Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-10-09
Gales arrb Sketfbts.
DORA'S TRIAL.


moment over the coarse blue sock she
was mending. Il do wish you could see
your way clear to marry Seth Hallet. He
wants you the worst kind, and he'd be
such good proyider."
but l don't like him well enough.
Prudy; and want something besides
meat and drink, and two calico dresses a
year,
Mrs. Prudence Hall had sprained her
ankle. and was forced. sorely against her
will, to sit day after day in an upper
chamber. with terrible consciousness
that everything about the farm was re-
lapsing, into chaos and old night, for
want of her oversight. Her pretty sister.
Dora. had come to stay with her; but she
was only child, you know.
There are two kinds OF love in this
world said Mrs. Hall. after pause. in
which she had been taking counsel with
herself whether Dora was old enough to
be talked to on such matters at all, and it
flashed upon her that the child was nearly
90 years old. Perhaps you like Seth
well enough to marry him, only you don t
know it p"
Tell me about two kinds of love, -
said Dora innocently. Il thought love
was love, the world over
Il have never known but one kind, |
think, Dora. When married David Hall.
he was the most well-to-do young man in
these parts, and we never had a quarrel
while he lived He was good, practi-
cal sort Of man, and he never asked me
to do anything unreasonable"
What il he had ?" asked Dora.
We'll, | guess / could have argued
him out of it. But there is kind of love
tina. will draw women through fire and
water 1t makes them throw themselves
away on poor. shiftless men that will never
provide for them nor their children. and
they know it as well as anybody else does.
Ii is the greatest wonder to me why such
a useless feeling should ever have been
created"
Dora had bent low over her work to
hide her roguish smiles at her sister
deep gray eyes on Prudence, not smiling,
but simply earnest.
''Such love brings happiness, some
times, ! suppose. said Dora.
Next to never" said Prudence. with
great decision. I'VE amt made to be
happy, and anything that's too good al
ways leaves bad taste in the mouth.
Comfort is bird in the hand and YOU do
not gain anything by letting it fly on the
chance of happiness"
"Did you ever know anyone about here
Prudence, that threw herself away tor
love 1t seems to me they won't look at a
man unless he has house and farm all
ready for them"
That's where they are right" said
Prudence. "YOu are rather given to
high-hying notions, and it's time YOU found
that bread don't grow buttered. Yes
did know one girl who was pretty and
smart, and had no end of chances to GET
married, Ct think my David courted her IA
spell. but he never would own it, and
she would have that shiftless critter, Joe
Raymond, who could never make one
hand wash the other. Even when she was
dying, she pretended that she had been
happy, and wouldn't have done no other
way if she had to do over again.
WAS she our Joe's mother ?'' asked
Dora, quickly.
Yes, to be sure; and when she died
we took him to bring up and work on the
farm. He's more than paid his way, but
he's rolling stone, like his father, ant
won't ever come to anything. forgot
to tell you-he's going tomorrow
Going tomorrow ?" cried Dora with
great start, IL though his time WASH
out tor another month? ?"
well. it amt rightly till he's twenty
one but he was in such a hurry to be off
that | gave him the last month"
Then silence fell upon them.
The same women had the same father
and mother. though a score of years lay
between them. Prudence was born in the
early married life of her parents, wher
they were struggling with a stony New
England farm. and there was even worl
for baby hands. The lines of duty ant
patience were deep craven in her rugged
face, which vet beamed with common
sense. But Dora had come 10 her mother
late in life, as old trees sometimes bios
SONS into loveliness after everyone ha:
forgotten it. Her little feet had walked
in easy paths. and Prudence yearnei Owe
her like mother.
As she sat now by the open fire, bending
her graceful head over some delicate worl
that Prudence would never have foun,
time for. her red dress and the rt1ickerins
ffre-light made her picture too Lowell,
for that room.
Prudence" said she suddenly, "as th
is Joe's last night. think I'll go dow
and say goodbye TO him.
You might call him up here"
mo; think | will 60 by myself"
II believe haven't ever told you, Dora
how much you pleased me by giving NJ
that childish way of going on with him
that you used to have. II did very wei
for you to be fond of one another whel
you were little. but of course it is out o
the question now.n
1t might have been the fire Light and tn,
| red dress that brought such vived husl
TO Dora's cheek as she listened and turne,
away. She ran lightly down stairs. AM
opened the door Of the great farm kitchen
A young man sat by the fire looking in
to it rs one looks into the eyes of an enem,
before the fight-an over-grown farme
boy, in home made clothes. with nothin.
about him to fall in love with, least of al
for the brilliant little figure that stoo
waiting for him to look up. He was to-
intent on his own thoughts to notice her
till she went swiftly across the room, an
taking his head between her soft hands
turned his face up to hers. Joe. bad boy
were You going away without letting m
| know? ''
The hard lines of his face softened an
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