Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-09-11
ONLY A GIRL.

LN00A1a OAAlGA bA0AalN VIC NA4l nA1AorA
Of humanity, wrapped up in a faded fan
mel shawl. to show to him as he sat before
the big wood fire in the farmhouse kitchen.
why couldn't it ha' been a boyi"
Bring her TO me" said Mrs Parkhouse's
weak, tremulous voice from among the pill
lows. my little grill Ny own daughteri
What did he say, Debbyi Was he pleased'"
''Well-no-I can't say he was, /" says Deb
Srah, rubbing her nose.
And Mrs. Farmhouse, whose gentle soul
had naught of affinity to the five noisy boys
and their gruff, material minded father,
laid her cheek against the little baby girls
and silently gave thanks.
For" thought the mother, ''she will be
all my own"
Dorothy Farmhouse grew up, as it were,
in the shadow. 1t was true that her moth
er loved her with a silent idolatrous sort OF
devotion, but with the loud voiced father
and the five riotous boys she was evidently
''one too many"
"n it wasn't for mother" thought Dor.
othy, curling up the little chill feet that
the farmer had decided there wasn't no
use in buyin new shoes for as long as the
old uns hung together, ""I shouldn't want
to live"
The next year-Dora's eleventh summer
an artist came out into the rural wilder
nesses sketching studies" for his winters
work and boarded for few weeks at
Farmer Parkhouse's. Dora watched him
a. Aladdin of old might have watched the
marvellous productions of the magician.
'I believe l could do that, !" said Dora,
with voice that futtered with her fut-
tering breath. "Mr. Ryner, 1 have saved
pennies. Would you be good enough to
buy me q pencil like yours when you 20
down to the village tomorrow"
Mr.. Ryner looked around with a good
humored smile.
Take one of mine, Cinderella" he said
and threw her piece Of paper and pencil,
and then he went on with his drawing.
Dora worked on in silence by his side, 50
rapt and absorbed in her occupation that
she never noticed when he glanced over her
shoulder
FAITH not SO bad, !" said he. SIS this the
first you have donel"
YES, sir, the very first"
Mr.. Ryner said no more, but he gave
Dora lesson every day after that until she
had learnedto handle her pencil with no
mean degree of skill
Dorothy Farmhouse had been an ugly in
FAINT, plain, unattractive child, but it is
not always possible to judge OF the flower
by the folded bud. She grew up rarely,
dAintily pretty, with brown hair, blue gray
eyes and face like wild rose
But Hezekiah Farmhouse did not notice
her any more than he noticed the cat in
the chimney corner, and he never was
more astonished in his life than when
George Eden, whose father owned the best
sawmill in the county, asked him to use
his influence with his sister in his behalf.
Hezekiah went home and communicated
the great news to Dorothy as an eastern
smissary might be supposed to tell the
hum blest slave of the harem that the sui
tan had cast favorable eye upon her.
"WellP' cried Farmer Farmhouse as soon
as he had sensed up the tidinRs, 'Dorothy's
fortin's made now, sure enough"
''Not in that way" said Dorothy calmly.
Il shall not marry Mr.. Eden"
you won't marry himp' roared Farmer
Farmhouse.
mo"
'But say you shall if haveto drag you
to the altar myselfP' he said.
Dora said no more, but the next morning
she was gone, and all the remaining trace of
her was little penciled billet, pinned to the
sleeve of her mothers calico morning dress,
which bore these brief lines:
Mother, I'm going to try my own luck in the
world. When l have made my fortune, III
come back after you. Keep mp good courage
and don't for moment doubt that will keen
my promise.
WELL" calculated Mr.. Ryner as Dora
presented herself before him and told her
simple tale, what do you suppose you're
going to do, little onei"
II don't know, SIR" said Dora simply.
THE ravens fed Elijah"
His wife gave her some breakfast, and
then the kindly artist took her to place
where other girls were drawing pictures on
blocks OF wood for great publishing house
Try your hand at this" said Mr.. Ryner.
Il won't insure you a fortune at first, but
you'll get on II you are painstaking and
diligent."
Dora tried. and at the weeks end she
found herself the possessor of a sum of
money that exceeded her widest hopes.
why, she cried, ''Hezekiah don't Retas |
much az this for his weeks work on the |
farm"
Possibly" said Mr.. Ryner dryly. "You |
see, my girl, you have talent, and Hezekiah |
has only strength and muscle"
1t was in August when Dora Farmhouse |
ran away" and 1t was a bleak October /
night when she once more approached the |
cluster Of butternut trees that surrounded |
the house. The light fiickered family from
the kitchen window as she walked briskly
on.
Suddenly she stopped. A figure stood
before her at the forks Of the roads. Its
garments fiuttered in the wind, and one
hand was pressed to its brow.
'Mother" she cried aloud.
'Dorai Dorai is it your l was going To
look for you, child. They beat me, thew
turned meou Of doors, but knew should
Ind you"
And she sank sObbing on her daughters
breast
II have come home Just in time. /" said
Dora, folding the frail, quivering figure In
ler arms Mother. dear, we viii be All the
world TO each other henceforward.
And from that moment Noah Parkhousa
md his Ave tall sons never saw Dorothy or
ler mother again.
Dora has a bright little home, Sustained
md kept sunshiny by her own industry
md Mrs. Parkhouse Is serenely happy IN
ier daughters love and devotion
I'VE don't want any third one 10 make
u contented, do we, mammal Dora asks
aughingly.
And her mother answers dreamily: