Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-15

farm house hung out their CHEEKY signal
behind the fringed cotton curtains, an
when the kitchen door opened you coul
;ee the blasting logs, the figures coming an
eoing like q miniature magic lantern.
It was Dora Oxgate that opened it an
came fitting out to the well with q scarle
shawl over her head and an empty ceda
pail In her hand. As her light feet pattere,
over the carpet Of autumn leaves in tn
pathway she sang d snatch OF some GOO,
o1d-fashionea hymn.
my goodness alivel What's that7 :"
For, a. the words thrilled from he
tongue, q tall, dark figure had arisen from
the low wooden bench under the apple-tre
whose boughs overhung the we'll.
Don't be alarmed" said q deep, swee
contr alto. with a scornful intonation of it,
sound. Its only me, Dora"
Joanna Elfield?"
Eyes, Joanna Elfield. What then? Hav,
to sit beneath the old apple-tree? If so
tell me SO ct once, and I'll quit"
you know l didn't mean that Joanna?'
Its hard to tell what people mean O.
don't mean nowadays" said Joanna, pick
ing at the fringe of herfrayed rag of ashawl
II was tired. wanted q drink of water
So I came to the old WELL"
Joanna" said Dora hesitatingly, Ear
you hungry"
hungry? No. There's a sort of crav
ing. though, on my stomach which is mex
to it, I suppose"
Would you like something to cal? ?"
II don't beg"
Wait q minute, JOANNA"
Like an arrow Dora Oxgate sped bach
into the house, where her mother Was JUS
setting the teapot on the table. Fresl
baked waf1es steamed one side; hot biscuit
was piled in drifts of snow on the other
For Mrs. Deacon Peabody and her daugh
| OAgate was a housekeeper to be excelled
by none.
Come, Dora, quick with that water, ,
said Mrs. Oxgate, land shut thedoor."
Mother" said Dora, speaking in q
slightly embarrassed tone, Joanna Ell
field is out by the well. She is cold and
hungry, and"-
Mrs. Oxgate's| face hardened into lines Of
stone. Miss Comfort Peabody drew he1
skirts close around her with an ~involun.
tary movement, and Mrs. Peabody looked
hard into the bowl of her teacup.
"Then let her stay cold and hungry.
Joanna Elfield 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. And
you expect me to open my doors to such as
her?"
"But. mamma" faltered Dora, half al
remember hat He came to call. not the
righteous, but sinners, to repentance?"
"How do you dare to quote Scriptures to
me?" cried Mrs. Oxgate, her brow clouding
darby. Bring in that pail Of water at
once, and let US have no more discussion"
Thus rebuffed, Theodore Oxgate crept
back again into the frosty twilight. detected
and empty-handed.
"Ah," said Joanna El6eld, II thought
how it would he. E~verybody's doors are
shut against me-"
us it true, JOANNA" whispered Dora,
coming close up to her.
lis what true?"
THAT you drink.
"Of course it's true. You would drink
il you were driven as I am. There are
chance to forget. And that chance is only
to be found in-drink!'
"Oh, Joanna. l am 80 sorry for you"
"Sorry! Say that again lass! People
have mostly left off being sorry for mel"
But listen, Joanna. Won't you try to
do different?"
II am not so bad as folks think me ex.
cept for the craving for drink. l have been
nothing worse than wild and willful. Only
when q girl once gets on the down-hill every
man or woman thinks it q duty to give her
a push" -.
"Then will you try to retrieve your old
self?"
How can I? What is there left for me?"
"Your superb voice, joanna
you would have IN. sing myself into
responsibility, eh? Aud in the meantime I
starve.
"You need not starve, Joanna. Here!"
Quick as lightning she drew a small gold
chain, with a gold locket shaped like a
heart dangling at it's end, from her neck.
Dear Joanna, take this. It is worth
money. Sell it and use the money for your
!
"Are you in earnest. Dora?"
''Of course T am. Hush! mother is call !
ng me. l must CO."
"God bless you for this" said Joanna,
"And, Dora-one word more; let
kiss you just once
By way Of answer Theodore Oxgate
her arms about the tall girls neck
md pressed her soft red lips close to the
old mouth. And as she did SO
.omething FLASHED on her cheek-a hot
ear.
The next minute, Joanna Elfeld had dis
appeared into the world of shadows that
vas lowering over all the Autumn land
,cape. And as she went she murmured to
"some one believes in me yet! It's a
strange sensation, and yet-it gives one
something to live for, after ALL"
e Il
Dora! Theodore! Why don't you
Bnt no one thinks it worth while
pay any attention to me nowadays"
1t was Mrs. Oxgate's ehrill, piping voice,
helpless from paralysis, she sat in her
cushioned chair by the doorway"
"What is it, mammal" Dora asked ;com-
ing to the door.
The Oxgate farmhouse had drifted sadly |
to decay. Fences had fallen; gates hung
sunny pasture lands were neg |
Lected; grass meadows had toppled over
their own weight of harvest.
1.-THE carriage with them grand people
hat has bought Glenwood Place. A gen.
dressed like the Prince o. Wales and
4 lady whose diamonds flashed fit to blind
one. Look! the carriage is stopping! Sure's
[ live. the lady's coming back, trailing her
silk dress in the dust like it was
domestic gingham."
She gave her apron a twitch and tried to
settle her scant skirts overher poor useless
as the tall, stately figure swept up to
the door.
'This is the Oxgate place, is it not?" the
lady asked in a deep, sweet voice, that be-
her at once
Dora answered promptly:
"Thls is the Oxgate place, and you are
Joanna Elfeld!"
Not Joanna ElHeld now, but Joanna
she replied. smiling. Here is my
husband. George: this is the friend I told
you OF, whose hand, ten years ago, lifted
out of the darkness, and set me in the
path.
DORA" ebe added, 'that night was the
point of my life. See! l have your
little gold chain with the heart yet. 1
know then that one human creature had
in me still, and it renewed the foun-
tain of life within me. Dora, you were my |
angel, God bless you for it,"
People wondered much why the Avenels
had Dora Oxgate so much with them, to
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