The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-12-18

May tiiis kindness be left, lis hand, TO hold
Inat soics 10 YER of owe rs tender siyu
May bloom u. a token OF summer time.
Sweet ge,tia"s.
IS. b. Mc.NanMs, il. The Current
BOARDING HOUSE ROMANCE.
There were two other ladies' at tho
table with mo mother and daughter
wealthy people, US supposed; aud
tho girl was tho most cxqu sitely prot-
ty creature had ever seen. She was
so tail, SO slim. SO round. with such q
fa'r. frank brow. such shining brown
eyes. almost s'artlingly dark. with her
bright hair and fair complexion; such
a sweet mouth. such dimples, my
hoart seemed to 90 out to her ut once
AND she was SO charmed with eycry-
thing, so full of bright chatter.
Hor mother was u great contrast:
she was little, plaintive. aggrieved.
looking person-one of those people
who, think. take kind of pleasure
in being unhappy.
And there was an odd looking man
"a very odd looking man somehow
Tall and largely made, with rugged,
isir face. very wide open blue eyes.
and fine head. held very high. Some
how lie was not like the usual RIM of
our visitors, and strangest of all, ho
brought in u dog with him-a hand
somo pug, if any pug can be called
handsomc-whO preceded his master
up the room, his wrnkled nose snifIinv
the air and his crooked eyes looking
i'll every corner.
looked at my pretty girl. Her
lace was all dimpled and flushed.
''ihe dear old doggie. DO let mo
mold him for a little while; l am SO
fond of dogs"
Her mother moved uncasily and pro-
tested teebly-
"AlIce, dear"
Ihe stranger turned and looked at
her. ~ ~
"ihank YOU so much," ho said.
DO you really like dogs? Most ladies'
arc afraid of Jack.'
"some day, some day, some day. we
Shall meet" MISS verinder sang. I
remember just how she looked. 1
could not wonder ac the passionate nd
Mirat on in the young mems ewes.
Old woman as 1 was, L found hcr n
pleasant sight.
"a sweet voice and 81 sweet face"
sad some ono beside mo- 1t was o,,r
neighbor at dinner. Hc had como
softly across tho room, holding his
dogs lash. He stood a moment Inv
me, and then he sat down behind the
piano. took his dog ON his lap. and
threw ba k his great head. iisten,ng
with evident enjoyment to the music.
! thought aga n what n strange look
my man ho was. Miss Verin.ier
lin shed her song and turned round
with all the pretty light on her face.
lie crossed over then and thanked her
while the young man looked rather
superciliously at him.
u felt sure you had q singing face"
lio said. "Are you we'll off for music
here?"
Not vcry." she told him, and then
she asked if he played.
"Yes.' he sad; ..t is almost tho
only solace | have" Ilo paused u
moment and then went on in such a
low. hopeless kind of voice, 81 am al
most blind"
"Oh! am sorry.'
Poor man! Thought it ought to be
kind of compensation to sec the
sweet tenderness of tho bright young
face. to hear the soft pity of her voice.
He said something-l did not catch
what IL was-and then sat down to tho |
piano.
Play! l should think he did plav.
Never had there been such music
brought out of our piano. A great
hush fell upon the room. Even those
who did not care for music for its own
sake were silent from establishment.
AS for Mr.. Gorst himself, tho music
seemed to transform him He shook
back his hair, and his grave plain face
frightened up.
Jack" sitting at his feet kept his
eyes steadily fixed upon him, as ii lie
understood it all; and as for Miss We.
riDder, the pretty color grew brighter
In her checks. and her eyes shonc.
She was passionatcly fond of music.
"Odd man! Don't you think so?
very" whispered Mrs. Colquhoun-
the greatest gossip in the house to
me. ''Not gentleman, decidedly;
actor. should think; professional.
certainly. Dreadful tlirt that girl is,
to be sure. DO you admire her? No,
surely not"
1 held up my hand to silence her,
l did not like Mrs. Colquhoun. !
knew her misunderstanding tongue of
old, and had caught flash from
Alice Verinder's soft eyes.
MIR. Gorst was going to sing for us.
As he played the first bars of The
Message. Jack gave q kind of
strangled howl.
He is wonderfully fond of sing
inging." his master explained with
pride.
Clearly thought he was n
thorough old bachelor, and his dog
was wife and child to him.
Well. have heard many fine
voices. but never one. / tn nix, like
Mr.. Gorst's. As the passionate. |