Little Falls transcript., 1886-01-15

II
ST found the brocade dress 'S III h ,sa, 3 J,
~ the old cedar chest IN the Biz Inn
sber-fo ON. VIII YOU please to coim1e?'
Her fine old voice anivered; her din
old eyes caught some of i tll,eirs lost scirl
hoods fire from the memorial tear,
that sprang to them, Do come, !, ah,
lSsaid, III o. plea ding tone s. 8ss
Miss Alilton called Doroth ana tn,
three went to the attic together
Hand 10 hand the two ladies walked
along the chill, upper hall, With it,
high, narrow wind lows, the coloret
panesof Curl ous small pieces Of elas.
casting faded tints as OF tapestr,
across them. Dolly shuddered ans
glanced behind her; she fancied pat
terlng footsteps as Of feet shod III satirl
slippers coming after her; she fanciee
pale dead eyes opening on her out. O
the evening light -old voices calling tc
her ont Of q dead, past time, unknown
and unrecorded: ''it is mine; it is mine
let 1t Rbe! 'N38 43a %$ss lt 4 ~ >, ..,3f g.
In the attic was q more Cheerful
light cast from Birket's candles. =, The
cedar chest stood open; heavy sodors
as from old long sealed-up spices
made the air like that of an oriental
chamber. Dead perfumes, the breath
OF faded dust, the smile and blush o1
long forgotten beauty! The richly
broldered heavy satin gown lay there
the folds spread out, the lace unfold.
ed, the pearl, broach and faded loops
of ribbon in the bodice, with it's dim
stiff waist, it's short rich sleeves.
An, old, rich, dim dress: Beauty
dead and gone, come forth and look
at7it now!s It was yours! Behold it!
Where are ye? Can ye wear.it now?
Ye have other robes es--cerements.o
Dorothy clasped her hands. "Oh!''
she cried out in a low breath. She
touched it reverently. "Oh! oh! oh!'
Was 1T not q natural result that in q
little while sweet Dolly was being robed
In this wonderful garment -Birket
and fair Miss Milton helping in the
task? - @7.s@- 80 SIPS -. - ~ :,
There camea tap at the door, a SER
vant,cane in with 81 note, for Dolly.
Il beg pardon, but Mr.. Carleton said
1 was to give this direct to you.''
Dolly read the note with a blush and
then turned to her aunt. 7"Guy says
l am to come down in the dress. He
wishes to see me in 1T. The others
wish it too. Shall I? May IT.
II don't know I am not sure.
You might go to the landing, it is not
certainly good TASTE, but But
since Guy wishes it,-her shrug seemed
to say.)
A little knot of curious gazers was
on the broad landing and on the
stairs when Dolly came down. A Amur-
mur of admiration went round.
"Shall be burn incense?" said q voice;
Guys surely.
But Dorothy wes not needing.
What was it she had heard?
/ Footsteps-footsteps creeping along
the dim rose walk outside, beneath the
mullioned window; sigh, h,-then a tap
on the panes. "Dorothy Doro.
thyv' ) s-n .
"Wait!" cried Miss Milton, author-
itatively, as Guy Carleton turned to
go in search.
Dorothy flung off the arm her aunt
had put about her. She would accept
her fate. Was it not meet and right
that the dead should come to punish
her for this sacrilegious deed?
A face was pressed against the Win
dow, those were living eyes looking in.
Then in q moment those waiting heard
the great outer door open, the unbid-
den, unknown feet come slowly along
the hall, up the few broad steps.
An old man. Yes, certainly old,
and yet an awful something OF youth
about him, and dressed in the fashion
OF colonial times, his spare figure. still
spruce and neat, his powdered hair
the powder above the snow of years
tied back with Il broad ribbon.
His eyes under shaggy brows shone
bold and dark-hls hair looked as if
it were both strong and glossy in its
massy richness-it WAS not the dry,
juiceless hair of age. This apparition
came straight to Dolly. 10 =
"Yout are so good to expect me.
Dorothy. You have not changed; and
you have put on the beloved dress''
He took her trembling hand in his
own thin, cold grasp, and carried it
to his lips.
"My Dorothy welcome me home!'
Poor Dolly was mute; but there WAS
q cry,--it was Birket, who rushed for
ward and peered into this strange
guests face.
"Master James! Master James Mil
ton!-and alive,-come home after
all these years. ,...e.2 -. -.
eyes; l am James Milton He
looked down st her in unmoved curl
oslty. ""I am james Milton, but | do
not remember you. lam CONG to see
Dorothy once more.
He turned to Dorothy again and
sought to take her hand In her mute
terror this poor thing drew it away;
not realizing what she did, she thrust
it for safety into the pocket Of the
dress she was wearing. Something
was there! She drew it out. a letter;
an old letter. ~ q
James Milton caught sight of the
paper,--taded and yellow;-he darted
forward. S& .'' ~ '@'+ 1888 u - S|'5 "a
1 "Ah; yes,'' he screamed; "It is my
letter-the letter i wrote to Dorothy
long ago. See, ah, seeI it is unread
the seal is not broken, she did not care
enough for me to read it, but if you
were to look within you would see my
name signed there--James Milton. i, /
wrote it, 4. a#s, .s3s ....-...
4 A pale and faded look crept into his
face; with gentle courtesy he restored
the letter he had snatched to the pale.
girl. ..,.,...5 III ... i. ss ..,'s ,,S.
"she was not always kind to me,
he sighed. "She was older than 1; she
laughed at me. A cold passion then,
as if worn ont with age, crept into his
voice. He was looking At the Doro-
thy smiling coldly from the picture on
the wall. You would have none Of
my gifts; you flung them back in my
face. Yet you lived on my gift on
my bounty for years, proud Doro-
thy! sss n 5.s5