Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1888-06-27

/, mortal (nature," added Dr. DelIer
"And& really think Dorcas has done
it all Her influence has been won
derQi A." ..- 49,.
| YShe deserves great deal of credit,
liam sure" said Mr.. Paley. u
lehould like to see her, and thank her.
W've brought few presents for her--a
4 warm shawl, silver suuff-box, and
black stuff gown"
| DR.. Defer gasped little.
!. ''She-I don't think she takes
snufl'' said he feebly.
GAN these nurses do <.
"Yes-but there She nowi"
| The door opened and Dorcas Wyn-
ter eameiin carrying a student lamp,
which she had just filed ahdsrimmed
anew. -
i Mr.. Paley dropped the silver snuff
box In as!onishment.
81 beg your pardon. l am surel'
stammered he.
| And when the doctor suggested
that the nurse had better accompany
Iyoung Guy on the journey home, she
assented without remembrance.
Nurse, indeed" said Miss Sophro.
mia Paley, a gaunt high-featured
damsel of fifty. "As ifa pretty, Sim
Ipering chit OF thing like that could
understand anything about nursingl'
"She does. though" said Guy.
''She's brick, Aunt Soph. And
don't believe l should be alive now if
1t wasn't for her."
| "You are quite we'll enough by this
time to dispense with her services"
said Miss Sophronia. "a boy that
eats the quantity of mullins and plum
liam that you did at tea last night
cannot call himself an invalid any
longer. 'She has been here q month,
land" -.-"
"But she's not to go away for all
that, Aunt Soph." said Guy, who was
devouring roasted chestnuts like o
dragon, Ask papa. "She's to be
Mrs. Paley one of these days, and
Mrs. Paley" Aunt Sophronia
turned green and yellow. alta come
to that then, has ity Well, I've sus-
pected 1t this some time. And all I've
got to say is"
"Scven years from now," said Guy,
with his mouth full OF chestnuts, II
shall be twenty one and she will he
twenty six. Not enough difference to
ksignify. And" he, uttered with
grin. as his aunt floSnced wrathfully
out of the room, "you will get your
walking ticket, old hdy, when I'm
married. I'd as soon have a deaths
time" ~
He was sitting curled up in the
easiest chair in the library, reading a
book, half an hour afterwards, when
the door opened. and his father came
in. =.
Something In the paternal glance
And movement struck the boy.
81 never saw father look so young
and bright BEFORE" he thought.
Something must have pleased him
very much Perhaps Aunt Soph Ia
going to marry some old fogy or other,
and the coast will be clear"
$50 yCu know all about it, Guy"
said Mr.. Paley, ialsshing.
about what, sirP"
About my engagement
The book fell with o crash to the
hoer,
''Youf Nhsl, fstheri"
HAt least you told Aunt Sophron Ia
about n Well, l am glad pou are
pleased. my, boy, and Dorcas says she
Will always love you as if you were
her own SOD. AS general ching,
don't approve of stepmothess, but you
and Dorcas love each ot.lner so dearly
that Why, Guy, what is the mat
teri" for the boy bad rushed out OF tho
room with an Odd sufiocating sensa-
tion in his throat.
He met Dorcas coming up the gar
den path with bunch of scarlet holly
berries in her hand.
"Dorcas," he cried. ''Dorcas, you
ara as false as the serpeEt-womanl
You beau"
She comprehended him In an in.
slant, though his voice was choked
into silence.
She flung away the scarlet cluster
and put her arms tenderly about hi m.
"Dear Guy" she whispered, 81
love him; but if you are unwllling-if
! 1t takes away any of the home-feeling
/. for you-it only remains for you to say
SO, and"
Her voice died away, her head
dropped on his shoulder.
There was an instant's silence, and
then Guy said bravely:
well, so let it be. My father is
trump, and you are the only woman
alive who is worthy of him. Aud /
suppose people would say six years
was too much difference in our ages
although how they're to get over the
fifteen years between you and father l
don't know" he added with rather a
forced laugh.
And then and there Guy Paley
learned his first lesson in self-abnega-
ton.
Dorcas picked up her holly berries
and went into the library, where her
promised husband stood.
Il have just seen Guy" she said.
''lsn't he pleased1"
ayes, think he is" hesitated Dor
cas-. Guy is strange boy-a noble
nature. am not sure, Horace" she
added with dimness in her eyes,
"that l would have married you if l
could not always have had Guy with
me-"
"And my true wife will be Guys
true motherl' said Mr.. Paley drawing
Dorcas tenderly to his side.