Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-12-04

s'1Vall, Il I must, must, I 's'pose-
John Darrows lis married. =
Married, Y cried Polly, turning pale.
II don't believe it. ?
's''haps you don't said Dorcas; 81
heard SO, anyway. =
Who told you?" asked Mrs. Davis, in
sharp tone.
: Never mind who told me-" answered
Dorcas, wisely; 81 hain't q tale bearer. =
Its lie, Dorcas Jones, 2 cried Polly,
hotly. I don't believe it =
It's the fnst time was ever accused
o1yin', said the worthy spinster, sano-
timoniously- But, then, seen as Tim
2 professor an you hain't, I'm charita-
BILE toward you. Yon don't like to be-
heve y, I know, fer you'n John wuz en-
gagged; an ?
"Dorcas Jones!' cried Polly; don't
You dare say that outside these walls.
John Darrows was no more to me than
the wind that blows .
Perhaps not, said Dorcas, ssbut
don't less quarrel, Polly. only come
to make your mother visit, an as .
church member itdon't look we'll for me
to fight I was only tellin' what I've
heard ..a
you've no right, Dorcas Jones, -
cried Polly, her quick temper now fully
ronsed-s'to tell any thing like that if
you did hear it. Such an affair as that
concerns no one but the actors, and I'd
thank gossipy tongues to leave my
name alone"
Dorcas' face flushed, and it was with
twitching fingers that she began to roll
up her work.
Polly Davis" said she, t.I'm slow to
anger an usually fergiyin'; but there is
times when even Christians feelin's
are touched, an that time hez come to
me. I'm jest goin' home an it'll be a
long time afore darken your doors
agin."
There, Dorcas," expostulated Mrs
Davis; do be sensible an stay. You
hain't going home; never mind Polly
Eyes, am,'' said Dorcas Jones, in her
excitement putting on her bonnet wrong;
stshe,s insulted me enough an won't
stand it any longer. I'm jest a-goin' -
Pouy>s voice was very fearful, rs she
said: 'sStay, Miss Jones; I'm sorry I
spoke SO sharply to you and beg your
pardon"
1.Beggin' pardons won't do no good
when you air called to count fer the way
you've treated me On the Lords day.
said Dorcas.
'tBut, Dorcas," interposed Mrs. Davis,
''Polly is sorry and SO am / for her
Please stay an I'll give you can O.
currants when You 60 home; you know
you had bad luck with yours
Eyes, Miss JONES' pleaded Polly;
please do; father will be SO pleased to
see you"
'Waal," said Dorcas, with an injured
air, you've used me bad an dunno.
But I guess I'll stay. 'Twould serve you
jest right, though, if I wouldn't
So she stayed, gossiping to her hearts
content about John Darrows, and no one
but Polly herself knew the dull pain
that was gnawing at her Polly's) very
soul.
Eyes," said Dorcas, sshe-s married, ,
sure pop. I shan't tell who told me, fer
it don't look we'll fer church member
to tell tales. It's gal nobuddy knows
an nobuddy cares, ] guess. John wuz
alwuz q young scapegoat anyhow. Tn
sure never thought but mighty little
Of him fer all his dandihed ways an
hanson face
tfWhat a wretched, never-ending day., -
Polly thought as she assembled the stairs
to her room after Dorcas had gone.
p The tears which had been threatening
to fall all day now burst their bounds,
and the pent-up food came in full force
as she leaned her head on the window
sill, in the privacy OF her own room.
Through the window came the perfume
Of apple-blossonas, bringing to mind q
May night, a year ago, when John Oar
rows had asked her to be his wife. She
remembered that it was just after sun
set, and she had been strolling through
her fathers orchard alone. She remem-
bered how she had come up to the fence,
her hands full of the dainty blossoms,
and found John waiting for her; how he
quoted, half in jest half in earnest, from
Jean 1ngelow's 'tMilkmaid::' :.
Then, as fingered on the gate
And she came up like coming fate,
1saw my picture In her eyes
Clear dancing eyes, more black than sloes,
Cheeks like the mountain pink that Grows
49, Among white headed majesties!"
Then he had tucked her unresisting
hand under his arm, and led her away.
And how her foolish little heart had
beat so tnmnltuously when he whis-
pered his love to her. How truthful his
eyes we're as he bent their gaze upon
her. Surely the owner OF such eyes
as those could never be false to any
trust-and yeti She remembered with
what love in her sonl she had promised
to be faithful to him unto death, and
then he had kissed her. Polly put her
finger on her brow; she could almost
Fon - III