Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-12


tears she bad been irving 90 keen back all On.
evening. Homesickness is something there i
10 use reasoning about. and that night she
sobbed herself 70 sleep.
Bat in n week or two she was her ola h-4rh,
self again. She had received a letter from her
mother, saying that they had landed safely al
Liverpool and that the sea air had already done
he- father the greatest good. ard that Dorothy
must enjoy herself and have the best time she
possibly could.
at Oaklawn. for every one had grown TO love
her, from The master down 20 the servants. and
did all they could to make her have a pleasant
time. Col. Malcolm and Douglass being law
yers, were In town most Of the day, but Mrs.
Malcolm took her ont driving aud she went
horseback riding with her cousin Eleanor,
while little Charles was an unfailing source Of
delght. Besides visitors were constantly COM
ing and going, 20 Dorothy had really no
time TO be lonesome Then Douglass
would often stay ~ home 20 take
her TO some place Of interest in the
neighborhood. and in the evening he would DO
ali he could to entertain her. Indeed. be was
growing entirely too fond OF his pretty cousin.
Tor he was already engaged 20 be married 20 a
young lady whom he had met while at college.
But she had been travelling in Europe Tor the
last three years. and atelv her letters had been
rather irregular. Then Dorothy was 20 bright
and sweet and pretty, with her golden haif and
large gray-blue ewes. shaded by long golden
brown lashes, that IL is hardly strange thrown
together as much they were. that Douglass
lost his heart At first it was only chivairous
sense OF duty TO guest in his fathers house
that made him attentive 10 her wishes besides
a native kindliness OF heart that made him pity
her homesickness and do all In his power TO
brighten her visit. But this was gradually Civ
ing place 70 another and stronger feeling
And Dorothy, without realizing IT, was be-
ginning TO find the evenings when be Joined
them in the library. and she PLAYED and sang 20
him, the happiest time of the day. Sometimes
he would come in Just about dusk and they
would have quiet little conversations in the Gre
light, when he would give interesting accounts
Of his life at college and of the wear be had
spent abroad. But somehow he never told her
of one episode Of his life, had he forgotten it,
One evening he came into the library before
the lamps were lighted and found Dorothy down
on the rug with Charles beside her listening
with rapt attention TO little German legend
she was telling him. The freight was shining
on the two golden heads and when she had fla-
ished she sat with her face in her hand. gazing
dreamily into the fire.
But, Cousin Dorothy, IL the little Christ
child is the same as Santa Clnus and flies around
at Christmas time. should think he would &c;
his pretty little wings and fhining silver dress
all dirty and black when lie comes down the
chimney"
But You see, Charles he doesn't really come
down the chimney. i, is only a sort OF fairy tale
and maybe in Germany they don't get their
presents that way" said Dorothy helplessly- IL
was rather unsafe proceeding 20 tell Charles
anything that wasn't strictly true.
We'll. maybe they don't he replied gra-
ciously. snow sing me something. please. Doro-
thy. i like 'Ach VIE wars moglich damn best -
pronouncing the German words without ;he
vaguest idea % what they meant. 1t the
tune be wanted. So Dorothy sang the p,aintive
little sorg in a low voice. and Douglass listened
no las. not a. hon
quietly left the room.
He knew il then. knew that he loved, and
How HSw could could be be I sssr :, 6f part,
Why had he been mad enough when a mere
boy to engage himself TO any one? He had
thought then that he loved Isabel Lacey and
indeed he had loved her until he saw Dorothy.
but now-well. even now, he intended TO marry
her. His word was pledged and he knew that
she loved him. He should have gone away.
but it was so easy to linger and SO hard TO
tear himself from the sight of Dorothys face
And Dorothy all unsuspecting drifted on in her
sweet love dream.
Douglass" said Mrs. Grayson,a week or two
later, ''it is such a lovely day. why don't YOU
take rorothy over TO see the old ruined church?
You could have the horses ordered for 10 O'Clock
and be back in time for luncheon" "Yes, do >"
said Mrs. Malcolm, '.you haven't taken Dorothy
anywhere for some time. i know you have
been very busy lately, but couldn't you spare
one day?"
"Why. certainly, should be delighted to go.
You are fond of ruins are YOU not, Dorothy?
And this is very pretty one"
So it was decided that they should go. Doug
lass had rather invented the plea of business to
keep himself as much as possible from Dorothy's
society, but today there was no way of avoid
ing it without seeming absolutely rude. And
now that the temptation offered he was
only too glad to accept il.
Dorothy on hO-sahael ciai in a 10 ,raon
riding habit, with the wind tossing her sunny
curly hair about her face. was very sweet to
look at. At least Douglass thought So as he
cantered along by her side through the lovely
country lanes, brilliant with their autumn foil
age. The ruin was about five miles away and
as they refined in their horses at the top
of a hill the scene spread out before them was
lovely enough for a painters brush In the
distance a circle of pale blue hills touched here
and there with vivid dashes of crimson and
yellow. inclosed sunny fields with the stacked
grain, while below them a little stream spark led
in the sunlight, and on its bank. nestled among
grove of trees. already changing their sum
mer mantle OF green for one more brilliant but
less lasting, was the UNCOVERED church
Dorothy drew a long breath "Oh, If one could
only paint, sine cried. Wouldn't il be lovely
to be able TO transfer such beauty as this 10
canvas and keep it before one's view forever"
'Ies," Douglass replied. but he was looking
straight at her and something in his gaze made
Dorothy droop her face. Almost before he
knew what he WIS doing he leaned over and
taking the little gloved hand that rested on the
horse silky name carried it to his lips
Dorothy, L love you; l have loved YOU almost
from the moment saw you; viii you be my
wife?"
There was silence for a moment and then
Dorothy raised her face with O great love
shining out Of her blue eyes and answered
ives
They fingered little On their homeward ride
and on the way Dorothy made Douglass promise
to say nothing about their engagement for a
little while. II would rather tel mamma first"
she said.
That night Dorothy sat by her window in the
moonlight long after the house was STILL too
happy to sleep. The days that followed were
full Of Joy, not that the family could see any
difference in their attitude toward one another.
but there was a deeper enjoyment in the twi-
light talks and in the walks taken late in the
afternoon along the river bank.
Their pleasure, however, was destined TO be
short lived. The next Saturday Douglass was
called away on business and that evening
Dorothy received a letter from her mother
which brought her happiness 10 a sudden
close. They were already on their way home
and Dorothy was to meet them in New York
the following Monday. "By the way." the
letter closed, 81 met the girl whom Doug
lass is to marry in London. OF course YOU
knew he was engaged She is very sweet. and
from what she told me is very much in love