The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-09-27

ovef the west, and never hnding IL,
had come back to die at home. He
mentioned Colorado aud Denver, and
when Dora found herself alone with
him for a moment, she said: "Did you
ever see Joseph Raymond in DEN.
ver2"
"Joe Raymond Oh yesl knew him
WE'LL lived with him nigh on to a
month. His wife is a real good cook
couldn't be beat in them parts"
"You say he was married."
ITO be surej a right smart feller,
and mighty fond Of his wife,. Wo.
men are scarce out there.n
Prudence came in, and the old man
went his way, all unconscious of the
great stone he had cast into the still
waves Of Dora's heart.
"What is the matter2n said Pru-i
Ideneei" you're as white as sheet"
Dora's only answer was 10 startout
Of the house, and run, as for her life,
down the frozen orchard path, by .
which she could gain upon and over.
take this terrible old man. She
might have said, with the aholy
Herbert:" snIdsiB Ia 5e l15g
|
"My tho'ts are all case Of knives, y57
Wounding my heart N .ray aya
With scattered smart" a
only misery must hays time TO cfys.
talize into memory before 1t takes
The form Of poetry, She stood beiots
the old man at the turning, barehea.,
ded and breathless, slow did the
Joe Raymond look, that you lived
with?" gasped Dora. ~ ..5-
II never said Joe Raymond = said
the old man, peevishly; II said jim,
Joe, who" but Dora was oil again
before be could finish the sentence.
She ran back through the orchard,
giving thanks with all her heart that
she had not suffered herself to be-
persuaded of Joe's faithlessness on
one hearing. Her feelingof grateful
awe, as if she had escaped from sud-
den death, kept her from mourning
much over the passing away of the
seventh anniversary Of Joe's depart
ure, with no sign Of his retarn.
His letters bad wholly ceased, and
there was nothing left for Dora, but
to possess her soul in 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 man sprang out from
behind the wall.
"Theodora, my gift Of Godl" he
said; and Dora, though she recognize
ed no mark Of the lover who had left
her eight years before, felt that no
other knew that password, and suf-
cred herself to rest silently in his
arms, in the inefable content that
comes after long waiting
When Joe and Dora went into the
house, and she looked at him by can.
delight, her heart almost migays
her; his luxuriant beard, and the
manly assurance Of his manners, were
not at all like her Joe Of beloved
memory, and terrible barrier SEEM
ed to rise up between them, while
Prudence remained in the room, with
her company manners, which sat
more awkardly upon her than her
Sunday gown. l3 !la g4g,gg f.qB
When Dora tiptoed softly by her
sisters door, at very late hour that
night, Prudence was lying awake for
her. r8.g 5.lt s4eta.r 4e 5.t .e,
"Don't tell me, she said, "that you
you've been waiting for that Joe
Raymond all this time!" eae8t bse
81 won't tell you, if you don'twant
to hear it," said Durs. 5.r,5a
"Do you know whether be came
home any better of than when he
went away?" giidgasa ssl D.,
81 really haven't thought to ask
him," said Dora, carelessly. lPru-
dence groaned and turned her face 10
the wall. ygf4 l5e s.s
Jos waited only till the next day
to tell Mrs. Hall the story of his sue
cess, which looked very moderate in
his Travelled eyes, but il seemed no.
BILE fortune TO her honely ideas.