The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-11-14

was no impertinent curiosity IN his tone
can | do anything FOR you? Is the
little sister worse?"
NO." said Marian, responding to the
genuine honesty expressed in voice and
words. though mortified at having lost
control before o stranger; "but 1t Is
hard to send her away, and We have
been together all Gun lives"
She said nothing for an instant while
she stood there bravery fighting evidence
of her emotion, though the bowed head
and quivering chin were affecting
enough, then broke in abruptly, Iii i
~business-like tone. How . could
you have the little girl ready"
"Saturday, Think, answered Marian.
And this is Monday" he said as II in
deep reflection. While Marian o
dered. he consulted II note
book. 1t contained not the slightest
reference to what he was about TO
say next, he never having thought OF 1t
himself till that moment. Yes, | have
business along that road. and it would
be no trouble to see your little sister to
her destination" 90" was all Marian
said, but with such a glow on her bon
ny face he Immediately surprised HIM
self into another lib.
BY the way. YOU needn't purchase a
ticket, | have a pass over the line, and
| she may use it with me as we'll as not"
Marian was proud. still there was no
resisting the friendly offers made in
such a way, and a graceful You are too
kind" was all she attempted, when
Mrs. Allen came in and she sped mp
stairs to feed her nursing.
If she was so surprised at this offer
from one she barely knew, how much
! more was James Wallace astonished to
find himself performing such a youth
fully impulsive action. A self-made,
! self contained man, his early orphan
years had been made dreary enough by
the grudging kindness of charity, and
his youth rendered desOlate by the sell
fshness of the woman he had woOed but
could not win by reason of his poverty.
Now, when fortune smiles upon him. he
had come to think the whole void en-
gagged in a mad struggle for the coveted
object. whatever it might be, with every
man for himself, and though never pos
itivelv unfeeling MOI cynical, he some
times acted on that belief. But
here was a young girl who had be
witched him INTO taking a trip the very
busiest season of the year. She was
different from the rollicking, coquettish
girl who had clouded his early life;
different from the coarse, hearty, good
natured young women who worked IN
his factory. These had represented all
~womanhood to him, for he had no re-
membrance of his mother. Mrs. Allen
showed another type, and here was a
sweet unaffected maiden. No, he wasn't
a bit sorry for what he had done; not
even when it took him from the factory a
whole week, nor when it absorbed his
quiet evenings in confabs about air pill
lows, checks, berths, and other topics
of interest to Marian and his cousin:
for wasn't his opinion asked in the most.
dattering manner, and didn't he feel
himself growing younger every day?
At last the hour of parting came, and
Marian's pain was eased o little when
her last glimpse of the beloved little
form showed Elsie with her lap full of
presents, throwing kisses with all her
might, while a strong arm encircled her,
and Mr.. Wallace's smile was so assur-
ing that Marian wondered she had ever
thought his mouth anything but hand
some.
1t is a week since Elsie was borne
from her, and Marian sits In her room
lonely but for the hope which lies so
near her heart, and ever with thoughts
of her absent one come others of the
new irIend who took her two hands in
his to-day and related, with the
minuteness of a woman, every circum-
stance connected with the child's ar
rival in her new home, and the golden
promises of perfect cure he had from
the resident surgeon. Now she goes to
the window, being careful to see the
new moor over her right shoulder. and
then laughing at herself for the super
~stitien. As she leans out shifting de-
lightedly the odor of freshly cut grass
q puff OF smoke brings the tears to her
eyes. 1t is smoke surely, and coming
from the window of the room under
hers, and when she looks again 10 make
sure a little tongue of flame meets her
startled gaze. Quick as a fash she is
down the stairs, had knocked at each door
and given the alarm. She quite agrees
with Mrs. Allen that men are good in an
emergency" when Mr.. Wallace's firm,
even tones answered her call, and even
more than agrees when his self-posses
sion contrasts with the feeble pipes Of
alarm from Miss Stinson and the in
ertness of several of the other women
who have to be taken out by main force
Mrs. Allen herself being paralyzed by
fright. The greater part Of the build
ing is saved, though it il almost morn
ing when the fire is declared tout. :
After ~exhausting themselves in praise
of Marian the others go in for coffee