Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-01-14

Shippers coming after her; she fancied
pale dead eyes opening on her out 81
the evening light,-old voices eallinp Il
her out OF a dead, past time, unknown
ana u~nrecorded! ait is mine; it is mine.
let it bel"
In the attic was a more cheerful
light cost from Birket's candles, Tie
cedar chest stood open; heavy odors
as from old long sealed-un snicss
mace the air like that of an oriental
chamber Dead perfumes, the breath
OF iaded dust, the smile and blush OF
long forgotten beauty The richly
nroidered heavy satin gown lay there.
the ioids spread out, the lace unfold.
&c, the pearl breach and faded looms
oil ribbon in the bodice, with its dim.
stll waist, its short rich sleeves.
An old, rich, dim dress Beauty
oead and gone, come forth and look
az u now! 1t was yoursl Behold il,
Were are yer Can We wear it now?
lie nave other robes--cerernents.
Dorothy clasped her hands. "Oh,'t
she cried out in n low breath. She
touched it r~everently. ''Oh! oh, Obi"
was IT. not a natural result that in a
httie whilesweet Dolly was being robed
IN tins wonderful garment,-Birket
and lair Miss Milton helping in the
There camea tap at the door, n ser.
want came in with a note for Dolly.
II beg pardon, but Mr.. Carleton said
| was to give this direct to YOU"
Dolly read the note with a blush and
then turned TO her aunt. Guy saws
| am to come down in the dress. He
WISHES TO see me in 1t. The Others
wish it too. Shall l? May II"
81 don't know. ! 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 camedo down. Amur.
mur OF admiration went round.
shall be burn incense?" said q voice;
Guys surely.
But Dorothy was not needing.
What was it she had heard2
f'ootsteps-footsteps creeping along
the dim rose walk outside, beneath the
mullioncd window; a sigh, then atap
on the panes. Dorothy! Doro-
thYv"
Waltz cried Miss Milton, author.
itative'y, as Guy Carleton turned to
90 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 deed2
A face was pressed against the win
dow, those were living eyes looking in.
Ihenin amoment those waiting heard
the great outer door open, the unbil-
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 htn, aud 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 a broad ribbon.
His eyes under shaggy brows shone
bold and dark-hIs hair looked as if
it were both strong and glossy in it's
MASSEY richness-it was not the dry,
juiceless hair of age. This apparition
came straight to Dolly.
"You 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
a cry,-it was Birket, who rushed for
ward and peered into t1is strange
guests face.
Master James! Master James Mil
ton!-and alive,-come home after
all these years."
"Hes; | am James Milton" He
looked down at her in ANNOYED curl.
osIty. 81 am Games Milton, but do
not remember you. am come to see
Dorothy once more.
He turned to Dorothy again and
sought TO take herhand. 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.
James Milton caught sight of the
paper, faded and yellow;-he darted
forward.
"Ah, yes" he screamed; sit is my
letter-the letter ! wrote TO Dorothy
long ago. See, ali, see! it is unread
the seal is not broken, she did not care
enough for me to read it, but il you
were to look within you would see my
name signed there-James Milton. l
wrote it,"
A pale and faded look crept into his
face; with gentle courtesy he restored
the letter he had snatched to the pale
girl.
"she was not always kind to me-"
he siyhed. "She was older than |; she
laughed at me-" A cold passion then,
as if worn out 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"
lie turned to Guy, who, with a feel
ing that this strange guest would need
his help soon, had stepped to the old
mans side.
II will rest now" he said feebly, 'in
one OF the old rooms. Thanks" He
drank the wine Guy brought him.
"No: not your arm-Dorothy's!"
Thus the strangest thing in the his
tory Of the old house on the Hudson
was the coming OF this gentle, strange
old mar to dwell in it, this sweet-voic-
ed, strange old man who might have
come out Of q lost century, but with
that dreadful look Of youth undimmed
in his face.
Dolly grew bewildered with the dou-
bic life she led. He would ask her to
put on the rich dress OF the Dorothy
OF his young love, and when wearingit
she sat beside him, he would hold the
unread letter-the letter whose seal
had never been broken-and gaze at
her with his young faithful eyes, OF
half n century's tears undimmed.
The tender young creature used TO
declare sometimes that they were two
figures stopped off from the old tapes
try to play once more the shadowy
farce ollie.
Guy was gone away now,-angry
with her that she would not share his
life. His ship was in the far-otf China
saau aud yvhan his few letters came