Smyrna times., 1882-01-25
Dora Dean.

Sn6 was twenty -HYe ana the prefix
which would indicate her married wo-
man was still wanting in her name. Yet
there was no line Of disappointment about
Dora Deans mouth; no troubled express
sion in her gray eyes. Yet she looked a
woman to love and to be loved, She was
not beautiful, but people had always called
her so still, $50 youthful was the pretty
figure and Il mobile face), until they stop.
ped to reckon on their fingers and found
the term woman" to be more appro,
pirate. There was about her, too, a Ger.
tain distinctive charm-a something that
made strangers turn again as she passed
them by, for second glance. She was
neither belle nor beauty. She could have
married many times, but, perhaps, be-
cause she felt that love was one of the
essentials lacking, perhaps because the
ideal was not attained-she remained Dora
Dean still. Thus gossip reasoned Try
as they would, they could find no early
disappointment, no hidden romance in ali
of the years she had lived among them
Yet peeping over her shoulder as is oul
privilege, noting the delicate flush upon
her cheek, the light in her eye, the tremb
ling of her little hand that holds a letter
written in firm bold characters. they
might have seized upon clue we are toe
| generous to fasten to OF to follow. The
words she had perused were these:
The fever has broken out quite hotlN
with US, and am so anxious that Clara
should breathe the pure air. May drive
her out tonight and leave her for fort
night? My messenger will wait for youl
answer.
DONALD RAY"
OF course she might come" though
Miss Dean.
Dear little Clara Dr. Ray was he
guardian. She had been left to his cart
when little girl Of three years. Sht
must be eighteen now. For six years sh.
had been at school. Now she had return
ed to her guardians home to remain unit
some one stole her away to grace another
But she was still o child. That was but :
remote possibility for the distant future.
Donald Ray was. a physician in thu
great city i'll one Of whose suburbs wa.
Dora Deans beautiful home. How many
years she had known him He had eyei
come to her first in that long ago time t.
tell her of the story of the child confdeC
to his care.
She had been but seventeen hersel
then, he six years her senior. They hat
been friends always, but lately she hat
seen more Of him than his usual wont
He had talked to her of Clara's home
cOming-of the plans he had matured fol
her amusement-of the pleasure his moth
er would experience in having her bright
young presence constantly near; and sh,
had listened, as she always listened, will
a beating heart and a fieeting color, Blu
it had never betrayed her secret, even t.
him. She had scarcely acknowledged i
to herself She only knew that other mer
might come and go, but were all power
less, even by the most passionate protesta
tions of devotion, to awaken that called
forth by his simplest wore
But lately he had been different. Their,
had been light in his eyes like tina
within her own-the suppressed excite
ment in her manner tailed in varianc,
with his usual calm And now from hi
legion of friends he had chosen her hom
where his ward might be guest, ......G
Her thoughts were very busy as sh
made her preparations to receive her visi
tor. With her own hand she gathered
and arranged the flowers that were t
welcome her in the pretty room she haC
assigned her, adjoining her own.
In the dusk of the evening the sounC
of wheels announced her coming.
dear Miss Dora y exclaimed a sweet
girlish voice, as some one sprang from tn
carriage, before the doctor could alight t.
assist her. SIT is all nonsense, Donald
sending ME away from hOrnel but SO lon
as he insisted upon it, / ana so glad 1t /
here We shall have nice times together
that is if you have not forgotten me-"
And she impulsively throw her arm
about the elder w0man's neck. ~
There was Charm winsomeness-
about her impossible toresist. Dora Dea
felt her heart 60 out towards her anew, q
1t had done when, q tiny golden-haire
child, she had climbed upon her knee an
fallen asleep cradled in her arms. : 1-''
Not until they had all gone in togethe
into the lighted drawing room, did sh
discover how fully the chiId's promise {
rare beauty had redeemed itself. l3' r
But the light was the less Cmerciles
elsewhere. II showed the physicians fac
. pale and CO ee.worn, and bearing traces
6Yer:Work and lack of sleep. Dora foun
moment during Clara s gay prattle t
lay her hand upon his sleeve and whi.
per, 81 fear that you forget that, in you
care of Others, you are.not looking well.
Nonsense ~ he exclaimed. 1.-THE ide
t of doctor mot being able to take care {
/ himself To is like the cook allowing hin
self to starYe, You would almost pei
! suade my patients to lgse confidence i
me, which reminds me am losing pre-
ciouii time, and must be off A thousan
thanks for receiving the child | sha
/ see you as often as is possible and sha
. have double inducement in coming"