Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-10-03

hLESS MY SOUL. WHO
 my absence I somehow daily expected him now, and the thought that he should come and not find me there nearly drove me dis tracted. You may think me foolish and bold, dear reader, to say nothing of being over-confident in an entire strangers prom ises, to have chung with such tenacity to so frail hope, but fervently pray you may never have felt the want of a friend as I did
 It was while debating these thoughts in my mind that Maggie entered to inform me I must get ready to go to MT. Kranz in the morning; it was already too late to go this evening.
 l made no answer to her remarks, but after dusk that evening, impelled by some restless spirit, wrapped Q shawl about me and stole out for walk In passing through the hall encountered the old gentleman I knew to be Mir. Caledon. He stopped short on seeing me and threw up his hands with gesture of astonshment.
 "Biess my soul, " he exclaimed, "who is it :"
 "I am Dorcas Lynn," I answered, sur prlsed at his words,
 "Dorcas Lynn" he unused, thoughtfully. then observing my plain dress and evidently supposing me to be one of the servants he said, more quietly: "EXcuse me, little girl, but you greatly rcsemblcd my-some one used to know. am mistaken. Don't mind it, child" and he went on, leaving me strangely disturbed at his words. l wan dered out into the din, dreary shrubbery, now leafless and shorn of it's beauty. The wind blew in fitful gusts, now roaring through the trees in a fury, now dying away to breath. Almost pncanscieusly had wandered to the shore of the lake where I could sec the boats gently rocking on the water. had been at the heights five years, but in all that time had never en- tered one of those boats; but a strong i'm pulse made me determined tonight to take a sail in one. 1 had often watched them rowing on tho lake, and felt sure could manage one easily enough. Accordingly I unfastened one and got in, needless that stif breeze was blowing now, and that I knew nothing about rowing. I took up an oar and attempted to row, but it was clumsy work, found, and the next thing did was to drop it into the water. I was somewhat frightened at this, for tho boat drifted swiftly out from the land and I could not see how I could reach the shore again with out the missing oar.
 I sat quite still, however, and the boat drifted on, borne by the wind, which was blowing from the land. A gale was spring ing up, saw, for the boat rocked fearfully, and chung to the side lest should fall out. I should never get back to the shore, I said to myself. l should be drowned in the lake. But after all the thought was not so terri ble. had nothing to live for, I said. Every one at Caledon except the servants would be relieved to know they were rid of my pres ence forever, And then suddenly remem- bered that if died the mystery which sur rounded me would never be cleared up. Who was, what was, and what strange clue kept me at Caledon would never be known. Even should Mir. Dudley return and discover, as he had prom ised, this secret, it's knowledge could never benefit me I should long since have fur nished feod for the fishes in the lake where once in passion had wished Irma Barrett might be.
 All these thoughts flashed through my brain in the few moments chung to the boat that was now being tossed like an egg shell in the center of the lake by the fear full tempest that was raging. Every mo- ment expected to be thrown out into the boiling waves, when suddenly saw 8 boat put out from the shore and row straight for the place where was. Some one had seen me from the house, conjectured, though it seemed improbable, as it was now dark and finc rain falling with the wind made it unreasonable for any one to venture forth.
 watched the boat as it neared me, and could faintly discern single person in the bow. In my anxiety to see who he was leaned out over the edge of the boat, and suddenly losing my balance, fell out head long into the water. I felt . rush of cold water, blinding spray covered me com pletely, half suffocating me; then I felt a strong arm grasp me, and was lifted into a boat beside dark form and knew I was again safe.
 My preserver did not speak, but did not wonder, for it required his utmost efforts to manage the boat and guide it to shore But suddenly as it had risen the wind lulled and only gentle breeze swept the lake, The sky, which had been overcast, now partly cleared and the moon shone through, by whose light could see my companion's face. Surely there was something familiar in that face-some long-remembered inea- ment. It could not be ! ~ it must be Oliver Dudley who was with me. And at thnt in- stant he spoke I knew that voice had not waited years for those same kindly tones. "Dorcas," he was saying, t'little Dorcas, and is it thus I find youl'
 Somehow hIs words seemed strangely cool and calm. could hardly speak, so tumultuous were the feelings that rushed over me.
 ''Mr. Dudleyr' cried, springing forward and clutching his arm, eagerly. t'It is you, really youl Oh, how glad amp poured forth this in torrent, still holding fast to his arm the while lest he might vanish as suddenly as he had come. But his answer was very different from what expected.