Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1917 — “Dorothy Delights” [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

“Dorothy Delights”

By GEORGE HASKELL

(Copyright, 1916, by W. G. Chapman.) Wh<»p Ifftnan Hill suffered a financial collapse, and shortly after passed on to a more peaceful’world, the people of Olmstead wondered,what wouM heroine of the widow and daughter., 'They saw them move out of the handsome residence, but very few lolloped them to the little house in the outskirts of the town, or troubled to hunt up their new address. They Hocked to the auction sale of the fine furniture and ornaments, hut of all the things sold, only one found its way back to its erstwhile owner. This was a picture of an apple orchard in bloom. that young Field knew Dorothy Hill had loved, and he sent it to her .with something of his tender devotion in every word of the note that went with it. ■ People also wondered if the two were engaged. “Arthur Field can’t afford to marry a poor girl.” said the gossipy Mrs. -Lang. “I -happen t<» know what his salary is." “Perhaps all he wanted was her money. Well, time will tell.” Meantime Field-was holding an important conference with Dorothy. “Now, why couldn't we marry on my salary?” he urged in answer to iier plea for a postponement. “For ever so many reasons." she said in a quiet, troubled way. “Mother only has me now. I Couldn't leave Tier. It would be putting too much on you. dear —O yes, too much/* “But I know I shall get a raise soon, and I'm sure we can manage.” “We must wait a little.” she said. “Oh. I know I can’t give you what you've been used to, but —” “It isn’t what we’ve been used to.” she broke in. "Let that go! It doesn’t matter I We have put it away!

It’s just she problem'of three people living on that amount per week. Can it be done, and leave any joy,, any sweetness after the grind and the stress of every day? it's you. dear. I’m thinking of. It would fall heaviest on you.” “No.” he said, “it would be yoii who would suffer most.” He went home very thoughtful. He had never suspected this gay. lighthearted girl of sinh hard common sense; for he began to bl? convinced it was common sense. Soon after this he came to Dorothy with the news that he had been offered a much better position in the largest city of the state. He was leaving • the next week. and. he had grertt hopes of bringing Dorothy and her mother there before long. .......Touetiter_ they built some beautiful air castles in which they were to live happily ever after. Letters flew Steadily hack and forth, and Dorothy was happy'in noting, the cheerful, confident tone in which Field wrote.—--Meanwhile the small amount of money with which they had been left_ was steadily dwindling, and Dorothy saw that- she must try to find something to do. The two wonten knew about as much about the business of earning money as, a mce= little -w hite I.H ten playing with a ball.. “Oh, dear!” wailed the mother. “I don’t know what we can do!” , Once Arthur Plp)<l h»<l sent' her a small check in a letterr delk'ately suggesting she should buy something she liked, but she had sent it back. Dorothy was very proud, perhaps abnormally so. but it was her nature. girt "also wondered what they could do, but " she didn't wail. She set about trying- After a week of set>backß and discouragements, she suddenly said to her mother: "Dearie. Just thought of something. You know I can make the best butter-scotch .going. I’m going to try selling It!” . A. .u “Selling it!" echoed her mother 'blankly. “Who will take it out?”

Poor Mrs. Hill’s horror at the proa (Pect, and her objections and entreaties not effecting a compromise in her daughter’s decision, she lapsed Into tears, but Dorothy remained firm. She made the candy, put it tip in neat boxes, and took it around as samples to several shops where fleets were sold. Tlh“ ratljer novel sight of the once rich and fashionable Miss Field, who. had been wont to stop before their "doors in her own car. offering a sample of her work for sale rather appealed to a few of the men. and she came home with four small orders, but only./m .condition that she was to take t4i**¥tsk of the candy selling. ___ “My poor <hild!” cxclitlmed. Ker mother tragically as Dorothy entered. For answer, Dorothy laughed, and told of iter success. The goods sold well, orders increased, and soon the "Dorothy Delights.” as the candy was called, was bringing in a comfortable little income to the two women. Frank Pearson, an unmarried man of about forty, the head of one of the most important firms that Dorothy supplied, began to take a marked interest in the energetic girl who made, the ready-selling candy. She was always referred to him for orders ami her pay. One day Mr. Pearson found it necessary to call at her house “on bifsiness.” Mrs. Hill invited him to call again, and soon Mr. Pearson became a frequent visitor. Pearson was a man who had not allowed the buying and selling of drugs to entirely monopolize his mental equipment. Music, literature and art were in his spare hours brought to the rest and refreshment of his mind, so the two rather lonely women found his society pleasing and congenial..-. But Dorothy in no wise wavered in her devotion ’to Arthur Field, —His letters told of encouraging success and raise of salary. She, in turn, in-f+n-iHwi him of her flourishing “business." and he wrote that very soon they would be together. One evening Pearson, who had been away for a week on_a business trip to the hig city, casually mentioned having met Field. Dorothy’s eager interest shone in her face as she asked: “How is he?”

“Very well.” answered Pearson. “Enjoying himself hugely; leading the gay life, doesn’t let much get by him,” “What—what do you mean?” stammered the girl. “Oh, I don’t mean he drinks or does anything disreputable —at least, I don’t know that he does. I only know I -saw hinrjn a“cnbaret treattitg three’ pretty lively girls to dinner.” “Who were they?” “I can’t remember even one of their names, though he introduced-me. Oh, Field is keep!ng right up with the procession,” he laughed. Dorothy-did--not go to sleep very early that night. She began to think she had noticed of late some change in his letters. But, no. she would not believe anything wrong of him —but the pillow was wet with tears. The next letter from Field was rather brief, and evidently hurried. Then came a lapse of two weeks, in which she heard nothing. It seemed to her now 6he must acknowledge the bitter truth. Her pride asserted itself, and she determined not to ask for any explanation. At last a typewritten letter came telling of having been very busy, and promising to soon write again. He had never before sent her a typed letter. She even had doubts of it’s having come from him. It rema fined —h n answered; — Pearson had made it unite dear to Mrs. Hill that ho wished to become her son-in-law. The lady was; highly in of the alliance, but Dorothy heartbrokenly refused th consider marriage with anyone just then. AH the zest and Joy of Jiving seemed to have gone out of life. She began to wonder if she ought to make the sacrifice her mother asked. ' Suddenly -she heard a voice that made her heart stand still; and Field stood before her. “Are you going to marry- Pearson?” he asked. • _ “Hitvr you any right to- inquire?” she flashed. . > Then he told her how, when he was showing the town to three cousins from Omaha, Pearsoft had come up and told him, in the course of the talk, that he was engaged to her. He had been terribly ill, but meant as soon as he cotild to come and see for himself. Poor Mrs. Hill was actually dazed with the sudden_change in sons-in-law.

“Are You Going to Marry Pearson?" He Asked.