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

children took her out of herself, and
infused new life into her hope deferred.
Every week she walked to the post
Office, three miles away, to ask for a
letter, going in with bright flush on
either cheek, and coming out pale and
dull-eyed after the stab of disappoint-
ment. / wonder that people in the
country are so anxious to be postmas-
tiers; If they only knew it they are ac-
tors in more tragedies than any men,
Der of theatrical stock company.
Much sealed happiness passes through
their hands; but they have to refuse
many Mariana in the Moated Grange
weary women who reach hand out
of their dull lives for letter and draw
it back empty.
1t was far into the second year be-
fore Joe's first letter came. 1t was
surely q fanciful and foolish thing for q
schoolmistress to do, but Dora carried
it to her own little room and put on
the red dress, before she read Joe's let
ter.
Joe was working in the mines of
Colorado. His luck had not yet come,
in nuggets at least, but hard work and
sober living were slowly giving him
the advantage over the other miners.
He was never so well, and beloved her
better than all the world.
Dora lived on this letter for many
weeks, and che set Colorado for a
copy so often to her scholars that they
will write that word better thanSany
other to their dying day.
Letters came oftener as years drew
on; sometimes Joe was up in the world,
sometimes down; once his carefully
boarded gold was stolen from him and
he had to begin all over again; but this
was nothing to long illness, in which
a friend wrote to Dora as soon as Joe
was out of danger. Then Dora envied
the doves their wings.
New Years day was the hardest of
all to bear. She could not help strong
pressure of excitement when she put
on the red dress, which grew more and
more old FASH oned, and watched the
sun go down on the road which Joe
must travel when he should come
home. The next morning she fitted
her shoulders sadly the burden of
another year.
One young farmer after another
found his way to the old farm house
on Sunday evenings, and Dora pushed
them down an inclined plane of dis
enlargement 80 gently that they scarce
ly knew whether they had meant to
court her or not. 1t was not the least
of her trials to meet the treaties of her
sister and the rough arguments of her
father, when one or two more persist
ent suitors would take nothing less
than mo- for their answer. Dora could
give no reason for repeated refusals to
marry, only she loved no one well
enough-a reason which should be all
sufficient if parents remained immor-
tally young; but it loses weight after
sixty.
AS the seventh year drew to a close,
Dora's heart beat light within her. Joe
had mentioned seven years, as if he
meant to come home then at any rate.
She wore out the first day of the Glad
New Year with busy cares. till late in
the afternoon, when an old man, spent
with much walking, stopped to rest
himself in the farm house kitchen.
Prudence bestirred herself to give him
a hearty luncheon, and when he was
warmed and fed he began to talk of his
travels. He had been seeking his for
tune all over the West, and never find.
ing it, had come back to die at home.
He mentioned Colorado and Denver,
and when Dora found herself alone
with him for moment, she said
Did you ever see Joseph Raymond in
DenverY
Joe Raymond? Oh yesl knew him
well; lived with him nigh on to q
month. His wife is real good cook
couldn't be beat in them parts
You say he was married?'
TO be sure; a right smart Teller, and
mighty fond of his wife. Women are
scarce out there
| Prudence came in, and the old mar
went his way, all unconscious of The
great stone he had cast into the still
waves of Dora's heart.
What's the matter?' said Prudence
| you're as white as a sheet
Dora's only answer was to start out
of the house, and run, as for her life
down the frozen orchard path, by
which she could gain upon and overtak'
this terrible old man.
She stood before the old man at TIT
turning, bareheaded ana breathless
'How did the Joe Raymond look, tha
you lived with p gasped Dora.
4 never said Joe Raymond" said tn,
old man peevishly; Il said Jim, Joe
who but Dora was off again befor,
he could finish the sentence.
She ran through the orchard, giving
thanks with all her hear; that she hat
not suffered herself to be persuaded o
Joe's faithlessness on one hearing. He
feeling of grateful awe, as if she hat
escaped from sudden death, kept he
from mourning much over the passing
away of the seventh anniversary O
Joe's departure, with no sign of his re
turn.
n