Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1882-11-18

Elearorc Gray and Dora Alton were
great friends, though two more dlsslm-
liar in every way it would be hard I"
find.
For. willie Eleanore was tail, dark,
and brilliantly colored, Dora was child
islly slight, with pale, hly-iMr SKIN;
and while EIcanore was U'ac.ou7 ana
daring. Dora was shy and que.
And stran9e,o TO say, the one You would
deem least fitted to cope with the world
was the one whom circumstances had
compelled to do 80 from her earliest
Youth.
The acquaintance between the two
plrls began at school; and when LeanoIe,
leaving scho l-dnys behind forever. came
to her bcautiinl home, at her urgent
solicitation, Dora, whom she had grown
to love as tcnderly as lister accom-
panied her.
Tie first month of vacation has passed.
and tue second has been entered upon,
and Dora slghs as she thinks how very
soon the time will have thpwnl ana tins
,1.liphtT ii experience that has come to
her like an oasis in the mOnotoh"us des-
ert Of her life Will have ended.
And set the roses Of pleasure have
not been entirely without the thorhs
TINT always accompany them.
F;y, weeks do not constitute a great
= ,rI, v,Da u
happcu. and they have suilic"d to I'M
nlaI,t in Doras gentle heart some
thing ~ strong as she knows IT IS hope
less.
Bv the terms OF the deceased Mf.
Gray's will, his friend, Mark l.ldrid6e,
man many years Younger than himself,
Int possessing his utmost confidence,
uas lett executor of hls l;rGc i"ltulc
and guardian to his daughter.
Thus lis that Gray Cottngri.rluently
sees Mr.. r.llriigcs genial handsome
face; and thus II is also that, III listening
10 lis tInent conversation, winch opens
before her broad vistas OF kno"le as
well as;entertninmcnt. D"ia has come
to think that not III all the world Is
another SO wise ana good, rs WORTHY ol
n mai,icn's love.
lr, not n hint Of the truth does she
suffer to escape for she mag HeS tina
slc has read Il secret, and she is no
surprised.
"She Is SO beautiful and intelligent
I,,t h. II.
muses., rs she watches with feeling o
mingled admiration, tenderness, ant
pain the guardian of his lovely ward.
The lays go Ly until one comes whicl
is long remembered.
1t has been a stolmy afternoon, aa'
with the gathering darkness the thunde
b, gins to n.utter nlrnaclngly.
Sveethriar Cottage. as Eeanore'
pl,usalt nome is ca'lrl, Is situated up.
slight elevation, whose foot Is washes
bv a'narrow sire IN between which an
terra tirma runs the railway.
FROM their position II tie how-wil
dow, where they are watching wit
fascinated eyes the cloud PhaI tasy !
gloom rent ly lurid light which III
storm pres nts 10 their vision. the girl
can see the line up and down f'r som
way.
Suddenly tremendous crash startl,
them TO their feet, and at the same IL
slant lightning flash illumines III
VIII IL sky and surrounding objects.
Elcnnor's face grows very pale As 81
grasps her companions arm, and pom
down upon the line.
bora. the great elm at the foot
the terrace has been struck.
See, II has fallen across the line.
The seven O'Clock express will
dne in Laii AL hulr,
'po,a, they Will be wrecked. for Il
curve will prevent them seeing the da
Eti betorc Il Is too late,
Dora looks ANA tr,mtles.
''Cni We 10 nothing, Elea~ore 2 81
asks.
NO, for the nearest telegraph STAT,
Is aero the river, end there Is no 9th
for five miles.
"We crossed the river ycs,erda
Eleanore
''Can We not do il now? anl goi,
to try"