Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-08-22
ONLYgA GIRL.


Deborah Duryea brought the tiny morsel
of humanity, wrapped up in faded fam
mel shawl, to show to him as he sat before
the big wood fire In thefarmhouse kitchen.
"Why couldn't It ha' been q boy"
"Bring her to me-" said Mrs Parkhouse's
weak, tremulous voice from among the pill
lows. my little grill Ny own daughterl
What did he say, Debbyf Was he pleasedf"
"Well-no-I can't say he was, I" says Deb
erah, 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 Thatcher moth
er loved her with a silent idolatroue,sort OF
devotion, but with the loud voiced father
and the hve'riotous boys she was evidently
lone too many"
IF 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 q few weeks at
Farmer Parkhouse's Dora watched him
as Aladdin of old might have watched the
marvellous productions of the magician.
II believe could do that" said Dora,
with a voice that fluttered with her fut-
tering breath. "Mr Ryner, have saved
pennies. Would you be good enough to
buy me pencil like yours when you go
down to the village tomorrow"
Mr. Ryner looked around with 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, so
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 done"
''Yes, sir, the very first"
Mr.. Ryner said no more, but he gave
Dora lesson every day after that until she
had learned to handle her pencil with no
mean degree of skill
Dorothy Farmhouse had been an ugly in
fant, plain, unattractive child, but 1t 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 a 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
eniissary might be supposed to tell the
humblest 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 tidings, "Dorothy's
fortins made now, sure enough"
mot in that way" said Dorothy calmly.
81 shall not marry Mr.. Eden"
You won't marry himW roared Farmer
Farmhouse.
''No.p
but say you shall If have to drag you
to the altar myself" he said.
Dora said no more, but the next morning
she was gone, and all the remaining trace Of
her was a little penciled billet, pinned to the
sleeve of her mothers calico morning dress
which bore these brief lines:
MOLlef, III BOluk " Wy AAS OWh AoNA ~ sA.s
world. When l have made my fortune, III
come back after you. Keep up good courag'
and don't for a moment doubt that will keel
my promise.
"Well," CALCULATED Mr.. Ryner as Dort
presented herself before him and told hel
simple tale. what do you suppose you'r'
going to do, little onei"
''I don't know, SIR" said Dora simply
1.-The ravens fed Elijah"
His wife gave her some breakfast, ant
then the kindly artist took her to plac'
where other girls were drawing pictures OF
blocksof wood for great publishing house
"Try your hand at this" said Mr.. Ryner
al won't insure you a fortune at first, bu
you'll get on II you are painstaking an'
diligent."
Dora tried. and at the weeks end sh
fouud herself the possessor Of sum o
money that exceeded her widest hopes.
"Why." she cried, "Hezekiah don't get a
much as this for his weeks work on tn
farm"
Possibly" said Mr.. Ryner dryly. "Yol
see, my girl, you have talent, and Hezeklal
has only strength and muscle"
1t was in August when Dora Parkhous
iran away" and it was bleak Octobe
night when she once more approached th
cluster of butternut trees that surrounde
the house The light fickered family fror
the kitchen window as she walked briskl
on.
Suddenly she stopped. A figure stoo
before her at the forks of the roads. II
garments fiuttered In the wind, and on
hand was pressed to it's brow.
''Motherl" she cried aloud.
'sDorai Dorai is it your l WAS going I
look for you, child. They beat me. the
turned meout OF doors, but knew shoul
find you.
And she sank sObbins ON her daughter
breast
~ have come home just In time" sal
Dora, folding the frail, quivering figure
her arms "Mother. dear, we will be ali II
world to each other henceforVard ~
And from that moment Noah ParkhOul
and his five tall sons never saw Dorothy {
her mother again.
Dora has a bright little home, sustains
and kept sunshiny by her own industr,
and Mrs. Parkhouse Is serenely happy
her daughters love and devotion.
ave don't want any third one TO mSl
US contented, do we, mammal Dora asA
laughingiy.