Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-05-19
DOROTHY'S
WAY
BY EDITH S. Fed
Copyright. 1903 BY Associated Literary
Press

James drew up the window shade
and, laying some letters on a littl
table by the bedside, remarked:
"A fine day, SIR"
The sleeper opeend his eyes. Don
tell me it is time to get up?"
II Is eight o'clock, sir"
While James was drawing the batl
for his master Rev John Ashs
stretched out his hand and took VI
the bundle of letters. On top was 9
little blue envelope addressed in q
feminine hand, familiar and full Of
character
The man tore open the envelope and
began eagerly to read the contents.
Overlook, L. l., April l.
MY Dear John-I am writing to an
i nounce not only my engagement but the
date OF my wedding, May !, just month
] hence.
You no doubt will be surprised at
I my decision to marry so soon after the
/ announcement Of my engagement; but
/ as you know, I always did do eccentric
things. and now that l know my own
mind ! wish 10 be married as soon as
possible.
Perhaps you know the man / am
to marry. At present / shall not tell
you his name but leave you TO guess.
He is one OF our own old circle OF
friends
win you marry us. John? This I wish
most earnestly. The wedding will be sol
emnized at noon on the first, only a quiet
little home wedding with a very few
friends present Try to catch the nine
O'Clock train from Long Island City. Do
not refuse this one request and please
your sincere friend.
DOROTHY MILLS"
1t was not meant to be a cruel let
ter; but It hit hard. Rev. John
Ashe had known Dorothy since his
junior year at college, where he had
met her at football game. She was
a very attractive girl and he had fallen |
in love with her. After graduating
from the seminary he had proposed; |
but she had refused him A year later, /
when he received a fiattering call to a
parish church in Evanston, he repeat
ed his proposal to Dorothy to become /
his wife, but her answer was no. She
admitted she cared about him. but not
enough to marry him, and promised
that, should she find, in years to come,
that she really could love him she
would write; but he must not propose
10 her again. To this he had reluc-
-antly consented. Now, he had been
n the west for two years and had re-
,eived friendly letters from Dorothy,
out she never had said the words he
20 longed to hear.
And, after all this time, she was
lbout to marry another man and she
begged him to officiate. That seemed
more than he could do. 1t was hard
'nough to know that she was to marry
ome one else-but to perform the
ceremony. No, he never could do
hat. Why was Dorothy so cruel? She
new that the one great hope he had
herished for the last three years was
o make her his wife, He would send
er word at once regretting his in. ,
billy to be at Overlook on the first.
Again the strong desire to please
er-the desire that had mastered him
lnce their first meeting, prompted him :
send telegram of acceptance. He ]
Iould do for Dorothy the one thing
gainst which his soul and heart re.
elled. He would attend her wed. :
ing.
The tub filled, James returned to ar
ange his masters wearing apparel !.
instead OF having to call him a second :
me, as was the custom, his man found
ne minister sitting up In bed staring
Ito vacancy. His brown eyes, no :
niger full of sleep. were unusually :
right and his mouth had become very J,
.ern. !.
DO you recall any engagement for !
ay /, James?" :
The Rev John Ashe had always IN :
epend upon his servant to keep him =
mind of engagements.
We leave New York for Old Point =
omfort, sir, at $780,"
Bless me, | had forgotten. But :,
at doesn't interfere with a IL o'clock a
edding" a a
His servant stared a minute. then ~
Your bath is ready. sir" =
The minister was sure he would i,
ever have performed his duties cor =,
city during the month that followed =,
1t had not been for James. The
ithful man instantly reminded him
things to be done, and when the
irtieth came secured berths. hacked =,
e luggage and. at the last minnie y
indled his master on the train for !,
ew York and the wedding. -
The train rolled along all night and -
e minister slept with a semi-con. - -
iousness that provoked endless -
cams. One was very persistent IN -
lich he proposed to Dorothy and She ~
cepted him. Finally he awoke with -
happy sigh which memory turned 90
to unhappiness. Thus disconsolate =.
arose, for the train was nearine D,
Nv York, and he began the difieuIt -
normanee Of dressing in a sleeping ~ ~
BY $50 ne was crossing the ferry ~
I'm New York to Long Island civ ~,
catch his train. He met no one be
ew; the wedding guests were II
out later in the day.
In an hour he reached Overlook /. de
city little Long Island village r. ha