Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-10-16

THE SWEET FACE.

Dreary and chilly; a dying year yet
the windows Of Mrs. Oxgate's old brown
farm house hung out their CHEEKY sig
mails behind the fringed cotton curtains,
and when the kitchen door opened you
! could see the blazing logs, the figures
coming and going, like miniature
magic-lantern.
It was Dora Oxgate that opened it,
and came fitting out to the we'll, with
scarlet shawl over her head. As her
light feet pattered over the carpet of
autumn leaves in the pathway she sang
snatch of somo good old-fashioDed
hymn. a.Is Ta
my goodness alive! What's that ?"
For, as the words thrilled from hor
tongue, tall, dark figure had risen
from the low bench under the apple
tree, whose boughs overhung the we'll.
Don't be alarmed" said u deep,
sweet contralto, with scornful intona-
tion in its sound. ''Its ouIy me, Dora"
Joanna Elfeld 2"
Eyes, Joanna Elfeld. What then ?
Have | fallen SO low that l am no
longer worthy to sit beneath the old
apple tree ? If so, tell me at once, and
I'll quit"
"You know | didn't mean that,
Joanna"
'It's hard to tell what people mean or
don I mean nowadays" said Joanna,
picking at the fringe of her frayed rag
Of a shawl. II was tired. | wanted a
drink of water. So l came to the old
well.r
Joanna" said Dora. hesitatingly,
"are you hungry"
Hungry? No. There's sort of
craving, though, on my stomach which
is next to it, | suppose"
Would you like something to eat ?"
II don't beg"
"Wait minute, Joanna"
Like an arrow Dora Oxgatc spod
back into the house, where her mother
was just setting the teapot on the table.
Fresh baked waflles steamed on the side
hot biscuits were piled in drifts of snow
on the other.
For Mrs Deacon Peabody aud her
daughter Comfort, were to come to tea
and Mrs Oxgate was housekeeper TO
be excelled by none.
Come, Dora, quick, with that wa
ter" said Mrs. Oxgate, "and shut the
door"
"Mother," said Dora, speaking in a
slightly embarrassed tone, Joanna Ell
field is out by the we'll ! She is cold and
hungry, and"
Mrs Oxgate's face hardened into
lines of stone. Miss Comfort Peabody
drew her skirts tight around her. with
an involuntary movement, and Mrs.
Peabody looked hard into the bowl Of
the tea-cup.
"Then let her stay cold and hungry.
Joanna El6eld is no associate for either
you or me, Dora She ran away from
home, and acted with common strolling
play-actors rs-she has sung at low con-
certs instead of keeping that fine voice
of hers for the temple of the Lord, and
people do say that she has taken TO
drinking! And you expect me to open
my doors to such as her y
"But, mamma" faltered Dora, half
afTrighted by her own boldness. don't
you remember that he came 10 call not
the righteous, but sinners to repent
ance n fa 38a
"Hov dare you quote the Scriptures
to me y cried Mrs. Oxgate, ber brow
clouding darkly. Bring in that pail
of water at once, and let us have no
more discussion
Thus rebuffed Theodore Oxgate crept
back again into the frosty twilight, de-
jected and empty handed.
"Ah, said Joanna Elfeld, thought
how it would be- Everybody's doors
are shut against me-"
"Is it true, Joanna?" whispered
Dora, coming close up to her.
'Is what true 7"
"That you drink 2"
''Of course it's true" You would
drink if you we're driven as I am !!
There are times when you could sell
your soul for chance to forget! And
that chance is only to be found in
drink p
"Oh, Joanna, am SO sorry for you"
"Sorry Say that again, lass Peo-
pie have mostly left of being sorry for
me-"
"But listen, Joanna. Won't you try
TO do different 2"
II am not SO bad as some folks think
me, except for the craving for drink. ]
have been nothing worse than wild and
willful. Only when girl once gets
on the down hill, every man or woman
thinks it duty to give her another
push p
Then win you try to retrieve your
old self r
"How can l? What is there left for
me r.
"Your superb voice, Joanna y
"You would have me sing myself in
to responsibility, eb And iu the mean
time should starve."
| lyon need not starye Joanna