The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-09-28
ses-but tie fair, flushed face before

a
~ gather . bouquet foryou,' she said,
They we're not missed from Ia, p,,a ,l
until Bridget announced that tea was
ready, and Mr.. Fairfax, coming in at
that moment from the village, where he
had been detained. asked why the other
Mr.. Dunlap had not accepted his invita-,
ton. ygS. 81. \,
He was in, the garden with Pet" said
Miss Agnes, sweetly, eecretely deciding
that she would make Pet a present Of.
her last summers silk, as a reward Of
merit for taking the nephew of. while,
she and her sisters rivaled. each other
in their attentions to the uncle. ...,a.
The younger Mr.. Dunlap was enioy-
ing himself much better with the little
girl in the garden than the poor over.
whelmed Mr.. Dunlap in the parlor; but
he could not understand it. n, -. -
He had never been treated in such q
manner before, and the circumstance
puzzled him exceedingly. r.,
He could also see that Miss Pet was
making uncommon efforts to entertain;
him, and to keep him away from the
parlors where the Others neglect APP
peared 80 manifest. .,.,.,.
Just as Mrs. Fairfax started in search
OF them, Pet asked innocently:
"Your uncle must be very rich man
to own such q place as Oak Lawn? I
should think he would have found some
son to help him enjoy it Ey this time.o
Perhaps ne has never met the right
one yet" he answered, with a merry
twinkle in his eyes and a sudden clear.
ing of his troubled brow.
He understood it all now, and was
quite willing to be turned over to little
1t would be too tedious to, relate the
summer campaign in detail. Suffice to
say that the elder Misses Fairfax were
more than pleased that the younger Mr..
Dunlap preferred Pets society, thus
leaving them entirely free to captiyate
his wealthy uncle.
AS fol Pet. her tender. sympathetic
heart grew warm toward the young man
whom her elegant sisters SCENES scarce.
ly to notice.
Besides Mr.. Dunlap, junior, enjoyed
the long rambies in the woods and fish
ing excursions which Pet delighte d in.
while his Sc late and elderly uncle ap-
peared to be quite content to lounge
about Mrs, Fairfax's parlors, and have
all his wishes anticipated by the three
petty girls, whose smiles were lavished
upon him. whose gentle faces and low
voices thrilled him with admiration, till
in his perplexity he scarcely knew which
of the fair divinities to choose for a
wife.
One day, in the early autumn, Mrs.
Fairfax's heart was relieved of the bur-
den OF anxiety she had borne uncom-
plainlngly all summer, by the announce
ment OF MabePs engagement to the ell
der Mr.. Dunlap. Fs
1t had not been pleasant summer for
ment fully compensated her for ali her
petty trials and kitchen economies.
and the thought that one daughter was
well disposed of-that MIR. Fairfax could
never twit her of utter failure in her
ambitious matrimonial schemes-was
very gratifying.
When the happy couple were receiy-
ing the family congratulations
however were not unmixed with envy
on the part Of the two sisters who had
not secured the prize-Pet walked de-
murely into the room, leaning on the
arm of the younger Mr.. Dunlap, and
looking exceedingly pretty in one of
Mable's old silks. Pet had Jared unusu-
ally we'll during the past few months in
cast off finery, and she had knack of
making second hand articles look pretti-
er on her than the new ones on her sis
tiers. ".
Leading her straight to her father,
Mr.. Dunlap asked his blessing on their
love, and his permission to make Pet his
wife.
"What-Pet, too? Really, now, this
quite upsets me" exclaimed Mr.. Fair
fax, excitedly. "Why, Pets only lit
tie girl yet, but she's worth all the rest
put toge' her, and come to look at her
she has grown wonderfully of late.
II don't know as could trust her hap
piness in better hands," he added, after
a moments pause, during which Mrs.
Fairfax had vainly endeavored to tele-
graph her disappointment O.: the affair
across the room to her husband; but he
could not or would not understand her
facial contortions. ''Yes-take her, and
make her a good husband. I've Just
given Mable to your uncle, and"
s'My uncle?" interrupted Mr.. Dunlap.
"Why, Johns my nepheww
"Your nephew" cried Mrs. Fair
fax. "We thought he was the unce!"
''That is on account of his age" said
the younger Mr.. Dunlap, smiling COM
placently. $50 kind of him to come on
and assist me about purchasing and re-
pairing my estate He's noble fellow,
Mabel, and you'll never regret your
choice"
II think that the girls will do better
without your assistance, MOTHER" said
Mr.. Fairfax, in low tones, with sly
twinkle in the eyes that looked lovingly
across at Pet.