But it was the first intimation which Jack had had that she was in the land of the living, and to have seen his face as he read it would have touched a heart of stone.
Tears sprang to his eyes, strong young man though he was, and he covered the half-written page with burning kisses. To him those irregular, girlish strokes were dearer than anything else this wide world held, because they were Dorothy's.
Although she had suddenly disappeared, and all her friends had turned against her in the bindery, declaring that she had eloped with the handsome, dark-eyed stranger, he still believed her true. He had been searching for her ever since, without rest--almost without food--day and night, until he had almost worn himself out.
He believed she was in the city somewhere, that she had been ashamed to return to the bindery after that scene on the steamer, and had gone some place else to work, and he walked the streets for hours at a time, searching for her among the crowds of working-girls as they trooped down Broadway in laughing, chattering groups each evening, only to turn away, alas! disappointed and almost broken-hearted.
And thus another month dragged its slow length by. It was well that he did not know where Dorothy was, or what was occurring during those days of suspense.
The news of her betrothal to handsome Harry Kendal had spread over the entire village, and it caused no little sensation in Yonkers, on the outskirts of which Gray Gables was situated; for every one had said that this was the way the affair would terminate when the doctor brought the handsome young stranger beneath the same roof with dashing, dark-eyed Harry Kendal, the _beau-idéal_ of all the girls.
But there was some disappointment when they learned that the marriage would not take place for nearly half a year yet.
"It's all very well _now_, with rosy love in their sky; but delays are dangerous," said some people, shaking their heads ominously.
Dorothy was as happy as the day was long, for she was learning to fairly adore her lover, and treated him in a childish fashion which rather amused every one who saw them together.
If he brought her a box of _bonbons_ she would spring up and throw her arms about his neck, like an overgrown baby, and end by giving him a hearty smack straight on the lips--no matter who was present.