Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-05-04

o-O-O-o-o-o-OC-O-O-O
The house stood in a grove Of red
cedars that reared their conical tops
above the low roof.
Once when she was quite little
girl Dorinda Rodman had asked her
mother q qcestion: "Why did grand
father plant such black trees? They
hide the sun"
Mrs Rodman tapped Dorinda's gold
en- head with her thimble and frowned.
sGrandfather planted the trees be-
cause he wanted them to grow there.
You should be thankful that there b
such a pleasant shade during the hot
weather, child"
sBut they are 80 black" protested
Dorinda-
They are very beautiful" returned
Mrs. Rodman, with an air Of decision.
Dorinda grew up to womanhood be
lieving that the cedar trees that grew
about her home and Swallowed 1t from
dawn till sunset were beautiful be-
cause Grandfather Rodman had plant
ed them sixty years ago when he made
q home In the wilderness for his little
family.
Inside the house Dorinda cared fol-
two old, old men. brothers Of her
grandfather.
you should put them away in some
institution, Dorinda." said q neighbor
one day when the girl had hurried
past on her daily trip to the village.
you'll die taking care of those two
old men, You're young. and you ought
to be having good time"
"They are all the relatives have In
the world" said Dorinda quietly. Il
could not let them 60 to strangers ~
long AZ have roof over my head"
Her golden hair began to lose its
luster and her gray eyes to grow sad
and troubled with care, but Gilbert
Fame continued to make his weekly
call upon her. Once every year be
asked her to marry him, to leave the
Cedar House and make her home with
him In some brighter, happier spot. At
last he even besought Dorinda to bring
the two uncles and they would manage
somehow.
But Dorinda always shook her bead
decidedly. ''They love the old place.
Gilbert, and they want to i've and die
here. Az for me, shall not marry
any one Do not wait for me. When
am left alone shall go awayf
when you are left alone you shall
marry me-" declared Gilbert hotly.
You have lived 30 long In the shadow
Of this dark house that you do not
know how happy You may be some
day. Let me cut down the trees, Do
rinda, and let some sunshine into the
windows"
Il love the red cedars," interrupted
Dorinda coldly. MY grandfather plant.
ed them"
when your grandfather planted
those trees the hillside was a wilder
ness and there was no protection
against the sweep Of the northwest
wind. The tall growing woods ON the
other side Of the river form a wind.
break now, and You can well dispense
with the cedars-"
] d." said Dorinda obstinately.
After that Gilbert Fame stayed away
from the Cedar House, and Dorinda
nursed her two uncles In solitude. Al
last they died in the late winter.
Perhaps the kindly neighbors did moi
know that now. with her labor torn
away from her hands, she was quite
lost and very much frightened at hei
own loneliness One quiet woman
stayed with her and helped her dis
mantle the old house and store the fur.
lniture in the large barn. Everybody
knew now that the place was mort
gagged to its full value and that the
interest had not been paid. The last
expenses attendant upon the two un.
cles had made Dorinda almost penni-
less. The man who held the mortgage
had waited patiently for his money
Now the place must be sold Dorinds
wanted to go away before 1t happened
Early one March morning she climb
ed into the stage and saw her on
trunk tumbled into the seat beside the
driver. The woman who had stayed
with her locked the door of the house
and walked along the path beside the
rumbling stage and talked to Dorinda
Az they passed Gilbert Fane's big
lot next to the Cedar House Dorinds
saw gang Of men digging into the
brown turf. what are they doingr
she asked.
THAT'S the foundation for GU
Fane's new house." interpolated the
stage driver.
As they rolled through the village
toward the railroad station Dorinda
waved her hand to the few friends
ishe cared for and little later wa
iwhirling away In the train toward thu
teity.
Dorinda did not seek employment
In the shops or factories. nor did she
attempt any work that she did not
thoroughly understand. She found 4
position as domestic In a small house
hold and thus Immediately was In pos
session Of a home and good wages,
10 her surprised mistress she explain.
tsd the situation: II have no time -
learn q new trade. / must earn money
and buy back my old home. Being