Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-07-03
HIS INTENDED BRIDE.
Very Unexpectedly She Became
His Stepmother.

Very Unexpectedly She Became
His Stepmother.
"Hush, Dorcas Is that rainl 1t sounds
as II some genii were dashing pals of water
against the easements"
'Irs rain, Guy. The equinoctial storm,
you know"
Sand that dreary moaning down the
chimney-is 1T windf"
The boy shivered little and drew the
bedclothes up around his chin. The red
flames from the blazing log on the hearth
danced up and down like a magic lantern;
the shaded lamp burned steadily on che
table. Dorcas Wynter stitched quieA1y
away at her sewing without looking up.
at must be an awful tempest, Dorcas,"
uttered the Lad, as fresh gust Of wind
seemed to shake the octagonal tower to its
very foundations.
at is, Guy. heard old Captain Lake say
that the tide had not been so high since the
year the Royal Victoria was wrecked OF
Paine Point"
"It is better to be here, even with
broken Leg" said Guy Paley, slightly lift
ing his eyebrows, ethan out at sea in such
q blow as this"
"a good deal better Guy"
''Not that am a coward, Dorcasl" cried
the boy. "There are worse things than
storm at sea, and have an instinct that
shall be sailoryet But this sickness has
taught moths sickness and you, Dorcas-
that it's better to go for thing in an hon.
est, Straightforward way than to try to
reach 1t by sneaking. But l always sup
posed it was fine thing TO run away to sea,
or else shouldn't have tried the get-out-of-
e-window-by- midnight dodge and broken
my leg. Pm wiser now.''
Dorcas smiled at him with melting hazel
eyes and rose-red lips, revealing a line of
pearls.
"Poor Guyi" said she. SIT was hard
lesson, wasn't it,"
81 think 1 needed st, Dorcas. II ever
there was a thorough paced young rufian
It was Ip' groaned the boy. "But, you see,
nobody ever talked to me. Seedlings with
out end got, grant you, but no one talked
common sense to me before. You are the
only one who seemed to think me worth
reasoning with; and you shall see, Dorcas,
that / am worth the trouble. Once I'm up
from this scrape III tackle my lessons in
real earnest and try TO do something better.
And, say, Dorcas-"
eyes, Guy"
you're the prettiest girl ever saw"
''Nonsense, Guy"
''Oh, but you are, and the sweetest and
LlOob bCuSlDlOs Cdn lsliilh nOW yOu over
came to be housemaid in a place like
this"
Dorcas colored little.
''Shall tell you, Guyl 1 came as gov.
erness to the primary department, but l
had no discipline, they told me. The younger
boys did exactly as they pleased. I've al
ways thou ght that Mrs. Vail, who succeed
ed to the position, had something to do
about the bad reports of my mismanage-
ment that reached DIR. Delfers ears. But
that can't be proved; neither can it be
helped. / was alone here and friendless,
and was glad to accept a vacant position
under the housekeeper to mend linen, care
for the occasional cases In the infirmary
and make myself generally useful"
''I knew you were q ladyp' exultantly
cried the boy. II could see 1t in your face"
81 would rather you would call me a true
woman, Guy, than q lady," said Dorcas,
moving the lamp few inches farther back,
80 that the light would not shine in Guys
eyes.
"But say, Dorcas, hold old are your
''RathOr young, / am afraid, Guy-only
nineteen"
Sand I am fourteen, Dorcas. Will you
wait seven years for metz
''Guyp
'T shall be twenty-one then, and my own
CdbClAy o0QON tuO DOJ
work like slave to get good profession,
and IL you will marry me, Dorcas, I'll make
the best husband that ever was to you, for
I'm desperately in love with you, that am"
DorcRs burst into laughter.
"Guy," she said, "what a child you arr"
''But you do love me, don't youl''
ayes, of course love you; but not q bit
more than do Cecil Parker or little Frankie
Gaines"
,'Dorcasr'
s'Well, a trifie more perhaps, because I've
had all the care of you these four weeks,
and you've really behaved very decently,
butt
'iPromise me, Dorcas."
II won't, Guy"
"we're engaged, all the same,p said Guy,
with deep sigh of relief; ''its a bargain.
And now you may get me my Cruel"
ayes, Mr. Paley," said DR.. Defer, with a
nod of his specialized brows, ''that wild boy
OF yours is a different creature. And the
infrmary nurse has done it all. Not to
mention the credit the doctor gives her for
keeping down the fever and managing the
troublesome splints. He was the worst boy
in the school don't mind admitting tc
you now that was contemplating expelling
him from our members"
admitted Mr.. Paley. 'But his aunts spoiled
him. He never had any bringing up Il
speak Of"
IBut this illnessseems to have exerted q
wonderful influence over his moral nature
added DR.. Defer. "And really think Dor
cas- has done It. Her influence has been
wonderful"
''She deserves a great deal OF credit,
am sure" said Mr.. Paley. 81 should like to
see her and thank her. I've brought few
presents for her-a warm shawl, q silver
snuff-box and black stun gown"
DR.. Defer gasped little.
s'She-I don't think she takes snuhi !"
said he, feebly.
GAN these nurses do"
"Yes-but there she Is now"
The dooropened and Dorcas Wynter came
IN, carrying student lamp, which she bad
just filed and trimmed anew.
Mr. Paley dropped the silver snutf-box In
astonishment.
II beg your pardon, am surer' STAN,
mered he.
And when the doctor suggested that the
nurse had better accompany young Guy or
the journey home she assented without re
monstrance.
s.Nurse, indeedps said Miss sophronis
Paley, gaunt, high-featured damsel oil
fifty. 'As II a pretty simpering chit of 4
thing like that could understand any thins
about nursingl"
sshe does, though" said Guy. ssShe'l
q brick, Aunt Soph. And / don't be
lieve should be alive now II 1t wasn't FOL
herr
''You are quito wen enough by this time