The Democratic advocate., 1909-06-11
WITH THE LATEST
IMPROVEMENT.
And a Pair Of Loving Hearts to
Enjoy Them All.
BY NELLIE 3. RANSOM.


the village. she had watched the
road great deal during the last few
days, at first with happy anticipation.
but now with helpless longing.
1t was bad enough in the daytime,
but it was worse when 1t grew too
dark to see who was coming along the
road, for then the footsteps grew
louder and louder until she was GER
tain that they were going to turn to-
ward the white pillared porch, only to
die away again, leaving her sick with
fresh disappointment.
On the previous Sunday evening the
vague, beautiful something which had
enveloped the whole summer, making
1t different from any other summer of
Dorothy's life, had suddenly taken
definite form. A look, touch, n word
or two, and she had found herself
without doubt that John Porter low
ed her and that she loved him, but he
had gone away without any open dec
laration, and, though Dorothy had
watched the road till her eyes ached,
he had not returned.
Il might have known It," she said TO
herself disconsolately. "He is too
proud and independent to ask the
daughter Of a rich man to marry him.
Now that his work on the new electric
road is finished he viii go away, and
I shall never see him again"
Dorothy's neighbor, twelve-year-old
Gladys, came skipping across the lawn,
very perky pink bow topping her
yellow tresses. She perched herself on
the broad arm OF Dorothy's chair.
I've been reading such a lovely
story" she exclaimed.
What was IL about7" queried Doro-
thy, with Ianguid interest.
"oh, 1t was about a brave knight In
shining armor," said Gladys, "and he
loved a fair and noble lady who loved
him in return. But she had gold and
jewels and all that sort OF thing. you
know, and he hadn't a thing but his
charger and his good sword, and 40 he
could never. never ask her 20 marcy
him"
We'll" asked Dorothy as Gladys
paused for breath. "wtat happened
thenT
"oh," replied Gladys, there vas
nothing for the knight TO do but to
ride away 10 the wars and the prin-
cess just sat In her tower and plned
and pined TIL at last she died. Oh, 1t was
perfectly lovely-so sad and sweetF'
1T seems to me- said Dorothy, al.
most Grossly. "that II would have been
much more sensible for the knight to
stay and marry the Indy instead az
leaving her to pine and die"
why" cried Gladys in disgust. that
would have spoiled the whole story"
She jumped from her perch and was
dancing down the steps, but turned 60
call back:
"Oh, say, that Sir. Porter has gone
away, hasn't he2 ! saw him at the
station Monday with a suit case In his
hand. Aren't his eyes Just too hand.
some for anything? I'm sorry he has
left, aren't youTt
Then, having unwlttlngly destroyed
Dorothy's last vestige of hope, Gladys
cheerfully departed.
A gray haired man with a keen but
kindly face came and stood in the door
way behind Dorothy, noting with an
anxious look her dropping figure. He
moved uneaeily once or twice and then
came out to where she was sitting.
"You ought to be playing golf this
fine weather" he suggested.
I'm rather tired 0f golf, father" re-
piled Dorothy.
Mr. Allen took a turn up and down
the porch.
HAS that young Porter leftf /
haven't seen him for several days" he
asked, with d carefully careless air.
Il really don't know. Probably he
has" replied the girl. sitting very
straight and assuming an air even
more carefully careless than that OF
her father.
Mr.. Allen after a few more turns
and anxious sidelong giances betook
himself again TO the house Since the
death of Dorothy's mother ten years
before the bond OF sympathy and un-
derstanding between him and his only
child had grown unusually strong, but
here was situation which he felt IN
nowise competent 70 handle
Left to herself, Dorothy's sprightiy
indifference suddenly vanished. Her
hands fell listlessly into her lap. and
she leaned her head wearily against
the back OF her chair SO he had gone
without even coming 10 say goodbyl
Well there was no use watching the
road any longer.
ITS just like Gladys story" she
sighed. "The knight has gone to fight
his battles, leaving the poor princess
IN the castle to pine alone, only, being
twentieth century princess instead OF
a medieval one, I'm afraid / can't die
OF love. Girls never do nowadays. /
suppose that's one of the modern i'm.
provements." she continued whimsi-
cally.
An endless procession of dreary
years seemed TO stretch out before her.
She shut her eyes. and two large tears
glistened on the long dark lashes.
Some one was coming across the,
lawn, but the footsteps made no sound
on the thick tnrf. When they began
to ascend the steps Dorothy opened
her eyes with start, and John Porter.
stood befor her.
There was a wonderfully tender light
In his eyes and determined express
sion about his mouth. How handsome
he looked! How tall and strong he
= vast Dorothy caught her breath.
Il thought you had gone away" she
managed to say.
Only down to the junction to meet
the chief engineer He wanted to talk