The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-06-01

<bobOlV6 10 DC merry Is
.E All worry to ferry G@ z
ACROSS the famed waters that bid US forget.
Is And no longer fearful. 81 ~
But be happy and cheerful, 2
We feel that life has much that's worth living for
ROMANCE OF THE HOTEL STAR.
The muddy voture drawn by the lazy horse
clnttored over the cobbled pavement of tho
village, and ], seated therein, took in such de-
slis Of tho prospect as were unobscured by the
broad round shoulders Of my charotesr; to
my right sheer precpice Of some 200 feet in
height crowned with shocks OF rudy foliage;
to my left bare landscape that but month
ago had been rich with golden grain; overhead
''sel- blue sky dappled with shifting clouds.
The long avenue of fir and poplar stretched
'oforo mo in wearisome monotony of green
and russell, and the road was moist with rot
ting leaves
Three miles of muddy road, throe miles of
monotonous frs aud poplars, an hour of shake
and jingle of the crazy vehicle, aud we rolled
into The village of Pastal. The round-shouldered
liver checked tho lazy horse at the portals Of
the Hotel of the Star, huge whltowashed
eoitice, its walls pierced by innumerable win
dove, and eurmountad by uaglazed attics, which
stared blindly at the dreary fields beyond the
swollen stream, turgid with late rains. There
were. half dozen iron topped tables and as
many chars and benches, all in state Of
clammy perspiration, ucder the damp awning
above the windows Of tho salon. At one of the
windows there was q face, which flushed aud
paled as descended from the carriage. and %
entered tho public room the same face met
me at tho door. Not an unhands ,me face, if
judged by the Standards of form and Color but
one which expressed irresolution aud moral
shift s-ness, if face ever did vet
s'Mr. Gur:lon what in the name of wonder
brings You hero!"
Business" I replied; Important bust
ness"
"Indeca! With whom?'
The question was superhuous. as his shiftin !,
glance and irresolute Voice woald have tod any
on!ooker
''Wth you," I answered Ho looked at mo
swiftly and lowered his eyes again. "We can
talk here, I suppose"
eyes," he raid sullenly enough. "rLcre
isn't a soul in tho house who Ypd srst."tls
English. Hasn't besn for the last fortnight"
He drew q chair To the traless stove, and sat
chaing his hands in evident discomfort took
q seat at some lite distance
CLOVIS Mary?" lie asked presently without
looking up.
He was silent again for q minute, and thon
broke out ENORMOUSLY:
Cant you say, something to fellow?
What's the matter?"
i nave COLQe Will INC 1utoullOn OF saying
something; and you ought to know what the
matter is. Why have you not wrltten!"
II have written"
s'She received your last Letter month ago :"
He uttered an lnartculate growl by way of
answor, and repeated my question
"What is there to write about in q hole like
this?"
'Walter, my lad" answered quietly. ignor-
ing the puerility Of his excuse aud the inso-
lence Of his tone, sit won't do"
''What won't do?"
''Your conduct. And you must alter it. I
have como here at some personal lnconven-
ience, and if am to be of any use at all, You
must behave frankly. Now. what's tho
matter? Some new ENHANCEMENT, I sup
pose?"
"By Jove, sir, it's not my fau!t-upon my
soul, it's not like Mary a thousand times
better than THAN like her. But she won't
take NO. for on answer What's a poor devil
to do with woman like that?"
sHave you ever given her NO for an an-
swer?"
he answered nothing, but sat modify staring
at the fire.
evil you ever have an ounce Of pluck or
shred OF common honest.?"
He growled again, and shifted his feet un-
easily:
''Who is she: What is her name?"
> MADAME Malines," answered Walter.
\ "Malines? know the nams. Have ever
\ ct her?"
y
v low of Maliues, the French acadcmician, the
dictionary fellow"
"Indesd! But he was an old man, surely.
How old is she?"
. %Tw'epy:;e'ight or thirty, :. suppose"
"Hcre, about six weeks ago, and she mado
dead set at mo-confounh her!-tho moment
she set eyes on me. I'm tho unluckiest beggar
that ever lived. think"
'What do you mean by made dead set of
"why, monopolized me, and hunted me-
about. Wherever went"
''She is in the hoto! at prosont?"
''she will be soon. She's gone for drive. ("
;. "Wel," J. asked presently, "what are your
"Gorlon, 1don't know; I can't tell" He
room. II can't und ers!and things at all, N.Y.
self, or her, when she's away care nothing
for her; hate her!" no broke out, with sud
have like hound. should have been back
in England month ago if it had not been for
her. But I can't 80. What would be the
good? She knows I'LL about mo and would be
on my track by the next boat"
Have you told her of your engagement"
'No," no answered. with shifty eyes; 81
dared not"
s.What do you mean by dared not'?"
II, Looked Mt me quickly.
sWa' I'LL ynu SEQ her and ti:cn ask that"
His cowartlice respecting tho woman Of
whom he spoke had put ono suspicion into my
mind which I did not hesitate to express
plainly.
sYour connection is, at lenst, blamoless?"
ENTIRELY. swear it, Gordon. en- my SOUL"
had cleared little ground for my opera
tions and began forthwith
eff yeu we're Free il your engagement with
Mary did not exist. what would be your feelings
toward Madame Malines?"
"As they ore now"
.Whu& are they now?"
"Far Of her when she is present; dislike
when ahe is away"
II have Que more question to ask, Walter;
imp'ore you 10 answer it truthfully. What aro
your feelings toward Mary?"
II lovo her-I never knew how much until
met Madsms Malines."
Tho early winter evening had closed so
thickly about us tina. could not see his face;
but Judging by his voice, which had for mo-
ment lost it's irresoute character, 1 believed
him. We wore silent for some little time. and
in our silence the singing of the river came up
distinctly from below. A clumsy Famande,
one of the, servants of tho no
tel, entered and clamped about the room,
lighting tho lamps affixed to the walls. She
went and, turning my eyes to my COM
panion's face, saw upon it the intent look of
one who listens eagerly. listened too Clear
through tho rhytllmic cadence of the swollen
stream came tho beat of horses hoofs and the
softenod rel of carriage wheels on dead leaves,
and, with sudden shock of sound, horses and
wheels struck uOOn the cObblo-stOnes of the