The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-14
PART 1.

PART 1.
II was a large, bare house-the only
one on the sandy Pine Hill road. An
air of desolation surrounded 1t, which
young Mrs. Coils Wood felt painfully,
as she refined up her gentle pony in
front Of It. Gloomy evergreen forests
covered the hill, and even the little
opening around the house looked dark
though the sun was shining.
She knocked at the door, and stout,
middle-aged woman responded. Mrs.
Wood introduced herself, and the wo-
man gave her own name as Mrs.
Keasbey-Mrs. Thomas Keasbey'-
with an air of pride.
perhaps you may know, Mrs. Keas-
bey," Mrs. Wood proceeded, when they
were seated in the plain little parlor.
that have class of girls which meet
every Sunday afternoon in the school,
house just at the foot of the hill here.
Some of us enjoy driving out the two
miles from the village, and staying
there an hour then, and we hope it is a
good thing for this neighborhood. I
have noticed when I have been driving
past here that you have O. very bright
pretty girl. Wouldn't she like to join
my class?"
In spite of the gratihed expression
which the easy compliment brought to
Mrs. Keasbey's flabby, but not un-
comely face flush of displeasure ac-
companied it.
ut was our Dorilla you saw, prob
ably" she said with nervous little
laugh, but she's been to school a
sight. Mr.. Keasbey and I have trav-
eled mostly during the last three or
four years, and Dorilla has been in a
convent down south-not that we're
specially religious, for we ain't-but it
was a good place for her and she liked
it. She took all the prizes there-and
she reads most of the time now. She's
most seventeen, and we think maybe
she's gone to school enough. She's
sort O. odd, and we want to get her out
of the way of it,
Then wouldn't this be a good thing
for herr" urged the visitor. "Therc
are several nice girls in this neighbor-
hood who 60 there, and it would be
pleasant for a stranger like your Doril-
la to get acquainted with them"
Mo- dissented Mrs. Keasbey.
I'VE may not stay here very long. 1
guess it amt. worth while"
There was a pause. Mrs. Wood felt
as though she were expected to go, but
she decided to make another attempt.
Perhaps Dorilla would really like
to come" she suggested. Wont you
let me ask her?"
II don't know where she Is. She may
be off in the woods somewhere, and 1
can't very well leave to hunt for her,
for Mr.. Keasbey is home now, and
I've got work to do. I reckon she don't
care to CO."
At this moment the front door
Dponed, and Dorilla herself entered.
Her attire, like her mothers, was soiled
and tawdry, but beyond this there
was little resemblance between them.
Dorilla was tall and slender, and fair.
Her black hair was as soft as silk,
and hung in a long braid down her
back. Her eyes were dark, and their
expression was almost wild, but her
rather large mouth and nose were we'll
shaped and firm, and her whole bear
ing was quiet and pleasing. 1t was
no wonder that Mr.. Wood had OBJ
served Dorilla Keasbey, when passing
the lonely house On Pine hill.
See" said the girl smiling, as she
stood in the doorway.
She held out her round arm, from
which the loose sleeve fell away at the
elbow. Three palpitating white butter
flies were ranged in row upon the
delicate, blue-veined flesh. fourth
was fluttering around the girls head.
DON'T" cried the mother with a
half Shrek. Push 'em off, Rill! Put
'em out DOORS"
''Why, asked the girl, pulling away
as her mother tried to push her. "They
like me and like them and they are
the sweetest things in the world"
At this point she saw Mrs. Wood fol
the first time, and Mrs Keasbey per
formed the necessary introductions, ii
a reluctant manner which the daugh
ter could not fail to observe. She lis
tened with interest to the scherce which
the sweet-faced visitor proposed, onl!
knowing the "other girls" were men
toned.
IT don't think I care much abou
them" she said, with warm gleam il
her dark eyes, but know shoul,
like you--and think I will 60"
you better ask your father first,
her mother warned her
'I think I can manage him."
"And you may bring your butter
flies with you," Mrs. Wood said, smil
ingly.
II always carry one" said the girl
soberly. She rolled up ner loose sleeve
and showed just above her elbow,
singular birthmark. 1t stood ou
white, even against Dorilla's whit
skin,and was of the general shape o
the common white butterfly.
How stranger murmured the gentl
visitor.
YES" said the girl, "and have al
ways chased white butterflies eve
since was born. feed them and kee
them in my room-and suppose / tam
them--and make them like me in tina
way. But / believe they would lik
me anyway---that there was something
between us. Don't you think that tina
might be?"
Perhaps So" replied Mrs Wood
"a "A - WEg a