The colored patriot., 1882-06-01
And though Eleanore redoubled ht1

terrified remOnStranCeS, Dora went |
about her preparations firmly, with a
look of determination upon her young
face that never faltered.
At last she was ready, and Eleanore |
strained her small, waterproof clad
figure close to her heart
4 God guide you and keep you, my
darling" she said, solemnly. "You
60 for duty's sake to brave a danger
that, fearless as | have always deemed
myself to be, | would never dare to at
tempt. love life too we'll to face what
seems certain death"
i All, |, too, love life," Dora said, as
she disengaged herself from her friends
clinging arms; "but something draws
me on. Though knew | never should
return, should 60"
Out into the storm and the darkness
Dora hurries; the wind beats against
her, now pushing her back, now urging
her forward, until at length she stands
upon the brink Of the little river that
ripples so innocently and cheerily along
under sunny sky, but whose waves
now are leaping and tossing their foam.
crests like mad things. The stepping
stones, which but yesterday were SO
easily crossed, are before her, and Dora
begins her perilous journey.
"Come back! Dora, Dora, come
backr' calls EleanOre's voice from the
terrace above; but she does not heed.
Steadily she goes onward, but oh, so
slowly! oftentimes slipping, and on the
very verge of falling into the treacher
Gus water, whose inky blackness only
seems the denser, when, for few sec
onds, the glare of the lightning shows
her what progress she is making.
She has gained the center, of the
stream; her slight form is trembling
with the combined effect of the cold
which strikes through her dripping gar
ments and the bodily exertions she has
been compelled to make to keep hel
footing upon the slippery rocks. VIII
she be able to reach the other side?
Bravely she struggles on, and at
length the goal is reached and her feet
touch the other shore.
A short while later the telegraph Op-
orator, leaning idly back in his chair in
his warm office, is startled by the en-
trance of small, dripping figure, look
ing, with its disheveled hair and pallid
| face, like visitant from some ghoStly
sphere
" A tree has fallen across the trAck
opposite Miss Gray cottage-telegrnph
for the seven o'clock express to stopH'
Then, her mission accomplished, the
brave heart stops beating and Dora
sinks unconscious to the floor.
Four weeks have gone by-weeks OF
the most intense anXiety-for all that
time Dora has lain between life and
death. But at last the shadow has lifted
and out once more into health sun
shine she has emerged, to the heartfelt
ioy of the friends who have prayed fol
her recovery necessarily, even wher
they feared their prayers would be O
no avail.
1t is a bright, pleasant day, though
somewhat chilly, and i'll Eleanore' coz,
sittinG-room, in an easy-chair near th'
bright wOod-tire, Dora is seated. Sh'
looks very lovely, for the tire-glow ha
lent delicate color to her pale cheeks
and made into an aureOle of gold tn
short waves of hair that cluster abou
her fair forehead.
The door gently opens and voic
says:
II MAY COIuC III!
1t is Mr.. Eldridge, and it is the frs
time since her illness that Dora has me
him. The delicate color deepens as sh
resigns her hand to his clasp and an
swers his words of greeting. They cha
for while, and then to Dora's grea
Surprise she learns what she has nc
known before, that among those who
her brave deeds owed their safety tror
death was her friend guardian.
: IL asked EleanOre not TO tell you,
he saws: "for | wished to thank 20
, myself. and at the same time TO ask 20
! q question most mOmentOuS to me.
is this: Dora, will you make the life yo
have saved more precious by laying tbs
dear hand in mine, and SAYING that 70
! will be my wife? All, little one, m
7 heart went out to YOU the first time tn;
we met; but | little knew 10 what
/ strength my passion had grown until tf
! dark hour came when | feared tn;
! ! death was about TO snatch youtrom M
! Dora. what is my answer TO be?'
And | always thought that it W;
] Eleanore you cared for, Dora says,
Y d little later she sits with happy ta'
and her little hand tightly clasped IN III
4 lovers.
I so do care for Eleanore-vel
: much; but it is Dora-my heroic da
linr-t that | wish for my wife-tl
J guardian angel of my heart and n
\ home" is his answer.
! II am more pleased than can e
\ nress." is Eleanore's enthusiastic excl
II nation. when the blisSful secret IS co
Z fded to her. 4 do not believe that
4 4 All the universe there is any one nool
J J than my guardian, and Dora, ,,1..l darlln !,
7 YOU are we'll mated, for noblllty al
heroism are kindred qualities, and alt
U what has passed you can never G
yourself a coward. :, -.
! Dora stopped her mouth with a kl'
j. N Y. Ledger.
y in Baltimore, according to the ia
n the advent of summer Is genera
A. .lav~