New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-16

was dropping from her eyebrows into her eyes
Having mopped her face. and generally puiieu
herself together, she managed to reach the iroH'
door. though her knees trembled ana her he"''
nuttered like Gagged bird.
Never was such noisy bell! II clanged anu
echoed I'm most alarming fashion; she wished
that the stone steps would open and s"aho"
her I'D What would they think OF her TOT oar-
ing TO make such a clatter? Besides-and a'
the dreadful thought she nearly cried out-oi
course she ought to have gone to the back doof'
For full five minutes she stood on the steps
listening for any sound inside the house. Out
all was perfectly quiet She turned ana went
into the drive meaning to go round to the back
door when it occurred to her to look back al
the house: she had been far too nervous to DO SO
as she came in The lower windows were SMUT
tered and all the blinds were down
They had gone. then, and it was empty. ANA
tbev never didn't bring i'm for to say goodpy
to me-"
Iife,s little tragedies generally happen to the
lonely. What in full and happy life ranks
but as an episode becomes an epoch IN tne Sau
colored days of lean monotony. Dorcas "ipeu
ber eves more than once on her way home, and
wept heavily for many days. Elijah saw tha'
10
navs from town and occasional suggestions
that she go over and land see sister la" III oil
adjacent village: but beyond her necessary
Journeys 10 the town to buy SUCH stores as sne
couId afford. Dorcas never left home. She
scrubbed the kitchen table till she gruoseu "
sulv tic Wilderness by so much as a yellow bowl
and she made herself warm new winter oress'
but for all her Industry, the time hung heavy
on her hands and she never forgot her n''e
gentleman" The wet season was followed by
an Indian summer Of exceptional beauty Inc
shirt of October. mild and boon" was in the
air; the lettering Cotteswold wall whlch iaiu
its wayward length on the far side Of the FOOT
way was covered by sprays of crimson Diack-
berry mingled with the fluffy grayness Oh oiu
mans beard" Dorcas no longer stared huhgrhy
down the towing path on Sunday morning OUT
she did not forget and in token OF her remem-
brance the twenty first chapter Of the Book Of
Revelation was marked in her Bible by little
wooen glove with large hole in the thumb.
Her sultan had dropped it during his last visit
The birds sang az though it were spring and
Dorcas began 10 read aloud to herself to Keep
her thoughts from wandering. AND God shall
wipe away all tears from their eyes" whispered
the kind Worcestershire voice, when suddenly,
above the triumphant voices Of birds, above the
soft wash of the water among the following
reeds rang that clear sound for which the soul
of Dorcas had hungered cruelty.
II wonder if the lady at the Blue House Will
know again. Dad
II seemed as though the grand viZer had not
been so greatly to blame after all He had been
suddenly called away 10 the north Of Scotland
and although ne had left directions that before
the sultan and the household followed him that
potentate was to be taken 10 say goodby ITO
the lady at the Blue House" although the sui
tan himself mad repeatedly suggested the pro-
prety Of such a pilgrimage, his nurse had al
ways considered the road too muddy.
Il thought sir. as you was all gone fur good
and all" said Dorcas with catch In her
voice; and were that taken to never made
no inquiries"
on his way home the grand vzier was rather
silent. once twice he made queer little
face, and seemed to swallow something in his
throat At last ne quoted but not to the sui
tan "By heavens il is pitful, the bootess love
OF women for children in Vanity Fair" The
rosy faced child, who had been wondering why
the usual Sunday service of gingerbread had
been omitted was rather surprised. but never
theess asked curously. Are you thinking of
the Blue House lady. Dad?"
His father stopped down hastily and kissed
him.
~