Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-12-10
SHE WAS
AS TRUE AS
STEEL.
BY ALVAH J. GARTH
20 by W. O. Chapman.

Il Old Abner Dorset sat
crouched over the embers of
dying fire In his desolate home.
Time was when he had stormed and
raved whenever he thought or talked
OF his missing son. He had disowned
him, had almost cursed him. Time,
however, had softened the smart of a
terrible disappointment, severe blow
to fatherly trust and affection.
Wilfred Dorset, bright, handsome,
twenty-five, engaged to Una Walden,
the prettiest girl In Winsted, had been
sent to the city by his father to invest
the earnings of years, some fifteen
thousand dollars in bonds He had
kissed his neighbours daughter, gen
tie Una, good-by with all his accus-
toned sincerity. He was to return In
two days. On the third there came an
appalling telegram. 1t read:
Forget me- / have lost all the
money through gambling"
From that day until this, through
two lonely, heart-breaking years, old
Abner Dorset had gone about the de-
serted house like a dazed dumbed
creature unable to rally from a dead
ening shock.
1t was Una who had won him final
ly from his bitterness and despair.
Whatever her sufferlngs, poor girl, she
never let the world know their depths.
She hid her misery with a smile. She
felt II her duty to care for the poor
old man, whose life, like her own, had
met with sudden, devastating ship
wreck She nursed him through a Sc
we're fit of sickness. Every day now
she visited him, tidying up the house,
often preparing his midday meal,
bringing him tempting dajnties AL
ways was she cheerful, loving and at
tentIve. And as to wilfred-her lips
would tighten with a slight touch of
pain, her eyes momentarily become
humid, but she would say brnvely:
He will come back some day-a
new Wilfred Dorset Oh, know 1t
will be"
The old man, aroused from his rev.
erie as there was a suspicious noise,
a sort of rustling and cackling. Then
with bright eyes and cheeks glowing
with excitement, Una burst into the
room through the rear doorway.
what now, Miss Mischief /" charged
Mr.. Dorset, rouslng up maglcally I'M
der the influence Of that bright spirit.
"a turkey I" was the smiling reply.
ave got two fat young, tender ones.
Mother insisted that l bring this one
over. It's alive and there is a bag of
corn with 1t. Some real turkey wealth
er will come along, and will be over
here to cook 1t for you and help you
eat It,"
always thinking up some way to
do me kindness !" murmured the old
man, greatly moved. IF only"
He paused there, and her face fell,
too. Each instinctively thought Of the
they 50 missed and so cher
ished. Then Una chased away the
gloom by talking of the mince pie and
cranberry sauce they would have at
their prime feast
II was not often that Una attended
any unusual functions. Hers had be-
come home life, but once in a while
some close girl friend would tease her
into attending a party or reception,
That same evening the brother Of such
a friend became her escort to a birth
day celebration In the next town. He
had shown marked attention to Una,
and she regretted 1t and decided this
would be the last time she would ac-
him.
An open carriage from the livery
called for them The driver sat muf-
fled up on the front seat In his great
coat Unas escort carelessly regard
ed him as the sleepy headed driver he
usually employed, and after they had
driven a mile or two, to the distress
Of Una, made a fiat proposal for her
hand In marriage.
81 am very sorry" she said, but
you must not speak of this again"
'"There Is some otherT'
There always has been !" murmured
Una softly; ut will be always the
same"
The driver moved, stirred with some
deep emotion, but silently drove them
to their destination and back home
again. When he took the team to the
livery he handed Its proprietor bank
note with the words:
Thanks for catering to ny fancy
TO act as a driver on special occa-
slon," and kept his face shaded, as
during his spell at the lines.
Mr.. Dorset got up his turkey qppe-
lite the next day. That evening Una,
her father and mother and her sister
we're invited guests, and 1t cheered
up Mr.. Dorset to be In such friendly
company. Una looked charming in her
spotless white bib and tucker She
would allow no one to help her In the
of the neal She hustled
from kitchen to dining room, fairly in
1er element.
"All ready" she announced at last,
and the well-browned turkey was ush-
cred into evidence. "That ID strange"
spoke Una, returning to the kitchen |
and finding the outside door slightly !
open. She picked up the covered dlsh
If sweet potatoes carried It to the
liable and sat down, feeling she had
lone her duty and was ready for the
Tue reward.
81 declare this is simply grand and
lei Rhborly"-beg Mr.. Dorset, and |
hen he came to an abrupt pause, the
over to the potato dish In his hand |
he dropped II to stare past a steamy |