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

and EinsstantIY sthe d chit
lsEterted TO her feet went to the doDI
and admitted b tall mar, shabby dressed
land too evid lily into xicated. sS3
1 That the dickens do you mean b,
/ keeping your old father waiting7" be
demanded, angrily. Y b, q,
Hush, pal" she answered. DON
make noise. Twas asleep and didn'
hear you. Sit down there, now, and
let me take off your Shoes" half-guid
ing him to tho chair she. had vacated
she gave him little push that sent hin
into it safely, though rather askew, anc
kneeling down, she rapidly divestec
him of q pair of dusty brogans.
'"Thank you, my dear .child, thanh
you, You are the handsoinest of all my
children, Margaret, much the handsom.
est, and you have always been my favor
ite, !" remarked the father, with vinout
impressiveness, attempting to embrace
her as she rose to her feet.
eyes, pa, know I am beauty; bu,
hadn't you letter come up stairs?" sale
she, avoiding his arm, but giving him d
kiss Of her own accord on the forehead
"Make me bed here, my dear.
bear to give trouble" suggested Mr.. Rea
u
can't do that, Come along!" and with
this, Margaret helped him up and pro.
PEELED him toward the stairs.
Take care, pa, you'll fall" she cried
as he tripped on the first step, and to.
gether they slowly mounted to the foo,
above.
Their footsteps died away; 1 made q
second and more successful attempt Ia
get my bag, took my medicine, and after
thinking over the little scene / had lust
witnessed, dropped into sleep thai
lasted well toward noon of the following
day.
Margaret awoke me, by bringing in
my breakfast, and sat down near me
while I ate it.
II am surprised to find how late it is,''
[ said: What have you been doing this
morning, Margaret"
We'll. lsl.ec the bahy'e eums. an
dressed the children and gave them
their breakfast, and then went to the
butchers for Aunt Stubbs, and came
home and put the feathers in mas bon
net, and sewed the buttons on pas coat.
and gave Miss Jeanret her pills, and
then made your chocolate, and brought
your breakfast"
"And how is my frierd?" I asked,
unable to restrain laugh at the gravity
with which she ratified off this extra
ordinary list of occupations.
"She says it most cures her to hear
that you've come, and she sends her
love: Have you known her long?"
YES" said, "she was my governess
years ago, and We have been friends
ever SINCE"
"Aunt Stubbs says she hopes you will
q = a H.
cause Miss Waring is coming back and
will snort if she finds you in her room.
But don't you hurry for that. The
boarders are all dying to see you, and
ma is going to put her best dress on for
dinner"
expressed as best could my appre-
citation of this compliment.
"You haven't eaten your meat" she
went on. presently. Nobody ever
eats it after the first day. Mr.. Smith,
one of the boarders, says he hopes it
will be better now you've come. But it
won't, you'll see. Aunt Stubs never
has any money, and the butcher SAYS he
can't stand it. I hate that MANI
I laughed again at this, and Margaret
rose.
II must go now," she said, and left
the room.
As soon as I was dressed, went to
see my dear old governess, whom I
found very weak, though convalescent.
Her delight at seeing me knew no bounds.
"Ah," said she, 81 have made no such
friends since am in America as your so
kind family. And I have suffered, yes.
But for la petite, cette drole Marguer-
lite, Ia niece de Madame StubbsSyou
have seen?-I would now be not here.
Ellie q 80 much encouraged me par ses
conseils, ellie ma soignee, as if was
been her own mother. Cest une angel
l was soon established in a little room
that opened into hers by Mrs. Stubs in
person. She was q frowzy. subdued-
looking woman, with a wondering eye,
and q chronically apologetic manner, and
ing and cap that was never straight
during the six weeks it came under NV
notice.
She was of reminiscent turn ofmind,
and as she had adored her late lord, ]. C.
B. Stubs, she told me rather more about
his brilliant talents. and striking appear
ance, and remarkable peculiarities than
1 cared to hear. But she was a good
soul, and worked like a beaver, and
sheltered her brother and his family
under a roof, every shingle ofwhich was
mortgaged.
John had:dxed up the place splendid
ly," she once told me, "and when be
YVES elected to the Legislature, he said
to me, "Maria, we must have a door
plate" and he got it, and week after it
was screwed on, my poor John was
taken out right past it and buried"
The first day. at dinner. was intro
dured to Margaret's parents. Her mother
was peevish looking woman, with
tremendous pretensions to gentility.
Everything with her was either "gen-
teel," or "ungenteel."
Her best dress was very bad, indeed.
It was q cheap silk, most deliberately
made, and surmounted by dirty lace
collar, fastened with pin very nearly
as large as the Stubs door-plate and
made of the same metal.
She had evidently once been pretty,
and was determined to be so still, if
rouging, and .powdering, and frizzling,
and furbelowihg could accomplish that
end.
When I spoke of having met Marear.
at ease, and spoke of her patronizingly
rs 80 good child, but very plain, )" adding
'ater that she was "llke her pas family"
and, presumably, not 'genteel" in con-
sequence.
The father was gigantic in stature, and
mild in manner, with red nose, and
brandy-and-watery eyes, that told his
story to even the least observant locker
on.
He seemed pleased when I spoke
Margarets kindness to my friend, and
persistently passed me all the dishes lie
could reach, including one quite at the
other end Of the table: while Mr.. Smith,
the postmaster, small, 6erce-looking,