River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-07-22
DORA OXGATE


empty pail in her hand As her light
feet battered over the carpet of autumn
leaves in the pathway, she sang a
snatch of some good old-fashioned
hymn.
"My goodness alive! What's thatr"
For, as the words trilled from her
tongue, a tall, dark figure had risen
from the low bench under the apple
tree. whose boughs overhung the well.
Don't be alarmed" said deep,
sweet cOntralto, with a scornful inton-
alton in its sound. "It's only me Dora. f"
Joanna Elield. "
"Yes, Joanna Elfield. What then?
Have | fallen so low that / am 70
longer worthy TO sit beneath the old
apple tree? If so, tell me at once, and
II quit
You know 1 didn't mean that Jo-
anna.
Its hard to tell what people mean
or don't mean, nowadays, said Jo-
anna, picking at the fringe of her
frayed rag of shawl. II was tired
| wanted drink of water. So | came
to the old well.
Joanna" said Dora, hesitatingly,
ARE you hungry?'
Hungry? No. There's sort of
craving, though, on my stomach which
is next to it. | suppose"
Would you like something to eat?"
IL don't beg"
"Wait minute, Joanna"
Like an arrow Dora Oxgate sped
back into the house. where her mother
was just setting the teapot on the Ia
bic Fresh bak ed watlles steamed on
one side; hot biscuits were piled in
drifts of snow on the other.
For Mrs. Deacon Peabody and her
daughter Comfort, were come to tea,
and Mrs. Oxgate was hOusekeeper to
be excelled by none.
Come Dora, quick with that
water" said Mrs. Oxgate, land shut
he door.
Mother" said Dora, speaking in
slightly embarrassed tone. Joanna
Eiield is ont by the well! She is cold
and hungry. and"
Mrs. Oxgate's face hardened into
iiltS VI SlOuC NllNa NOliAlUIl tdJOuN
drew her skirts tight around her, with
an involuntary movement, and Mrs.
Peabody looked hard into the bowl of
the tea-cup.
Then let her stay cold and hungry.
Joanna Eliield is no associate for
either you or me, Dora! She ran away
from home. and acted with common
strolling play-actors-she has sung at
low concerts instead of keeping that
fine voice of hers for the temple of the
Lord, and people do say that she has
taken to drinking! Aud you expect TO
open my doors to such as hertz
But, mama" faltered Dora, half
affrighted by her own boldness, don't
you remember that He came to call,
not the righteous. but sinners to re-
pentence?"
How dare you quote the Scriptures
to me?' cried Mrs. Oxgate, her brow
clouding darby. Bring in that pail
of water at once, aud let us have no
more discussion.
Thus rebuffed Theodore Oxgate crept
back again into the frosty twilight, de-
jected and empty-handed.
"Ah," said Joanna Eldfeld, II
thought how 1t would be. Every body's
doors are shut against me"
lis il true. Joanna?" whispered
Dora. coming close up to her.
is what true?"
That You drink?"
"Of course it's true. You would
drink if you were driven as | am.
There are times when you could sell
your soul for chance to forget Aud
that chance is only to be found in
drink"
"Oh, Joanna, | am SO sorry for
you.
Sorry! Say that again, lass! People
have mostly left off being sorry for
me"
.'But listen, Joanna. Won't you try
to do different?"
Il am not so bad as folks think me,
except for the craving for drink. |
have been nothing worse than wild and
willfu.
Only when girl once gets on the
downhill. every man or woman thinks
it duty to give her another push!"
Then you will try to retrieve your
old self?"
How can H. What is there left for
me?'
Your superb voice, Johanna
you would have me sing myself in-
to responsibility, Ell? And in the mean
time should starve."
you need not sta rye, Joanna.
Here!'
Quick as lightning she drew a small
gold chain, with gold locket shaped
like a heart dangling at its end, from
her neck.
Dear Joanna, take this. 1t is worth
money. Sell it and use the money for
your needs.
Are YOU in earnest, Dora?'
OF course | am. Hush, mother is
calling me. ] must go!'
God bless you for this?' said Jo-
anna, huskily. And. Dora one word
more; let me kiss yJu, just once
BY way of answer Theodore OXgate
threw her arms around the tall GIRL
neck and pressed her soft red lips close
to the others cold me nth. And as she
did so something FLASHED on her cheek
a hot tear.
The next minute Joanna Eltield had
disappeared into the world of shadows
that were lowering over all the autumn
landscape. And as she went she muir
INJURED to herself
..Some ore believes in me yet! It's
a strange sensation, and yeti gives
one something to live for, after all!'
Dora! Theodore! Rhy don't you
answer? But no one thinks IT worth
while to pay any attention to Inc now
a-daysi'
It was Mrs. Oxgate shrill piping
voice, as. help'ess from paralysis, she
sat in her cushioned chair by the door
way.
s'What is it. mama?' Dora asked,
coming to the door.
The Oxgate farm house had drifted
sadly to decay. Fences had fallen;
gates hung creaking; sunny pasture
lands were neglected; grass meadows
had topped over with their own weight
of harvest.
The carriage with those grand peo-
pie that has bought 0lep1oOd Place.
4 gentleman dressed like the Prince o
Wales, and lsdy whose diamonds
flashed fit to blind one. Look the
carriage is stopping!
Shure's | live. the lady's coming
back, trailing her purple silk dress in
the dust like it was domestic ging-
ham.
She gave her apron 2 twitch and
tried to settle her scant skirts over her
poor useless feet as the tall, stately