The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-02-15

Il n7.ho
- Wsfsep @ . Sasa ! lon lie 4 lssa, I5
- FAINT lights through tho chinks Of y,
dirt encru1ted Dhutt0SD, and here loGs
tones and evil words from within.
4 man:. reels 70 The door, and look6s
out; nothing but rain and black mud
and, Q horrible etench from the Inshin9.
CUTTERS. He shuts the door With an oath
and goes In again. :
Take care, mtsgusln tiiS
| A faint alimmer from o lantern shows
though sIo mns nsase and Ss-ss sssls
man., whose old fur cap q drawn IoW
over his brow, and behind him 8 wouaan,
dressed In the coarse gown and white,
cap Of an English Sister Of Mercy; 1 1T.
tie black wooden cross ON her breast,
and Q long cloak round her. The face on
which the yellow light shines, 10 homely.
with . elightiy worn expression, aud
eyes full Of kindly sweetness.
II am very glad to have arrived, J" she
says cheerfully, shutting her cotton NM
brella. and about to step into the house,
A man fiom within pushes her back
roughly but not unkindly.
do you know what you undertake.
brothers, wives. and 4 child. And rs
black small -pox."
know; let me passl Thank You for
your warning" she answered gently.
| The man mutters something and draws
back. a y !.
She goes in.
l suppose some days, even weeks.
must have passed in my dreams, for <
awoke to find d'my little circular picture
fnll Of daylight.
=, + Is the he's, same 2 alley, but narrow
At the door of the public
house stands little group of people
surrounding the sister Of Mercy. Two
of them as if their hearts were too full
of speech; on the arm of one hangs .
wcaklw woman, the other stands alone.
They press her hands, one man raises
the rough sleeve of her gown and kisses
its hem, with tears raining down his
che eks.
Kindly words she says to all, little
practical advice alittle exhortation. They
listenas II she were saint from heaven,
and then she goes on her way.
pears: "Well, if there be God, He will
i AANsss OAA OAOooAhHS VA VllksS Vu0E0 EJlEtSIs
The shadows gathered SO quickly over
my picture that hardly saw her to the
end ofthe street. Ileant my head on my
hand and tried to make out these visions.
bnt seemed strangely unable to FIX my
thoughts.
Exceptional cases, nothing but OK.
ceptional cases." heard myself mutter,
and the words half aroused me. 1 felt
for my pencil to make another memo.
randum, when my attention was again
arrested.
it q # 4, 8
Shadows rose up one-a after -.,anther
like thin curtains from
and q new scene presente
gaze. = ------'-----'
4 charming boudour, furnished with
son silk, full of pictures and cabinets of
precious china. A white bearskin rug
before the fire, OH which was seated
young lady, who leaned her arms ON the
lap ofan older woman reposing in deep
armchair.
They were very like each other, but
it was doubtful whether the elder lady
haired child.
The girl held out to her mother
closely. written letter, saying in broken
voice Mother, want you to see what
Her lips smiled bravely' while the
tears were streaming unheeded down
her cheeks.
The mother took her letter. seemed
to be reading with her eyes, for heard
no voice, yet / knew what that letter
contained:
"MY DEAREST HARRY: Your letter
came TO me this morning, and IL ID 20
difficult to answer that hope you N
be patient with me. We hsve knSxn
each other so long, and loved each otll-.
er so dearly, that it grievcs me bitterly
to refuse TO marry you. Yes, dearest. IL
is indeed to refuse you that I write, xnd
perhaps you will think me hard and PEI
dantic for my reasons, and perhaps I'M
feeling and unkind. oh, do not think.
80, for have been crying all the time
can scarcely see to writo it now. It
goes to my very heart TO grieve
you so. And must ], need /, tell you
why? Harry, if you do not grow more
steady, you will brenk my heArt. I
have tried to believe what you say. that
could save you. lam only q girl, and
very full Of faults. could not hear OF
my husband gambling, or see him. help.
less from drink without terror, disgust,
horror. l dare not, Harry; your sal
yation is in higher hands than mine.
Do not lean on broken reed. We
have no strength in ourselves. am
me but it is breaking my heart. For
love you, my darling-1 love you ~
I know that you love me. Do not try
to see inc, or 10 alter my dctermination,
for 1t cannot be altered. Goodbye, my
darling. ! will pray for all Gods bless.
ings on your head. Goodbye. Good
bye, ''MAuDE." =
Then the shadows stole linRerinely
over the circle, folding it softly out OF
sight.
Again must suppose lapse Of time,
perhaps years. It Is war time, anxiety
and trouble are breeding over the land.
The shadows fit past. tits the same
en osdapas nS pss.ssgS gSS;s, .sn but %
ing. mother and daughter have been
picking lint. A little packet oflettera
lies on the table and low sobs burst now
and then from Maude.
There lies her own letter, worn and
yellow and old: 1t was found in HE
breast, and sent hume with lock Of
his chestnut hair, accompanied bya let
ter from his Colonel-iai! of bitter grief
for the young officer whom everyone
had loved, the steadtast, the best, the,
bravest, the most jealous, whose infiu-
cnce had raised the whole tone of his
command.
"Maude Tell Maude 1 owe all to her
under God.' Those were the last worde
he uttered before he was laid in sol.
dier's grave.
See, the shadows are stirring again,
moving to and fro in an agitated way.
What is coming now?
1t was dark at first: then slowly, -
my eyes got accustomed to the gloom,
saw before me q death-bed. On
raised on white pillows lay an aged WON.
an, her face beaming with Z iight
more divine than OF earth, sher pale
hands crossed OIL her breast. Round
her stood her sons and daughters, and
her children's children, and n0t one
among them who has not wept bittei
tears that so soon they should see her
face no more.
=.
Only one more little glimpse, and
light poured over the picture, winch dis.
appeared in . golden GLOW. s.5.S
! hid my dazzled face. /
"Charley!'
A voice spoke my name in tones that
fhrilI06 INV aO,,l onA - a-,,,,.d gnc <l;.t.nS