Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-30
An ANGEL UNAWARES.

l Shiu uranium VI BCHttSi pONclly WulCl
had long been guest in the house
hold. Mrs. Roxbury flew about from
cellar to garrett with her head tied up
in huge, yellow handkerchief, and
was fretful enoughto make little Dor.
cites life burden TO her.
Dorette was only poor relative
who did all sorts of drHdgery for the
family. and had home in return, be-
sides an occasional cast off dress or bon.
net of one of the girls.
There were Agnes, and Harriet, and
Clara, all after the same pattern, tall,
thin featured, and black eyed, and the
rather scanty wardrobe of each was
Overhauled and considered with much
anxiety.
And all this excitement was caused
by letter from young man, whose
mother had been Mrs. Roxbury s
school-mate. He was the fortunate
possessor OF handsome proper ty, and
unmarried, and he was coming in ac-
cordance with his mothers wishes, to
visit the Roxburys.
Agnes wore pink ribbons, Harriet
wore blue ribbons, and Clara wore
green ribbons, and they all wore curls,
and looked very much like three ami
mated dolls.
1t was a very sultry day, and little
Dorette, who had just come in from
the pasture, where she had been pick
ing wild Strawberries for tea, was glad
enough to go around 10 the cool, back
porch to hull her berries. While she
sat there, her crimson stained fingers
working busily, an old man with bun
die on stick came feebly up the path.
He seemed very old and very feeble.
His clothes were poor and faded, but
clean. A long white beard covered the
lower part of his face, but as he paus-
ed and smiled at Dorette, she noticed
that his eyes were brown, and clear,
and bright. Good day, little daugh.
ter he said TREMENDOUSLY. Can you
give poor, old man bite of some
thing and nights shelter?'
Dorette get up and gave him her
chair. Sit down, sir, she said kindly
You look tired. Twill speak to Mrs
ROxbury.'
She disappeared within the house,
and soon the old man heard woman's
sharp voice.
Supper and lodgingp No, indeed,
Dorette. You know better. You
know we've had to plan every way to
have things suitable for Mr.. Wilder
But, aunt, the poor old man
oh, send him along about his bust
ness, Dorette, called Agnes from the
sitting-room.
hn xx,hfta hrllu a
huttering out to peep at him curious.
ly.
'Horrid looking old creature, said
Clara, in disgust.
"A tramp. said Harriet, struggling
her shoulders.
You can go on, old man, said Agnes
coldly. as she looked out the door.
We haven't anything for YOU
Dorette looked at him wisttully, her
eyes filled with tears. It's cruel she
said, TO send him on this way, he looks
so feeble, and the next house is a mile
away
Bless you, my child said the old
man, smiling at her as he moved on his
way.
And the Roxbury girls laughed
scornfully, and rustled back into the
sitting-room. But the old man had
gone but few steps, when little
Dorette came running after him, with
"A bowl of milk and slice of brown
bread.
1T is my supper, sir. she said. but
am young and strong, and cracker
will do me for tonight
There was strange light in the old
mans eyes as he ate the bread and
drank the milk. And he watched Dor
cite as she ran swiftly back TO the
house, her soft, brown curls tossing
lightly upon her head,
Brandon Wilder did not come on the
stage, his valise did, however, and he
followed on foot an hour later. He
was a stalwart, manly looking young
fellow, his handsome, upper lip smooth
shaven, and his dark hair closely trim
med, his eyes were big, and brown and
shining.
Such smiling welcome as he re-
celyed, such airs and graces as the
three white dolls put OH for his bene-
ct.
Little Dorette. who had prepared the
supper, only got glimpse of him that
night through the kitchen d0er, but
she at once decided that he was very
handsome. He made himself very
much at home in the house during his
two weeks stay. Mother and daugh-
ters were delighted with him, and each
one of the'latter cherished the unex-
pressed hope of one day becoming Mrs.
Brandon Wilder. How angry they
would have been had they known that
he accompanied Dorette on her berry
ing excursions, and that he neglected
no opportunity of becoming better ac-
quainted with her.
On the day before his departure, as
they were walking down the lane
together, Dorette pulled a briar from
his coat sleeve.
He smiled at her with his bright,
brown eyes. dropped his broad shout
ders, drew in his cheeks and said, ire
mulously:-
Bless, you, my child
why! you are my old man, cried
Dorette, staring at him with wide-eyed
astonishment.
Wilder laughed out heartily, and
drew the girl within bis arms. Oar
ling little Dorette,' he said, will you
take your old man for better and for
worse? My mother was DESTROYS of
marrying me to one of her old school
mates daughters, and l wanted to take
them unawares. came, as you know
in the disguise of an old man. near
ly killed myself eating your supper,
poor child, and walked back two miles
TO resume my own clothes, which / had