cheek, the light in her eye,
the trembling of the little hand which
holds letter written in firm, bold
characters, they might have seized
upon clue we are too generous to
fasten or follow. The words she had
perused were these:
1.-THE fever has broken out again
quite holly with us, and l am anx-
ious Cara should breathe purer air.
May | drive her out tomorrow and
leave her for fortnight? My mes
sengcr will wait your answer.
(signed) "RoNALD RAY"
"Of course she might come"
thought Miss Deane.
Dear little Cara! Doctor Ray was
her guardian. She had been left to
| his care when little child of three
years. She must be eighteen now.
For six years she had been to school.
Now she had returned to her guardi-
ans home. to remain until some one
stole her away to grace another. But
she was still child. That was but
a remote possibility for the distant
! future.
Ronald Ray was physician in the
great city in one of whose suburbs
was Miss Deane's beautiful home.
How many years she had known him
lie had even come to her first in that
long ago time, to tell her the story of
the child confided to his care.
She had been but seventeen herself
then, he six years her senior. They
had been friends always, hut lately
she had seen more of him than his
usual wont. He had talked with her
of Caras home-coming-of the plans
for her amusement--of the pleasure
his mother would experience in hav-
ing her bright young presence con-
staptly near her; and she had lis
telie,l as she always listened when
Ronald Ray talked-listened with a
heating heart and fieeting color. But
it had never betrayed her secret even
to him. She had scarce acknowl-
edged it to herself. She only knew
that other men might come and GO
but were all powerless, even by the
most passionate protestations Of de
votion, to wakeh that called forth by
his simplest word.
But lately he had been different
There had been light in his eye
like that within her own-a sup
pressed excitement in his manner to-
tally at variance with his usual calm.
And now from a legion of friends he
had chosen her home where his ward
might be guest. 81
Her thoughts were very busy as
she made her preparations to receive
her visitor. With her own hands she
| gathered and arranged the flowers
that were to welcome her in the pref
1 ty room she had assigned her. joining
her own.
In the dusk of evening, the sound
of wheels announced their coming.
s"Dear Miss Dorar exclaimed a
sweet, girlish voice, as some one
sprang from the carriage, ere the
/ doctor could allight to assist her.
at is all nonsense, Ronald's sending
me away from home! But SO long
as heinsisted on it, l am glad it is
here! We shall have such nice times
together-that is, if you have not for
| gotten me-"
And she impulsively threw her
arms about the elder woman's neck.
z @There was charm-a winsome-
ness -about her impossible to resist.
Dora Deane felt her heart 60 out to-
ward her anew, as it had done when
"a tiny, golden-haired child, she had
Eclimbed upon her knee and fallen
asleep cradeled in her arms.
mot until they had gone in togeth-
er into the lighted drawing room did
she discover how fully the child's
promise of rare beauty had redeemed
Eitself.
+ But the light was less merciless
Elsewhere. 1t showed the physician
face pale and careworn, and bearing
traces Of over work and lack Of sleep.
Dora found moment during Cara
! gay prattling to lay her hand upon
his sleeve.
s.Take care Of yourself" she hall
I whispered. II fear You forget that
II 49, "a