The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-01-09
CHAPTER XIII.
Doris.

"A young girl named Doris Scott?"
The station-master looked some
what sharply at the man he was adj
dressing, aud decided to give the di-
rection asked.
There is but one young girl in
town of that name," he declared, "and
she lives in that little house you see
just beyond the works. But let me
tell you, stranger" he went on with
some precipitation
But here he was called off, and
warning, if warning it was meant to
be. This did not trouble the detect
i've. He stood a moment, taking In
the prospect; decided that the works
and the works alone made the town,
and started for the house which had
been pointed out to him. His way lay
through the chief business street, and
greatly preoccupied by his errand, he
gave but a passing glance to the rows
on rows of workmen's dwellings
stretching away to the left in SEEM
ingly endless perspective. Yet in that
glance he certainly took in the fact
that the sidewalks were blocked with
people and wondered if it were holt
day. If so, it must be an enforced
one, for the faces showed little joy.
Possibly a strike was on. The anx-
tety he everywhere saw pictured on
young faces and old, argued some
trouble; but if the trouble was that,
why were all heads turned Indifferent
ty from the works, and why were the
works themselves in full blast?
These questions he may have asked
himself and he may not. His atten-
ton was entirely centered on the
house he saw before him and on the
! possible developments awaiting him
there. Nothing else mattered. Brisk
ly he stepped out along the sandy
road, and after turn or two which
| led him quite away from the works
and it's surrounding buildings, he
came out upon the highway and this
house.
It was low and unpretentious one.
and had but one distinguishing fea-
ture. The porch which hung well over
the doorstep was unique in shape and
gave an air of picturesqueness to an
otherwise simple exterior; pic
turesqueness which was much en-
HANGED in it's effort by the background
Of illimitable forest, which united the
foreground of this pleasing picture
with the great chain of hills which
held the works and town in its ample
basin.
As he approached the doorstep, his
mind involuntarily formed an anticip.
atory image Of the child whose first
stitches in embroidery were like q
3 tairy's weaving to the strong mangwho
worked in ore and possibly figured out
bridges. That she would prove to be
If the ancient type, common among
working girls gifted with: an imagina
ton they have but scant opportunity
to exercise, he had little doubt.
i He was therefore greatly taken
aback, when at his first step upon the
porch, the door before him few oper
!. and he beheld In the dark recess be
! yond a young woman OF such bright
and blooming beauty that he hardly
s noticed her expression Of extreme
, anxiety, till she lifted her hand and
laid an admonit1ry finger softly OF
her lip: s
i "EIush!" she whispered, with, al
earnestness which roused. him from
his absorption and xast6feA him to til,
iall meaning Of this encounter. "Ther'
: is sickness in the house and we art
very .anxious. Is your errand an i'm
poftaht one? II not" The falter
g Ing break in the fresh, young voice
, the look she cast behind her into TIT
! darkened interior. were eloquent Will
] the hopa thai. he would recognize. he
imUat3ence and pass on. =