The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-05-01


thankful for the change Now l could
read little and be more to myself
made the finery for the young ladies of
the family, and no one troubled me.
| Once. indeed, rich old gentleman,
having somehow got my story from
| good old cook, sought me out and made
me proposition of marriage, saying it
was a shame that such an elegant woman
should live as did. But thanked him
and declined his offer. l was not I'M
happy now, except that 1 pinned for news
of Harold, for in all these years no word
| had come from him-none of those let
ters he had promised.
! felt sure he was not dead, and it was
| very natural that he should forget to
write: but my heart had no rest. He
was twenty-six years old by this time.
and in all that time much might have
happened
Ny pillow was often wet with tears
from thoughts of him-fancies of what
he had suffered, and longing to meet
him, or only see him from afar but once
again.
At last news came. Mrs. Halstead
came running into my room wild with
joy.
"News of my boyi" she said, holding
letter toward me.
II thought you had forgotten all about
him, madam" said.
was sorry the next moment, for she
burst into tears and faltered through her
sobs:
"You don't know what it is to be the
wife of man who dominates your will!
never have forgotten or ceased to re-
| gret other things" Then she wiped her
eyes and said: But as far as Harold
goes. it is all over. He has written to
me. He is rich-really rich. He has
made fortune in California, and he is
coming home to see me. He is in New
York and will be here tomorrow. The
squire is pleased; the girls are wild to
see him; his little brother is delighted
She ran out of the room again, look
ing young and happy, and l sat down to
my machine, swallowing a great lump
that had risen in my throat.
He had not written to me. Well, /
was only servant, and he was a rich
man now. They were rejoicing in his
coming for that reason-the squire and
his children He was a very different
person from the poor Harold Robling
who went away.
Il expect he will give us lots of pres
ents," heard one of the girls say. IAN
older brother who is rich is great thing
to have. We must pet him and make
him good natured."
'.Oh, yes said the other. when
girls have as stingy father as we have
generous elder brother is godsend.
And I-ohi if he returned in rags.
begging his bread, should have well
coined him. cared for him, not for his
money. And If he had returned poor it
was | to whom he would have written,
knew well. But tried to put the self
ish thoughts away and rejoice for his
sake that he had prospered, even if he
had forgotten his little sister Dora.
The morrow came. AS sat at my
machine heard the sounds below that
told he had arrived. heard his mother
cry out and the squire say heartily
welcome home, my boyr' and his
sisters squeal and giggle after way
they had. Then the great drawing room
doors were closed, shutting me out.
l, who loved him SO dearly, went back
to my room alone, uncared for, wretched!
felt as though my heart would break.
could no longer keep back my tears
Half an hour passed; then some one
came to the door-a servant-who told
me briefly that / was wanted in the par.
lor.
Trembling, quivering, feeling as had
never felt before, obeyed the summons
Iopened the drawing room door.
The squire stood before the fire, i'm
portant as usual, one hand in the breast
of his coat, the other waving toward me
as he uttered these words:
Dora, have sent for you because
Master Harold has returned, and wishes
to meet faithful servant of the family. :"
But before the words were out of his
mouth, Harold, handsomer and larger
but the same for all that-the very Har
old that | knew-rushed forward. and
took both my hands and bent down and
kissed me.
Il told you, SIR" he said, that
wanted to see Dora-the dearest being
alive to mel Such words as you utter
cannot permit you to speak as though
they were mine. You have never re-
ceived any of my letters, Dora. but
have guessed why"
II never have received a letter. Har-
DID," answered.
80 ! thought" said he. I'VE will
not ask who kept them from you.
have no wish to quarrel with any one:
| but you were my only friend years age
when went out into the world home
| less and penniless. and have come now
to ask you to share with me the home
that can now offer to you"
''Share your home, HaroldT' cried the
squire. 1.-THE girl is not your sister. 1t
can't be done. 1t would be improperr'
81 am glad, sir, that the girl is not
my sister replied Harold, for she is
the girl l want for my wife: and here,
before you all, l ask her for her heart
and hand, and proud shall l be if she
will give them to me-"
l could not answer, but he saw all