Middletown transcript., 1892-06-02

an OLD man spent Win mucn W6iklnf
stopped 10 rest himself in the farm
house kitchen. Prudence bestirrsd
herself to give him q hearty luncheon
and, when he Was warmed and fed
he began to talk Of his travels. He
had been to seek his fortune all over
the West. and, never finding it, had
come back to die at home. He men
toned Colorado and Denver, and
when Dora found herself alone with
him for a moment, she said, Did
you ever see Joseph Raymond in
Denver ?"
"Joe Raymonds Oh, yesl knew
him we'll; lived with him nigh on to
a month. His wife was real good
cook; couldn't be beat nowhere in
them parts"
You say he was married 7"
"To be sure a right smart Teller,
and mighty fond of his wife. Women
are scarce out there !"
Prudence came in, and the old
man went on his way all unconscious
Of the grea: stone he had cast into
the still waters of Dora's heart.
What's the matteri" said Pru-
dence; "you're as white as ! shset."
Dora's only answer was to dart out
Of the house and run, as for her life,
down the frozen orchard-patch by
which she could gain upon and over
take this terrible old man. She
might have said, with "holy Her
bert, -
My thoughts are all case OF knives.
Wounding my heart
With scattered smart
only misery must have time to crys-
talize into memory before it takes
the form Of poetry. She stood be-
fore the old man at the turning, bare
headed and breathless. How did
the Joe Raymond look that you lived
with p gasped Dora.
+" / never said Joe Raymond :"
said the old man peevishly;; " ! said
8 jim Raymond They had q big
boy named Joe, who" but Dora
was off again before he could finish
his sentence.
She ran back through the orchard.
giving thanks with all her heart that
she had not suffered herself to be
persuaded of Joe's faithlessness on
one hearing. Her feeling Of grateful
awe as ifshe had escaped from sud-
den death kept her from mourning |
much over the passing away of this
seventh anniversary Of Joe's depart
ure with no sign Of his return.
His letters bad wholly ceased, and
there was nothing left for Dora but to
possess her soul with patience. When
another new year -dawned upon her,
The put on the old red dress more
rom habit than from any CLEAN of
rope in her heart, and did not care
% look in the glass. In the twilight
he walked slowly down the orchard
'ath and leaned on the gate that
'pened into the road.
Suddenly man sprang out from
'ehind the wall. !" Theodore, my |
gift of God 7" be said /; and Dora,
hough she recognized no mark of the
over who had left her eight years be-
ore. felt that no other knew that pass
7ord, and suffered herself to rest sill.
ntly in his arms in the inefable con-
snt that comes after long waiting.
When Joe and Dora went into the
ouse and she looked at him by
andls-light. her heart almost mis- I
ave her I; his luxuriant beard and r
,e manly assurance Of his manners
ere not at all like her Joe of belov-
] memory, and terrible barrier
'emed to rise up between them, while
rudencs remained in the room with
er company manners, which sat
ore awkwsrdly upon her than her .
lnday gown. 9
When Dora tiptoed softly by her :.
ster's door at q very late hour that
ght, Prudence was lying awake for :
". Don't tell me-" she said, "that =
'u've been waiting for that Joe Ray .
ond all this time r. :
81 won't tell you, if you don't want !. :
hear it," said Dora. y
/" Do you know whether he came !
me any better of than when he :
mt away r. -
/" I really haven't thought to ask
m, said Dora carelessly. Prudence
oaned and turned her face to the y
II.
Joe waited only till the next day to
! Mrs. Hall the story of his success,
ich looked very moderate in his TT
yelled eyes but seemed q noble for to
le to her homely ideas. ke
81 never thought BEFORE" said u q
ra's father at the wedding, . that . =
man could keep q secret; and I ce
sss it amt much more common
N snow in dog-days."
: How long would you have waited th'
mef' whispered Joe in Dora's ear. Ht
: For ever" said Dora solemnly. id
And Mrs. Prudence Hall, as she
r-heard the word, thanked her =,