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Newspaper Page Text
It was not often that Una attended any usual functions. Hers had be come a 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 birthday celebration in the next town. He had shown marked atten tion to Una and she regretted it and decided this would be the last time she would accompany him. An open carriage from the livery called for them. The driver sat muf fled up on the front seat in his great coat. Una's escort carelessly re garded 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 flat proposal for her hand in marriage. "I am very sorry," she said, "but you must not speak of this again." "There is some Qther?" "There alwayB has been!" mur cured Una softly; "it 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 a bank note with the words: "Thanks for catering to my fancy to act as a driver on a special occa sion," and kept his face shaded, as during his Bpell at the lines. Mr. Dorsett got up his turkey appe tite the next dayl That evening Una, her father and mother and her sister were invited guests, and it cheered up Mr. Dorsett 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 preparation of the meal. She hustled from kitchen'to dining room, fairly in her element. "All ready " she announced at last, and the well-browned turkey was ushered into evidence. "That is strange!" spoke Una, returning to the kitchen and finding the outside door glightly open. Sh& picked up thecov- ered dish of sweet potatoes, carried it to the table and sat down, feeling she had done her duty and was ready for the due reward. "I declare! this is simply grand and neighborly" began Mr. Dorsett, and then he came to an abrupt pause, the cover to the potato dish in his hand. He dropped it to stare past a steamy veil within the dish at a neat rubber banded package of papers. "What's this?" he exclaimed, and then fell back, overcome. "Bonds!" "Bonds?" repeated Una, vaguely, rising up from her chair and hurrying over to his side. "Yes," uttered Mr Dorsett, hoarse ly, as though same quick suggestion brought partial illumination to his mind, "and the same bonds identical ly that I ordered two years ago and that Wilfred Wilfred What does this mean?" "It means it must mean Wilfred!" ventured Una, with a speedy gleam of intelligence. "Did you call me?" interrupted a new voice, and there in the doorway stood Wilfred Dorsett! The old man got up, shaking from head to foot. Una stood staring, pal pitating. "It's all right, father," spoke the newcomer, moving to the side of Mr. Dorsett and placing a loving gentle hand upon the silvered white head. "You true angel!" burst forth the returned wanderer, and his arms were extended and Una ran into them. "Ah, you were all ready for me!" Yes, there, as at every meal Una at tended to in the lonely house, was the plate set for the missing one. Next to it she had sat and there a mo ment later those two were together. "I slipped that package into the dish just now in the kitchen," ex plained the returned outcast. "I drove you over to the party last night, Una. I heard your answer to your escort. Then I knew I might hope." "He has come home he is back. 3 Jf -i jlj T - .a:------vi- f w K. lH