The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-03-14


let music b my dying Breath
From sleep to dreams; from dreams b death.
~. L Sticknsy In the Currenk
"FUREISIED l0eIs." )"
~ MLES WHITNEY CLARK
"Dear me, Lida, do stop! I'm tired
out, and ready to drop down right now.
Lets give il up and go home. Dom
Mrs. Laurel famed herself as sue
painted breathlessly on after her daugh.
ter. whose step was still - elastic and
springy Is il she had not spent the
morning roaming the streets in search
Of furnished rooms"
"Just little further, ma; only three
blocks" she cried, cheerfully pausins
Tor her mother to catch up with her.
"See. This is the advertisement I cut
out of to-day's paper:
TOR RENT-FoUR ROOMS, FURNISHED,
water, gas, etc. Marble mantel In parlor,
proprietor reserves bis own rooms, and would
IKE to board With parties renting: desiring
(s
Lieu Of rent
"Won't that lie nice? just what We
wanted, you see.
"But We won't get it, you'll see, Lii
da," groaned the mother still painting
as her daughter hurried her along
"Itll be like all tho others-sjust tax
en- or they don't rent 10 ladies' Or
iva can krx, onY,~,ax, n ,,or.:sknIA &
de-, hopefully. "And-here il is. ma.
Look! Stone steps and silver door-bell.
How nice!"
And Lida rang the bell, shook the
dust from her black kdress-for both
ladies were in mourning-and looked
up to confront the owner, Mr.. Campion,
rather stout, elderly gentleman, with
tho unmistakable look Of bachelor.
He eyed the ladies warily.
ssRooms? Yes, they were for rent;
but"
"Only see, ma. Velvet paper ON the
walls, and dado!" cried Lida. March
ing boldly into the parlor, which stood
wide open, "And . bay window
Well take them, of course, ma, and
Do you desire references, sir? We
want rooms Immediately"
Mr.. Campion started, somewhat a..
founded at such aone-sided way of do.
ing business. He was an old bachelor,
and had all the prim, old fashioned ideas
indigenous to the lonely brotherhood.
But Lida looked SO bright and piquant,
her hair was so fluffy and Asxen-the
very color Mr.. Campion admired most
her cheeks looked 30 pink, and her
eyes 80 bright and sparkling, that he
felt his scruples vanishing like dew be.
fore the morning sun,
Besides, they were ladies, unnistaka.
ably, and
'Do You desire reiernces ?" demanded
Lida again. Because"
"Yes-no!" stammered Mr.. Campion.
Ct"
He hesitated.
1--WE could refer you," began Mrs.
Laurel; but he interrupted her.
Lidas eyes had sparklel misclliev-
oualy ut him from under her flaxan
"bangs," !" and Mr.. CaMpion at once de.
cided that references were not necessary.
"Only there ure no-no children,
suppose?" he hesitated turning very red,
and addressing Mrs. Laurel. "I-l
really couldn't, you know. Children
are SO destructive and-and noisy"
Mrs. Laurel bluslled little herself.
.'I-my daughter" she stammered,
looking nervously at Ida.
"My mother has no children but me ~
asserted tue young lady, saucily. ~
won't be very destructive or-or noisy,
sir!" -
Dear ME, no-of course not" assem-
ted MIR. Champion, rejecting her smile.
"And-so and So"
$50 it's all settled!" cried Lida, ssand
we'll come this afternoon. Breakfast
and tea you said, ! think? Very we'll;
We can have tea for you tonight, then.
And Ida tripped away, followed
more slowly by her mother, while Mr..
Campion stared after them as far as he
could see, then locked the door and
went meditatively up stairs.
Thank goodness, the rooms are rem
ted at last!" he commented, with sigh
of relief, sand now I can atteSd to bus.
mess again"
And that night, rs he drank his tea,
with Mrs. Laurel presiding at the table
and Lida sitting opposite, chatting gaily
as he dished the canned peaches OF
passed the iced pound-cake, Mr..
Campion congratulated himself on
his good fortune.
$50 much nicer than going to res
taurant, he thought, with stiff looking
walters bringing what you order, and
nobody to talk to, while you swallow
your yictuals and get away as fast as
You can. It is rather lonesome being
an old bachelor, after all, ;" he concluded.
II don't see how I've stood it 80 long"
And that night Mr. Giles Campion
tumbled uneasily on his pillow, his
dreams disturbed by . radiant vision
with blue eyes and faxen hair, and
checks like scarlet azaleas.
The weeks that followed were like n
dream of Paradise, and it was not long
until he had determined to risk his fate,
not exactly on the hazard of a die, hut
upon the uncertain chance of winning q
"Yes!" from that pair of willful, scarlet.
red lips.
s'When stars are in the quiet skies,
Then must pine for thee:
Bond on ME, then, thy tender eyes,
As stars look on the seal"
Il was Lida's clear voice, singing the
well-known words, and Mr.. Giles Cam
pion took it as favorable augury to
his hopes, as he carefully opened the
front door with his latch-key and en-
tered the hall as stealthily as il he were
thief in the act of committing bur.
glary, instead Of a gentleman entering
his own domicile in the broad light Of
day.
The truth is, Il was earlier than Mr..
Campion's usual hour for returning
home.
But having seen Mrs. Laurel pass his
Office in downtown car, early in the
afternoon, no had hurried home a. fast
as possible, determined to "haye it out"
with Lida, then and there.
For Mr.. Campion was very much in
love indeed, and did not pretend to deny
1t, even to himself.
And now to hear Lida singing in the
back parlor-Of course n vns a ooruI