Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-05-18
IN the big, old-fashioned chest Of
drawers in the best chamber.

drawers in the best chamber.
A ten gallon keg was filed with
translucent, crimson-clear apple-but-
ter, and the swinging shelf in the Gel
lar was covered with jars of preserves
and amber-hued jelly-all made by
Dorcas Cymonds' deft fingers.
And now the sparkling frosts of
October had turned the dogwood and
sassafras leaves to red, and the chin
capins and over-cup acorns were drop
ping on the crisp, brown grass in the
woodlands and now pretty, brown
eyed, Industrious Dorcas was told that
she must find another home, and look
out for herself in the great future.
''For expect to be married before
long, and shan't want to be burdened
with any hangers-o ON, said the widow.
heartlessly.
Tears sprang into the sweet, brown
eyes, but Dorcas turned away to hide
them from her stepmother's sharp
gaze.
Poor Dorcas! She knew no more of
the wide world and it's ways than a
half-fedged robin, but she started out
with brave heart to seek her fortune.
One text from the Book of Divine
Revelations came into her heart to
comfort her-"I have never seen the
righteous forsaken, nor his seed beg
ging bread;' and somehow Dorcas felt
that kind Pro, idence had not forsaken
her.
Mrs. Cymonds put on her best dress,
tied her lavender bonnet-strings in a
becoming bow under her chin, and
looked at herself in the mirror with
smile of satisfaction.
Hell be certain to come to the
sewing-society today, and who knows
what may happen, as we walk home
together! My, but won't Letitia Pipes
be mad! She almost turns green with
envy now, when the deacon walks with
me-"
But Deacon Grey did not make his
appearance at the sewing circle, and
the widow returned home in some
what different mood from that in which
she had set out.
"What in common sense he means
by not coming | don't see!' she said,
crabbedly ''And that Letitia Pipes
was glad of it-looked like she wanted
to litter right out, when 1 had to put
on my bonnet and start home alone"
The afternoon had worn away, and
the sun was sinking fiery shafts
of crimson beneath the far off western
horizon.
''Who in creations a. coming now?'-
grumbled the widow, as 1.-THE, slender
figure swung open the front gate, and
tripped up the path to the cottage
door.
1t was Dorcas, her brown eyes shin
ing and her cheeks glowing like full
blown Jacqueminot rose.
Back again, like bad pennyp
cried the widow, ossly. "You'll have
to stay all night, s'pose; but I've
told you once l couldn't keep you
and can't''
I've only come for my things"
said Dorcas, demuredly, her cheeks
dimpled with smiles and bushes.
''The deacon's out in the buggy wait
ing for me-.
"The deacon?" gasped the widow,
astounded.
eyes. I'm married to Deacon
Grey" exclaimed Dorcns, while her
stepmother glowed in wrath and dis
may. 81 met him at the stile, this
morning, and think he married me
out of pity, for L was crying little,
you know, to think 1 had no home to
go to. So he took me to the parson-
age and we were married, and went
home to dinner. And here's the dea.
con coming in now for my trunk
"Well, well!" exclaimed Miss Letitia
Pipes, when she heard the news. "But
body might a-known it was Dorcas
the deacon was accounting. But I'll
bet button Feroby is as mad as wet
hen about It'll"
And so she was. Saturday Night.