Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-04-10
DOROTHY'S ROMANCE.
STORY Of a Letter That Came
Forty Years Too Late.

Dorothy Field looked very sweet and
vdemure, as with her father, old Squire
Field, 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 it would
not make itself quite so obtrusive. But
on this May morning no such rebellious
thoughts were in her mind, for she en-
tered into the gently-beguiling mood of
nature, and her heart was full of sun
shine.
AS they neared the rather stately
looking church, little groups were seen
coming from all directions. For every
one in Framleigh went to church. Al
though the congregation was not large,
it was on the whole a wel1-to-do one.
For the inhabitants of this little village,
most of whom were descended from a
few aristocratic old families, prided
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 Gray's
pew. Surely, never before had she seen
this tall, elegant young man, with the
pleasant eyes and sunny hair. And as
she looked from him to her good-nature !,
awkward brother, it 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
~deocon, and as she was singing in her
sweet soprano voice ''Sweet fields be-
yond the swelling flood" she looked
over toward the deacon's pew to see if
the new occupant were singing, and
finding his dark eyes fixed on her with
a calm, interested gaze, this simple coun-
try girl blushed and nearly lost her
place.
At the various dinner tables in Franz
leigh that day, this young man was
spoken of with more or less interest
1t became generally known that he was
a cousin of the deacon's wife and had
been studying at the medical school in
Cambridge. but was now obliged to give
his eyes a 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
grieved that it was too late in the
season to have a sugar party, that she
might ask Mr.. Deane; 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 bashfu1
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 thrill of interest as
he wondered if he should see the sweet
faced girl who had sung in the choir on
Sunday. And when he entered the
parlor, almost the first person he saw
was Dorothy, looking very charming and
pensive in a dainty figured brocade
dress which had belonged to her mother.
!. Rebecca, the hostess, ushered him in
and introduced him to every one in the
room. Then Robert did something
which squite shocked the feelings of
Framleigh society. On one side of the
room all the maidens were sitting, while
on the opposite side were all the young
men, looking awkward enough in the
straight-backed 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 a seat ON the
girls side Of the room, between Dorothy
and little Ruth Hawks. and began talk
ing t. them IS If Wy much at ease, .