The herald., 1921-06-30
DULCIE'S HEART
BY MoLLiE MATTER.
"a. 1871. ws.,.r, Newspaper UniOn-)

Dulcie's heart was broken. She was
sure that ii was broken. for she coulo
take no interest In anything, and her
music was all in minor key. This was
serious with Dulcie. as teaching music
was her profession; and Aunt Dulcenia
Stebbins. for whom she was named,
had prophesied failure In her musical
venture when she left the lonely house
that had sheltered her from orphaned
childhood, and had gone into the city
to seek her fortune. Everything wouio
have run smoothly II Homer mao MOI
appeared upon the scene.
Homer was the assured young man
who had recently broken Duicles
heart. She had heard that travel ana
change Of scene were the remedies
most conducive to the healing OF
broken hearts, so Dulcie gloomy
searched the advertising columns OF
the papers for some desirable destina-
ton.
ITO rent or for sale," she read, lone
farm cottage" situated at extreme END
of Bowman's village-horse and COW
included In bargain" Now. a house
at the extreme end Of a sparsely pop
ulated village would appear to be re-
moved from the danger Of association
with, or. being deceived by, some dan
gerously agreeable man. Dulcie an
swered the advertisement. She mao
an idea of removing her piano to this
isolated spot, and pursuing the further
musical study she needed.
Dulcie warmed to her plan as she
thought of its possibilities, and she
determined not to return to the city
studio until her heart should be wholly
Indifferent to the humiliating pangs re-
Gently inflicted. Homer, by that time
would be married to the gay girl who
had supplanted her In his affection.
When the response to Dulcie's letter
came she ran blithely. for a young
woman Of broken heart, to her room.
where she might Immediately pen her
answering letter Of agreement.
The communication from the adver-
tiser was surprising. Dulcie frowned
over It, because in her new attitude
Of bitterness toward the male sex, 1t
was disturbing to read so honestly dis
interested letter.
HE could not" this unusual renter
said, consider renting his old cottage
to a solitary woman. For a farmer
and his family the place would not
seem so desolate, he advised her to
look elsewhere, and he signed himself
"Bill Doane."
Dulcie sent a tart reply, to the ef'
feet that solitude was what she de-
sired, and that she would arrive by q
stated train to look the place over
She Inscribed herself In full, "Dulcenia
Stebbins." Back came hurried let
ter; Bill Doane would meet her with
the light wagon at the station wher
she arrived. There was no auto OF
bus, he wrote, travelling In that di
rection. Dulcie felt the first sense Of
exhilaration she had known since Ho
mer Stanleigh had so calmly acQuaint
ed her with his engagement.
She decided that she would not b
able to get out to her cottage before
sunset, If she stopped to engage thu
young housekeeper, and the picture o
herself riding through summer sun
set in q spring wagon by Bill Doane'
side was adventurous and unusual.
The more desolate the cottage ap
peared to be upon approach, the bette
Dulcie felt 1t would fit In with he
own mood. She hoped the young cir
she engaged would understand carin
for a horse and cow, for Dulcie firm
ly resolved to have no man helpe
about, not even a crude Bill Doant
She was pleased with her find of CON
panion.
The big young daughter Of Bow
mans hotel keeper eagerly offered he
own services, and was ready to az
company Dulcie to where Bill Doan
had agreed to meet her. He was ther
when they arrived. Dulcte recognize
him by the light spring cart, then sh
flushed an indignant red, which anna;
ingly turned to rose-cOlored discomf
ture, at his engaging smile.
Dulcie had wished to meet no man
this immaculate, pleasing, citifie
young man was appalling. But M
Doane also appeared surprised an
doubtful.
II came to meet Miss Dulcenia Stel
bins" he said doubtfully. "A woma
who rented my heirloom cottage upo
the hill"
Dulcie studied her shoes.
1t was evident that Mr.. Bill Doar
had expected from her own spinste
like name, and the independent tar
49, her letter, to meet dominee
rly woman. All at once bot
ter and her own solitary inclin
appeared unaccountably strang
II have an aunt" Dulcie suggeste
deceitfully, whose name is also Du
cenia Stebbins"
II see," said the pleasing young ma
"and you expect her out later?"
Dulcie nodded, mentally decidir
that Aunt Dulcenia should come.
"GoodW exclaimed the young ma
~ am camping out near our place f
q while. 1t surely will be good
have neighbors."
The fields were fragrant with SUI
mer scents. Over the hills the 6,
went down In glory as Bill Doane 10
ingly drove the old-fashioned ca