Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1891-12-16
Dora.


was no one. But l thought as much
of Harold as one human being could
think Of another, and | knew he was
wrOnged, aud felt that Mrs. Robling
had done dreadful thing when she
took Squire Halsted for u second hus-
band, and let him rule her, spend her
money and ill-treat her handsome boy.
l had my share of it, too, for while
Mr.. Robling lived, and while she was a
widow, l was like daughter of the
house. But no sooner had she come
back from her honeymoon trip than all
was altered. The Squire looked at me
cOldly, and heard him ask Mrs. Hal
sted who was.
Her mother died when she was
BORN" Mrs. Halsted said, land l took
the baby to my nursery, where Harold
lay in his cradle"
More fool you, nay dear" said the
Squire.
THE father went away aud was lost
at sea-so they said-and l kept the
child"
you must remember that she will
need to earn her bread" said the
Squire. "She is not lady. Let the
servants keep her in their part of the
house ana oh her her duties as
waitress.
"Oh, Mr.. Halsted, l cannot do that!n
cried the bride.
my dear, am master now" said
her new husband.
The poor lady was helpless. She
had no longer any control of her own
money. l was but years old, Harold
was the same age, and a terrible life
we had of it. | was very we'll used in
the kitchen, but felt cast down and
degraded. l wore big crash aprons
that covered me from head to foot in
stead of my pretty muslin and silk
attire. l was delicate, and waiting is
hard work when your wrists are slim.
Mrs. Halsted did all she could for
me. l used to hear her pleading with
the Squire to let her send me to board
ing school to learn to be teacher, but
he called her little goose, and she
fancied him very wise.
But for Harold | should never have
known anything, as after school he
used to come to me and teach me what
he had learned himself.
"That's right, Master Harold" cook
would whisper. tits good deed you
are doing. God spare you. 1 was
never taught to read meself on account
of an evil-minded step-father iv me
own that put me to sarvice before
could get schoOlin,' and l know the
loss"
And not a servant but would have
waited in my place, for they said l was
too small to carry dishes; but the
cruel Squire would have me come in to
make sure he was obeyed. Mrs. Hal
sted really felt badly about it, l know.
But two little girls soon came, and then
little boy, and why should she care
for me ?"
But l am wandering away from the
morning when Harold RObling, Just IS
that day, walked down the garden
path in the gray morning light, and
with him, choking down my sObs. For
now the one being l loved was going
away from me, perhaps forever.
1t was only 5 o'clock and no one
was up. The grass was wet with dew
and there were only few pink streaks
in the sky TO tell the day was coming
We did not dare to speak until we got
out of hearing of the house, but then
said:
"Oh, Harold what will you do with
no money and no friends-alOne in the
world ?"
MANY a young fellow has done the
same sort of thing" Harold said. enc
man with his limbs and senses neeC
suffer, and l mean to make my fortune
But had rather work in trenches fol
my daily bread than live in Squire
Halsted's house, and with a mother hC
has bewitched into doing whatever hC
says, whatever it may be. 1t was {
crime to make a servant of you, little
sister. But remember, the moment
have power in my hands all that shall
be altered. shall write to you anC
you shall know just how am getting
along"
But now we had got to the wharf
where he was to take a little marke
boat to New York, and was obliged Il
leave him, for he did not want tn,
Squire to find out what he had done
until he was fairly out of reach, and
then he put his arm about my wais
and kissed me.
Good by, little sister, he said, good
by, Dora, my pet. Keep up a gooC
heart and never forget to answer my
letters" And he was off, and I wen
home, weeping as though my hear
would break,
There was a terrible time at tn
house when they found he was gone
and'the Squire swOre he should neve
enter his doors again. But the Squire
daughters who hated Harold as thei
father did, though he was their owl
mothers child, said they were glad b,
was gone. And only l remembered him
him very long. a weak woman wa
Mrs. Halsted, and her husband ha,
got her under his power. The way h
managed her has always made M
think that there was something il
magnetism or hypnotism. She scenes
to have lost her senses or to haV
grown mentally blind, as he led he
where he would.
Just about this time l fell very ii
and when 1 grew better, the Squire
knowing that / was good at my needl
made a seamstress of me. ! wa
ashamed to say why, but it was be
cause ] looked rather stylish and wa
called pretty, and 80 many question
were asked me by guests. AS seam
stress I could stay in my upper ROOF
! and work. ] was so thankful for tn
changel Now could read little ant
; be more to myself. 1 made the finer,
for the young ladies of the family, an
no one troubled me,
Once, indeed, rich old gentleman
> having got my story from the good oil
cook, sought me out and made prof.
ositiOn of marriage, saying 1t was
shame that such q young woma
should live as 1 did. But / thanke
him and declined the offer. was M
unhappy now, except that l pinned T,
news from Harold, for in all these yea
no word had come from him-none
those letters he had promised ma.
I felt sure he was not dead, and
J was very natural that he should forg
TO write, but my heart had no rest, I
was "a years old by this time, and
a oil that time much might have ha
pened. My pillow was often wet wi
" tears from thoughts of hlm--fancles
what he might have suffered, and Ion
: ing to meet him or only see him fro
afar but once again. At last ne
came. Mrs. Halsted came runni