The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-02-10
DOROTHY PINK,

Half way up the steep narrow street
of tho little village it stood, the tiny
gablcd rooted house, whose small lead
en-paned windows overlooked with
sentinel-llke air the modest shop en-
trance beneath, in whose easement was
displayed tho stock of feathers, ribbons,
and velvets, which represented the sole
earthly wealth of Miss Dorothy Pink.
Usually the street door stood open,
and behind the dlminutive counter was
seen the pale face OF the little milliner
herself !; but to-day the wind ratified in
vain at the bolts and bars the space
behind the counter was empty, and in
tho little chamber above, peering in
tently into the ancient black-framed
looking -glass, whose cracked surface re-
fected buck the white dimity curtains,
and the glow Of the small wood fire,
stood Miss Dorothy herself, engaged
i'll fastening q knot of blue ribbon at
the neck Of her well-worn but freshly
ironed black silk gown.
"Who would think to look at mo now
that I had once been young" she muir
INJURED, surveying ruefully the faco that
gazed patheticnlly back into her own.
l.
shall ever wear blue ribbon again.
cit may do very we'll for the maidens
with their fresh hower-Iike faces, but
not for II woman of thirty five, with
streaks OF grey in her brown locks, who
buried her youth long years ago in the
grave of the past"
Something that glittered like q dia-
mond rolled down Miss Dorothy s cheek,
and fell, a spot Of moisture Oh rusty
fold Of her dress.
"What, crying ?" exclaimed Miss
Dorothy incredulously, shaking her
head at the countennnce in the glass.
"Actually shedding tears because
your eyes cannot always remain bright
and your cheeks rosy and when you
ere invited to visit cousin S,!as beside
"For shame. Dorothy Pink
"You deserve to be left to brew your
lonely cup of tea by your solitary fire.
side instead of dining Oh roast turkey
and listening to the voices of your own
kin !'
"Your own kin p
The words seemed to float back on
the still air, and before their echo died
away tho fnce faded from tho ancient
mirror, and IN its place Miss Dorothy
saw low celled room, on whose ample
hearth the great logs burned redly,
shining on the blue deli and pewter
ware tn It lined the generous sideboard,
Furnishing the old-tnshioned furniture
till 1t fairly shone in the flame.
A tall grey-bearded man bent over o
white-haired, white capped mntron;
from whose hands the bright knitting
needles had fallen unheeded.
Two handsome dark-eyed lads romped
with couple of setter dogs, and mid
way between them stood a young mai
den with fair locks cut square on the
forehead, and falling in shining curls
over her shoulders n pretty vision from
the smiling open brow to the small
sllppered feet that peeped from the
soant folds of her lowered silken gown.
A smile of delight parted Miss Doro-
thy's lips, and she cIasped ono hand
over her eyes as if to assure herself of
tho reality OF the vision.
When she looked again the bearded
man, the wAite-haired matron, the dark
eyed lads, and the delicate maiden had
disappeared, and she saw only the visit
ful face that always met hers when she
was wont to gaze at her own reflection.
"GOne all gone - she cried "tnthel,
mother, brothers, and I-only L am
left What would Dick Weatherbee say
il he could sec me now?
II, the proud girl who refused to
even listen to his suit because he was
poor aud i'll my fathers employ.
"How we'll can remember his honest
rugged face. and tho soft light in his
grey oyes-they wero handsome Dyes,
poor lad WHOM he promised to toll
hard and win gold and fame for my
sake, Ii I would only give him ono little
word Of encouragement and the pink
rose that wore at my belt. l smiled
Mt his words, and threw the flower
wantoniy away.
''The next day he went away, and in
his stead came grim caro- and dire mis-
hap.
Zone by one death snatched my loved
ones away, and not till then did 1 learn
the terrible truth that my honored
father died II ruined man, und that
was penniless.
1.-The old HON estead was sold along
with the fertile acres, and Deacon Pink's
daughter came at last to depend for
bread on the very toll that she had onco
80 despised." ...
Poor Miss Dorothy
For years she had toiled and moiled !;
for years she had lived her lonely life,
keeping the door of memory resolutely
shut, md striving to ba content with
the pleagre happiness that, fell to her
lot.
But this frosty November morning
there was no sunshine without, or with
III hope unfuiled it's wings, and fed
away, and the grey leaden sky that
trowned down on the outside world
seemed a fitting type OF her future life.
'And am not brave enough TO look
the morrow in the face" went on Miss
Dorothy. "o
1T is rent day, and cousin Silas is a
strict landlord.
II owe him already for one quarter,