The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-10-05

was at hand Inc excuse OF having been watched
or prevented, and Pete could be coaxed or
treated into sharing what spoil he had from the
Poysetts'.
That evening Mrs. Poysett and Linda had an
eary tea, and, having done the indoor work,
sat down for one Of the quiet talks that had
grown so precious because they were 80 soon
to cease. The journey to Illinois was so long,
and Linda's beginning a new life such serious
matter, that it seemed the two would never
have done talking it all over. Henry, the near
est neighbours boy, had shut up the barn long
ago, the milk was strained, and the pals were
washed
"pve laid out dozen O. them coarse crash
towels for your dishes, Indy" said Mrs. Poy-
sett "Yes, know you've got lot O. new
ones; but you can't have too many o. such
things. There amt any such thing as bein'
extrayagant about keepin' your dishes clean
say she believed I'd like . coan towel to every
cup Lindy, how glad am that you amt got
to live with y mother-in-law!" A husky sigh
Of relief was here Mrs. Poysett's tribute to the
memory Of the woman who had made the first
ten years Of her married life discipline.
s'To think John and Frank will be here to-
morrow night at z o'clock!" said Linda dream
Muther?"
eyes; and guess we'd better be abed just
early we can get oh heF X ra b phss d
that in the dark, for Liuda had taken the lamp
into the kitchen. Slight! Well, declare" said
the good lady Us the clock struck after she had
groped her way up stairs Sand it's right. too;
for Lidy put it round this mornin'. Seems to
Linda came in with the lamp. 81 don't b'lieve
but what you went through some extra fasten-
in up, now we're alone"
mot bit, mother" said Linda, with smile
cut short by yawn 81 stopped to put the cat
out"
81 always think of what your father said"
unused the old lady. TT was after the Hamp-
stead murder. We never'd had our doors fast.
ened in the world till then, aud as soon as news
OF that come, everybody was scared to death,
and your father put button on the back door.
And the first night he turned it. he laid awhile
thinkin'. aud then says he, If there's only
wooden button between me and death, guess
I'll trust in the Lord and not the button' So
he won't down stairs and turned it back again.
What lot of hair You have got, Indy, and
how quick you braid itl'
When Pete crept up to the house at 10, the
women had been soundly asleep for two hours.
He tried the kitchen window; it had no fasten-
ing, and went up noiselrssy. He stepped in
and stood trembling. The clock in the next
room licked with appalling loudness. His knees
smote together, but it required as much cour-
age now to fec as to remain. Perhaps for ten
minutes-perhaps hours, judging by his, own
exaggerated reckoning-he stood III fear: aud
then, as tho clock licked steadily as if 1t had
no reference to him, his heart beats grew faint
or and his courage crawled back.
He crept toward the sitttng-room door on bis
hands aud knees. There stood the old desk,
ated shadow ind half thrown into light by a
shalt from the moon. Probably the key was in
the lock. He had seen it there himself o dozen
times-had seen Frank bring in fat roll of
bills after selling his oxen, toss them in there
AID put down the cover without turning the
1.nv Go1 rf,1NI in alk 1,N,,
and SO people trusted more in human nature
aud less in steel and wood. But the sitting-room
WAS so light! He should never dare go in there;
the very thought of having his shadow thrown
on the wall, distorted like those Of the tables
and chairs, gave him another sicksning spasm
Of fear. What il there we're only women in
the house? Suppose ono appeared? where
should he hide himself? He was not thief by
nature or training. He would crouch down in
a corner and wait for Whettles. He had been
longer, and with an alarming preliminary whir
it struck twelve. He started up with an after
impulse OF gratitude that he had not shrieked.
When had the hour before struck? 1t seemed
incredible that he could have slept, but it must
have been 80, or, what was more probable, he
had besn too absorbed to hear it. It was time
for Whettles. He crept back to tue kitchen
window and waited in the cod draught Of mir.
Minutes passed. each seeming ten. He began to
grow angry. Did the fellow mean to play him
false and not come at alp As anger rose, his
courage to do the deed ebbed do not believe
conscience asserted itself very strongly. Life
was harder than it had been even one day
before, and there was no -four in the house
now. He was still bitterly ct odds with life, but
the after effects of tho whisky Whettles had
had gwen him were nervousness aud irresolu.
ton. The clock gave warning for another hour.
False, friendly old clock, if he could have seen
your face he would have known it looked ten
minutes Of midnight then; instead, he believed
it would strike one. Too late for Whertles.
Perhaps he was now at the old elm; he would
hurry there and bring him back to do his
share Of the work. He closed the window
behind him and hurried OF to the rendezvous.
There was no one there. At that moment the
relief of having been prevented from sin
overbalanced every other feeling Some
thing must have happened to Whet-
ties; perhaps he had been caught; perhaps he
wou d say that his accomplish was waiting for
for home, to find his wife waiting for him in
the moonlight
She was too thankful at finding him sober to
woman of tact, she did not question, but went
to sleep, while Pete lay till daybreak in cold
bath Of fear, expecting rap and summons to
jail at every tapping Of bough or snapping Of
frost-bltten nail.
Wheitles had fingered about Turner's. q great
house over tho hill, in the hope that the guests
for there was party that night-would take
their leave But no; the house was lighted
from chambers to parlor, and sleighs came in
stead of going away. He walked up and down
in the orchard, cursing himself to keep warm.
Later and Later, and the singing and dancing
of shadows Oh the curtains did not cease. He