Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-07-06

born in the early married life of her
parents. when they were struggling
with a stony New England farm, and
there was work for even baby hands
The lines of duty and patience were
deep-graven in her rugged face, which
yet beamed with a kindly common
sense. But Dora had come to her
mother late in life, as an old tree some
times blossoms into loneliness after
every one has forgotten it. Her little
feet had walked in easy paths, and
Prudence yearned over her like moth
er.
She sat now by the open fire, bending
her graceful head over some delicate
work that Prudence never would have
found time for; her red dress and the
Pickering freight made her picture
too lovely for that dull room.
Prudence she said suddenly, 'as this
is Joe's last night, l think I'll 60 down
and say goodbye to him.
you might call him up here
No; Il think will 60 myself
Il believe l haven't ever told you,
Dora, how much you pleased me by CIV
ing up that childish way of going on
with him that you used to have. 1t
did very well for you to be fond of each
other when you were little, but of course
it is out of the question now
1t might have been thered dress and
the freight that brought such vivid
flush to Dora's check as she listened and
turned away. She ran lightly down
stairs and opened the door of the great
farm kitchen.
A young man sat by the dull fire,
looking into it as one does into the eyes
of an enemy before the 6ght-an over
grown farmer boy, in homemade
clothes, with nothing about him to fall
in love with, least of all for the bril-
liant little figure that stood waiting for
him to look up. He was too intent on
his own thoughts to notice her, till she
went swiftly across the room, and, TAX
ing his head between her soft hands,
turned his face up to hers. Joe, bad
boy, were you going away'without let
ting me knOwY
The hard lines of his face softened
and frightened under her gaze, till one
would not have known him for the
same man. Il thought should not see
you Tonight he said.
you know better; you know would
have crept through the keyhole for one
last little minute with YOU
'Hcw long will you wait for me,
Dorap
Till you come back
IF it were seven years, think how
long it would be-
IF you loved me as you make me be-
lieve,' said Djra, You would not go
away at all, but work here until you
could build little house, and then we
could rough it together"
mo, lit lie Dora, that is not my kind
of love; my mother tired that, and she
lived slaves ite."
Dora, Dorap called Prudence from
up stairs; what on earth are You doing
down thereY
Il must go now; Unjust, truly said
Dora, as she felt herself locked in arms
that would not give way. IF 1 live
without you for seven years l shall be
homely old maid, and you will moi
thank me for waiting for you
He put her away then and looked al
her curiously, as if he had never
thought of her prettiness before. dc
you know what your name meansT ht
asked earnestly. Il saw it in paper
that Theodore means Gift Of God ant
you have been just that to me. If
had never seen you, L should never
have had notion about q days worl
or nights sleep. l will write when
ever have any luck, and come hom'
on New Years eve when l do come
and if you wear this red dress / shall
KIN w you have waited for me-
Il think shall live TO wear it whel
you come home, if it is seven time
seven years. Joe, for women are 81
very hard TO kill said Dora, slowl.
disappearing from the kitchen.
what have you been doing all thi
time?' said Prudence, severely.
Il was only giving Joe some yer.
} good advice?
] We'll. hope he'll profit by it,
so do said Dora heartily
IT'S as easy to say seven years a
one. and we read OF. Jacobs seven years
service for Rachel, which seemed a
hut one day for the love that he Dor
her. Rachels feelings are not though
, worthy to be mentioned in holy wri
but if her love was like Dora's, ever,
day seemed like seven years. AM
here, in nutshell, lies the differenc
| between a mans love and woman's
Jacob had the sheep to mind. and h
did mind them uncommonly well. 10
; went to seek his fortune in new scenes
and only thought of Dora when he ha
nothing else to do.
Till hei lover went away, Dora hS,
never cared to ask herself whether sh
} were a child or woman. Sunshin
had been pl, nty with her, and she ha
eagerly sugared and g lded the plaii
, thinys that farm life afforded her.
b fore the first year came to an end
she fell that she should soon arrive a
patriarchal age if she did not d
netting to kill the time which die
so hard on her nds.
n. II