The Republican., 1895-05-16

with little sadness in this her firsA
home parting. "a
How the family missed herl The rest
all tried to be brighter and gayer, to
help fill her place. For the first two or
three days Dot would go hunting
around the house to find my Dwolly."
Saturday morning the postman
brought a letter for mother, and they
all crowded around to hear it.
April 18th.
DEAR MOTHER AND ALL: know you are all
anxious to hear from me and know how got
along during my journey, and Of my safe ar
rival. so will write my letter to you all.
THE journey was very quiet and uneventful,
for once, unless you call taking the wrong car
when 1 chaA!ed, and getting carried I don't
know where-an event Luckily for me the
porter told me in time and showed me the
right
Mabel met me at the depot and so 1 am
here all right. 1t is lovely home so know
shall have detighttut time they have made
me feel like one of their family, and are so
kind-not a bit formal.
Here comes Mabel to take me down to tea
so I will close this letter. but write soon and
tell all my happenings, Margaret calls
| them.
Lots of love to all, and kiss for Dot. am,
your ever loving, DOROTHY"
Il am glad she went" said Grace; ''it
will be such change, and she will see
something of city life"
Il wonder if she will make long
visit; but we must not be selfish and
| let her think we want her back" Then
a shade passed over the mothers face
as she said: 1--WE cannot keep hog fors
ever, and now she is only trying her
wings, but will soon leave the home
nest for one of her own" Mothers
eyes are very sharp and see far ahead.
A week or so later Jack came to call.
| He was out of town when Dorothy went
away, so knew nothing of it. He
| looked around, talked awhile to Grace
and Margery on different subjects, and
then asked if Miss Dorothy was at
| home.
Dorothy" exclaimed Margery.
| why she has been away for more than
a week. Didn't you know it? Oh, yes;
you were away when she left
Dorothy gone! Why, when did she
go?''
Let me see, to-day is the 22d, and
she went the 18th, just week ago to-
day, and it seems years to US. You see
she has never left us before, and we
miss her So
Jack left soon after that, but called
often to hear the news from Dorothy.
One day he found Grace and Margery
laughing over one of her letters.
Dorothy had the gift of writing every
thing so wildly that you could see it
all. Leaving the big things to come in
any way, she told all the little Incl
dents that make up the pleasure of the
day.
She had been particularly bright this
time, describing everything and every
body with a quaint humor.
Margery read portions of the letter
to Jack, and when she came to the part
where Dorothy said that Fred Halstead
Mabels brother, had been her escort,
she was startled by hearing an excla-
nation from Jack: Fred Halstead!
| Why, know him; he used to be my
| old school chum. Is there a Mabel
Halstead, too? Yes, it must be the
same. Why didn't you tell me before
whom she was visiting?" he asked, i'm
patiently. ~,
''Why didn't you aslf?" said Margery.
''How did l know that you wanted to
know whom she was visiting?"
True enough" said Jack. Then he
frightened up as if at happy thought
Il came to say good-by," he said very,
coolly, "as l have some business that
calls me away for few days"
Rather sudden, isn't it?'' asked
Margerv, with a roguish smile, who
saw through the whole plot.
When Jack reached the door he
| looked at her and seemed to see some
thing in her face that prompted him to
say: wish me we'll, Miss Margery."
Giving his hand reassuring shake,
she said: Il wish you good luck, Mr..
Jack, and then shut the door.
When Jack reached home the first
thing he did was to sit down and write
note to Fred Halstead telling him
that he had business in Fairchild, and
would give him call
| Meanwhile, Dorothy was enjoying
herself greatly; parties and outings of
all kinds filled up good share of the
time, still, in spite of it all, she was
getting homesick. During the after
noon she had been telling Mabel about
| the good times at home, and about
Jack Winthrop. The talk had brought
| up old memories, and now. as she sat
| before the library fire waiting for Ma
bel, she could picture them all sitting
around the fire at home. talking and
laughing; perhaps Jack was there, too,
for this had been his favorite hour for
calling.
She had just reached this point in
her thoughts, when the door opened
and some one entered the room. Think
ing it was Mabel she did not turn or
speak, until she heard step, strange,
yet wonderfully familiar. She turned.
Jack"
1t was all she said. yet it satisfee'I
him, as he clasped her hands and drew
her to him.
Mabel, coming through the hall,
saw them, then shut the door and left
them to themselves. Some time after
when Dorothy and Jack were seated
side by side on the sofa, enjoying the
! silly nothings as only lovers can.