Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-01-29

again. Come and have some tea And
ahe lad the way to the dining-room. How
he louped to say, Come, Dora, have
.ometbinR to tell you" aud then having
her all to himself, pour out these niisera-
BILE doubts and fears in her ear and so be
free from them. But no; here was this
crowd Of chatterinK girls--besides, she
must not know he had such doubts. Even il
she said, Il love YOU could he he sure she
was not saying il because she believed 1t
to be her duty, And 80 he finished the
evening as best he could, and all night
long his heart tormented him with cease
less quest ionings.
Several DAYS passed before he found op
portunity to speak alone with Dora. The
house was filed with q number Of young
guests, and Dora must be everywhere
Fred Long was just now taking well
earned vacation. After years OF hard
work and months of illness, he had come
back to the home OF his childhood to re-
gain lost health and strength. He had
called this the happiest summer he had
known. but now an untimely frost had
spoiled its beauty. Among the friends
whom Dora WAS entertaining her cousin
Florence Freeman was the only one he
had previously known. Naturally they
driftetf together during these miserable
days. With Dora he was suddenly ill at
ease and restless: her Quick eyes noticed
the change. and she looked about for
cause Those same Quick eyes soon no.
:iced the walks and talks with cousil,
Florence NO wonder she admires him.
she said. with a sharp little pang at her
hesrt. mentally contrasting tall, hand
some Florence with her own little self
Presently the flock Of merry school girls
took fight only Florence, and you, and
/" said Dora; lust a. 1t used to be-" Bui
for both the old charm was DESTROYED.
One day they walked together along the
river bank, and Dora said, Our play time il
DONE
yes he answered, Il must ~ back to
INV law books and 70 must have time for
your painting"
A light came into ner eyes. Then am
to 10 on painting.-
sYes,r he said slewly. Il am making this
sacrifice for You. Ido not wish you to
marry me until you have finished this
work Won have set your heart upon. It
will occupy your whole winter
.Yes; perhaps more. Give me Q year,
she said eagerly. quite unconscious Of the
pain her words inflicted, and only anxious
for time wherein to prove whether, after
all these years Of devotion, Fred could be
won from her. A few weeks ago she had
asked for the length Of time simply be-
cause she had undertaken some painting,
which she wished to finish, and had plans
to be carried out which she felt would be
SADLY interfered with by the necessary
arrangements for q wedding. Now she
had this additional motive.
.Very well. came the answer, calm and
steady. No trembling in the quiet tones
to betray the hearts unutterable anguish
as il whispered to itself, How glad she il
to be free even for year.
As for Dora, her heart was saying, He
does not care
And then they talked of Indifferent mat
ters, these two foolish ones, and the pre-
cious hours in which they might have un-
derstood each other slipped away and
were gone forever
Once more apart, their letters were ex-
changed at regular intervals-Fred's kind
and loving. OF course,n said Dora, lit is
his duty" while DOra's were Q curious
study had her lover but known. Each
one q little cooler, little briefer than the
Last, until by the time spring had dressed
the fields and woods In green again poor
Fred had well nigh made up his mind that
Florence was right Doras heart was all
in her painting; she had grown quite
weary Of him
This suspense 10 killing ns," he would
Ny but III wait--it i bstter-it will
soon be over"
And Dora, working hcrsalf to . shadow
over her painting, would think: The end
can not be far Of He will soon be free"
Early In the summer Fred found him
self again in the old familiar haunts, but.
alas! the old joyous light was wanting
everywhere A shade, . mist, seemed
hanging over every hing, and Dora was
farther away than ever There was no
merry guests to divide her attention; but
50 absorbed, 50 silent, did she seelu, he
could hardly believe 1t was the Same Dora
he had known In other days.
A week passed by-a week OF mingled
paradise and torment. Sometimes he
would be on the point Of saying to her:
Dora, will stand In your way NO longer
but . faint hope still fingered, and he
could not crush it 50 ruthlessly. At other
times he could almost believe himself mis-
takn-all these months fearful dream
when her eyes met his 80 earnestly and
seemed filed for . moment with the old
warm light.
The sat together one day upon . little
rustic seat, chatting and resting after
walk. Fred had taken some letters from
his pocket which he wished to show to
Dora. A picture fell from among them.
Dora stopped to recover it. Cousin
Florry," she murmured, and Fred began
making some commonplace remark upon
Its correctness. Then, glancing At his
companions face, he ives startled at it's
A~adIy nallOF sIlorAr h cried Gvnn are