The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-06-12

DOROTHY'S ROMANCE.
Story of Letter That Came
Forty Years Too Late.

deinure, as with her father, old Squire
Held, and her tall, rather loosely hung
brother Andrew, she walked to church
one Sunday morning forty years ago.
The little village OF Framleigh was al
ways quiet, yet on Sunday mornings it
seemed even more peaceful than usual.
Dorothy was sometimes, a little OPP
pressed by the calm and wished ftwould
not makei itself quite so obtrusive. But
on this May morning no such rebellious
thoughts were in her mind, for sheen
tered into the gently-beguiling mood OF
nature, and her heart was full Of sum
shine.
As they neared the rather stately
looking church, little groups were seen
coming from all directions. For every
ono in Framlcigh went to-church. Al
though the congregation was not large,
it WAS on the whole q well-to.do one.
For the inhabitants OF this little village,
most OF whom were descended from a
few aristocratic old families, pridcd
themselves on this fact and kept. up
their good old names
As Dorothy from her place in the
choir looked over the familiar faces
which showed themselves over the high.
straight pews, her attention was caught
by an unfamiliar face in Dea Grays
pew. Surely, never before had she seen
this tall, elegant young man, with the
pleasant eyes and sunny hair. And as
she loolsed from him TO her good-naturel !,
awkward brother, 1T seemed to her that
Andrews coat had never fitted SO badly.
Occasionally, during the service, she
glanced demurely over her hymn book
at the new face beside the staid old
deacon, and as she was singing III her
sweet soprano voice Sweet fields be-
yond the swelling flood" she looked
over toward the deacon's pew to see if
tho now occupant were singing, and
finding his dark eyes fixed on her with
calm, interested gaze, this simple eeun-
try girl blushed and nearly lost her
place.
At the various dinner tables in FRAN
Ugh that day, this young man was
spoken Of with moro or less interest.
1t became generally known that he was
cousin of the deacon's wife and had
been studying at the medical school in
Cambridge. but was now obliged to give
his eyes rest
The blooming damsels of Framleigh,
who outnumbered the young men Of the
village, were especially interested in
the stranger. Rebecca Thompson, a
good-natured, red-cheeked girl, who
was Hospitality inclined, was much
grieyed that it was too late in the
season TO have a sugar party, that she
might ask Mr.. Deanc; but finally de-
cided to content herself with gather
ing" which meant special meeting OF
the SWANS and maidens of Framleigh,
in the large old parlor, where they
played "fox and geese" or "around the
chimney" and ate apples and cake or
popped corn. The gathering" would
break up at ten o'clock, when those OF
the youths who were not too bashful
would ask their favorite Mehitables or
Abigails If they might see them home.
This kind OF gayety was quite new to
the young Harvard student, and al
though he. went in rather superior
mood, thinking to be mildly amused by
the harmless gambols OF these country
people, yet he felt a thrill of interest as
he wondered II he should see the sweet
aced girl who had sung in the choir on
,unday. And when he entered the
3arlor, almost the first person he saw
vas Dorothy, looking very charming and
..cnsive in dainty figured brocade
ress which had belonged to her mother.
Rebecca, tho hostess, ushered him In
and introduced him to every one in the
DOM. Then Robert did something
which quito shocked the feelings o.
Framleigh society On one side of the
room all the maidens were sitting, while
ON the opposite side were all the young
uen, looking awkward enough in the
STRAIGHTFORWARD chairs, and dressed IN
their best clothes. For this was the
way in which the guests always were ar
ranged at the gatherings" until the
games began. But Robert with an easy
graceful manner took scat on the
girls side of the room, between Dorothy
and little Ruth Hawks, and began talk
ing to them as il very much at ease, ;
proceeding which caused surprised
fiutter on one side of the room and strucl
CONSERVATION on the other.
But when they began to play games
the chilly air OF reserve which seemed
to cncircle the company, was changed
to one of merry good humor. From tn,
moment when Dorothy's clear, shy eye
looked into his, as she took the cat
cradle of his hands, Robert had feel
ing Of exhilaration and knew that h
should enjoy himself And when he lef
Dorothy at her own door, he felt yer,
joyful as he walked home to the dca
cons, and it seemed TO him that Their
was nothing moro charming than coun
TN village IN Maya