The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-26
DORCAS.
BY FRANK H. SWEET.

| BY FRANK H. SWEET.
 (Copyright, 1905, by Daily Story Puo- fishing Co.C
 q do hope the cars won't run on the track" said Betsy Sylvester, as she put the finishing touches to her sisters cos- tune. and then stood back and studied the effect critically. Its an audacious flying in the face of Providence, to go switching off behind one of them en- zines that ain't like nothing human nor
 divine. But here's your Aunt Beulah, down sick in bed and writing to us, and the land knows I can't go with all the farm and cows and cooking, and three hired men here; and they do say she's got a splendid house with carpets and
 bath rooms and all, and we're the only
 kin. There, I think that will do. Yes it's a shame we've never been to see
 her, and she being there twenty years,
 and the last five all by herself. But it's a hundred miles, and It stands to reason we couldn't go in a wagon, and , won't be switched across the land by one of them snorting railroad things | that hasn't been in the neighborhood scarcely a year, and folks still jump | ing up to hear them. Yes that will do," and stepping forward quickly she
 dabbed little kiss upon her sisters
 ear Now good bye. Be sure and
 
 be set up with the fine things In Aunt
 Beulah's house I do hope nothing will
 happen. But young folks like to travel round and see things. You'll likely have a real good time, and its's a shame Aunt Beulahs at deaths door and never been to see her But there;
 must run back or the sweet pickle will
 plumb spoil on the stove. You look real pretty, Dorcas." And with this
 involuntary compliment, Betty Sylves-
 ter hurried toward the kitchen, leav- | ing Dorcas blushing and frightened at
 the prospect of her first journey on the cars.
 For a number of years Dorcas had had a suitor. At first he had confined his attention to stolen glances across the fields and across the church. and on rare occasions when his manhood had asserted itself, to elaborate toilet ard half hours leaning against the lSylvester's front fence, admiring Dor oas's posies and talking crops. Later I he had braved the front gate, gener- ally with a straw in his mouth, and sat on the steps for an hour In the gloaming talking with Betty. but look ing at Dorcas. In cold evenings and during the winter the hour had been
 passed in the cosy sitting room, play ing checkers and popping corn. Not a word of love had been spoken. but it was understood in the house and in the whole neighborhood. that John Bald win was waiting on Dorcas Sylvester and that some time in the future, as
 they should determine. the two good old country families and the two we'll titled farms would be united-provided of course John Baldwin's diffidence ever allowed him to get that far
 AS che ran lightly down the steps
 to the farm wagon, Dorcas gave one
 quick, shy glance up the slope to where
 the big Baldwin house stood, half hid
 den by its towering elms. Yes. there
 was Johns buggy standing in the road
 before the house. and his fast horse could reach the station in one-half the
 time they could with the farm wagon
 and old Charlie. Besides Betty had
 thought the hired man might as well
 Kill two birds with one stone; so he
 was taking a load of produce along,
 which he would peddle after leaving
 Dorcas at the station. As she climbed I'D tes.de Jethro, who did not offer or dream of offering assistance, Dorcas thought how much easier 1t would be in Johns spring buggy than in this heavy wagon which jolted and rumbled over the rough country roads. But still she felt happy, with a sudden loss
 of whatever misgivlng she may have lSeit. Although neither she nor John