The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-05-04
MARGARET.

tirst met Margaret, in small Western
town where went to nurse q sicl
friend. The nearest railroad station was
twelve miles away, and the letter which
had sent in advance having miscarried,
there was no one at the station to meet
me.
1t was late at night, but availing my.
self of a waiting coach that carried pas.
sengers to and fro, arrived, after what
seemed an interminably long drive, at a
large house that was dimly outlined
against the sky.
There was a general look Of forlorness
about the place, as though things were
going to ruin; and owing to the lateness
of the hour, we had some difficulty in
efecting an entrance; but my coachman
at length made himself heard, and a
window-sash having been thrown up, q
childish voice called out, imperiously,
'Stop your racket! I'm coming"
The door was almost Immediately un
locked and partly opened; small head
thrust out.
s'Is that you, Sam Barnes? Has any,
thing happened to pa?" was eagerly
demanded.
Dunno nothin' bout yer pa. This
here lady is come to stay" returned
Sam, indicating me with wave of the
hand. and shouldering my trunk.
"Oh! that's it, is it?" said the child, in
q relieved tone. And then, turning to
me with kind of pert embarrassment,
and throwing the door wide open, she
said
"Well, if you have come to stay, per-
haDs you had better walk in"
l complied with this oddly-worded in
yitation and walked into wide, dark
hall, lit by d tallow candle, which sput.
tered dismally in tin candle-stick on
the one table.
I paid and dismissed Sam, and found
myself alone with an odd young person,
who had crossed her hands behind her
and was leaning against the wall, staring
a6 me with the utmost sang-froid.
There was no suggestion of youth about
her, except in her small, slight figure
end certain immaturity about the thin,
sharp features.
She might have been thirteen or thir-
", so impossible was it to decide upon
the bundle of contradiction presented by
her dress, manner and physique. T
heard later that she was eleven.
She wore ill-ftting, cumsily-made
clothes, but her brows were straight and
well.marked. and she had pair oflarpe.
extraordinarily intelligent eyes, that
looked all the larger for the blush cir
'aes under Them,
But It was the worn, anxious lines in
the chlld's face that most attracted nv
attention. l was struck, too, by her man
ner, which had certain mixture ofcom-
posure and restlessness, of frankness and
reserve.
81 am Miss Jeanret's friend, and have
come to take care of her." said, in ex-
planation. elbow is she?"
Better, | fixed her poultice this af.
tenoon, and she has been asleep nearly
ever since. You can see her in the morn
ing; shell be precious glad you've come"
You fixed her poultice!' I exclaimed.
why, where was--everybody?" I con-
cluded, iamely, unable to particularize.
''Oh, Aunt Stubs is most as blind as a
bat, and ma aim tgood for anything where
there are sick people. Ma is nervous.
and she always CT es and drops things. 1
am glad happened to hear you at the
door. 1t is too bad you were kept wait
in. You look awful tired. was dreamin.
and heard the knockin', but 1 thought il
was pa maxim a coffin for the baby"
II am afraid frightened you," said.
"You seemed to think something dread.
full had happened to your father, I wrote
your aunt that was coming, and thought
she would be expecting me; but I sup
pose she didn't get the letter."
"No, it didn't come that I know. Did
you put it in yellow envelope?"
IL don't remember" answered, sur
prised at the inquiry. 81 don't think I
"She always burns those without read
ing them. Billie, you know. Pa is out
late tonight he is making up his books"
And you are sitting mp for him, like
q good daughter" naturally answered.
She ddarted an angry glance at me and
~ amt doing anything of the SORT"
said she, sharply. 81 had to he up and
down with the baby, and I thought 1
might as well stay dressed"
Surprised at having annoyed her, I
said, what baby? Whose baby? Not
yours. surely"
'My little brother. Such dear! Now,
let me- see; where will I put you to
sleep"
g! won't wake Aunt Stnbbs up; it's no
use" she went on reaectively. cob! I
know; you can go in Miss Warnings
EQom. She is away. She is awful fussy.
Shed hav. a fit If e knew you hai. her
room. III go get the key"
With that she ran upstairs, but came
back al!Aost instantly, and gathering up
an armful OF my wraps and parcels, she
led the way into a large, bare, dismal
bedroom on the first floor.
"Nice. isn't it?" said the child lighting
the candle and looking around with an
all the things belong to Aunt Stubs,
she has them. Ifyou have got all you
want, am off,"
81 shall do very well now, thank you.
vou go?"
Her hand was on the door-knob as I
spoke.
Margaret" said she, and went out;
but she opened the door again immedi-
ately, and added, "Rea,' and without
waiting for another nodded twice in a
jerky, ungraceful fashion, aud disap
peared.
Tired out by my days experience, I at
once undressed and went to Ued, but
alas! not to sleep. After tossing and
tambling about restlessly for Two or
three hours, I determined to try what a
sedative could do tor me, although l
rarely resorted to anything Of the kind
The bottle was in my large bag, and the
bag found had been lett in the hall.
lopened the door softly and looked
out. aud there. sitting on chair with
her head resting on the table, sound
asleep. was my new acquaintance
The poor child had rolled up her
apron as a substitute for a pillow, and
made footstool of my bag. She looked