The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-12-24

with rOunQ, rosy IaCe, anO sparkling,
shrewe, yet kindly black eyes, and her
dress, when outer wrappings were re-
moved, was neat almost to primness.
John was speeches. with admiration.
He stood like school boy, blushing
and awkward.
at was you," she said, "I'd sit
down."
Soon after the horse was provided
tor, they had tea. 1t put more life
into the man, and she told John that
she had come to Turkey creek canyon
ty take up claim. She had not been
afraid to travel alone, but the storm
had caught her, and, thanks to him,
she was safe. She said she was New
Englander, but not from Maine. She
was rather reticent about herself.
When the clock struck twelve both
started and blushed. 1t was "spark-
ing time" in New England, and
Christmas morning at that.
At first both looked grave. Then
they laughed. " It's no use talking
of bed time" said she, $50 we may
as we'll prepare to sit here all night
and talk. I'm sorry to rob you of
your rest, but you look strong, and |
guess it won't hurt you"
Christmas morning broke. The storm
had passed. The sun laughed in the
heavens and the sky was as blue as if
it were June. They stood on the door
step and viewed the splendid panorama.
Then they vent into the house. John
sat on. the bed and whitfield !; the
woman had insisted On getting break
fast. The exercise flushed her cheeks,
and John stole furtive and admising
glances at her. She was vaguely like
somebody he had seen before.
They sat down, one on each side of
the table. She heaped his plate, and
then she leaned her head on her
hand, and her face paled and her
voice trembled.
John Roach" she said The had
not told her his name), "what are you
doing here7 Why are you not at home
with your people7"
The man started as if shot. His
face turned white, through all the
brown that was there.
"Who are you,'' he said hoarsely.
g that you know me? Who are you p
The woman leaned forward shading
her evec with her hand
"John, don't you know me?
"Dotty Waters" he said. Oh! my
God!'
Then he crossed quickly to her and
lifted her up in his arms, trembling
the while as if palsy-stricken.
"Why, Dorothy! Dotty!' he said,
"they told me you had died OF fever
in the marshes-that was long ago.
more than twenty years. Have you
come back to life again, Dotty, like
them folks in the Bible, and was ii
true that you said you'd never marry
me3 His eyes were misty she freed
herself from his embrace, drew her
chair near bis and took both his hands
in hers. Her eyes were wet too.
q "No, John," she said, softly, al did
not die of fever, and I never loved any
one but you, and"
Then Dorothy Waters broke down,
and was comforted like child, and
those two old lovers sobbed out their
hearts joy in that lonely cabin on
Christmas morning.
1t is needless to relate how John
and Dotty had been lovers from child
hood; how evil tongues had lied to
him on his return from the war, and
his simple heart believed them. Why
tell of.the long anguish these two had
suffered in that score of years. The
world knows these stories to we'll.
1t needed no explanation to make
John understand that Dorothy had
come on purpose to seek him. The
story of the night before vanished into
thin air and was forgotten.
He took her as the best Christmas
gift God ever gave to man, and when
he raised her face and kissed her, he
registered a VOW in his heart which ne
will keep until the breath leaves him.
1t was his marriage vow.