The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-03-13

obs" Esped Pauline, with IN artlessness
truly angelic ''It was only the chance
amusement of an hour"
Melville shrugged his shoulders.
"a good deal like the story OF the
frogs and the boys,' he said. "But to
dismiss 6lt less pleasant subjects, what |
do you say to &fow on the sea by star
iigktT
'I shall be delighted"
And the merry group vanished into
the enpurpled darkness, their voices
ringing on the air long after their forms
were impreceptible.
Then, and not till then, . tall fig
urs raised itself from the bamboo set
tee or cducl, Just within the wide
open windows, where the cool muslin
curtains waved softly st every breath
of the soft summer breeze, and Major
Harry Livingstone coolly walked out
upon the piazza, igniting his cigar as
"The coquette !" he muttered between
his set teeth; "the heartless firtl Now
I begin better to comprehend poor
Ralph's Varying moods Of late. She
had broken the boys heart, and cares
no more for it than if she had cracked
one of the china cologne bottles on her
dressing table! Well this is strange
world! If Pauline had taken hand.
'kerchief or purse from Ralphs pocket
the iron hand of the law would be down
upon her Immediately; but she steals
his heart right out Of bis bosom, and
society looks on with smiling face and
folded hand!
"Why is there no law made and en-
acted to punish such heartless crimes
as this? For crimes they are-black,
treacherous crimes, even though per-
petrated so charmingly by beauties
like Pauline Sedley and her sister CO.
quettes! And this fair, innocent boy,
whom I loved like brother, tho cold
est heart might have spared him. By
Cupid and all his attendant deities, I
will be revenged on Pauline Sedley for
thisw
At almost the same moment Ralph
Montacute came slowly up the piazza
steps. The lightness and elasticity of
his gait were gone; he walked like one
who had received mortal wound.
"Ralphl"
Montacute started ct his consin's
voice.
"You here, Harry?"
"Yes, all alone. Sit down beside me,
old fellow; Why are you not with the
boating party?"
II did promise this morning to make
one of them, but-but-somehow I don't
feel like it tonight"
Livingstone took his COUSINS hand,
and pressed it with firm, loving
grasp.
II know all about it, Ralph" he said,
mildly. "Don't be cast down-she isn't
worth one pang of memory. The world
is wide; life is long-you'll outlive this
blow, if you only have patience to
wait"
Montacute's head dropped ON Harry
Livingstone's shoulder.
ooh! Harry, 1 did love her-f loved
her dearly!"
"Take cnnrage-she is not worth It. /"
And the stalwart soldier, soothing
away his boy-cousins woe, was gentle
as woman, even while he wondered
to see that Ralph took it SO keenly and
bitterly to heart.
From that day the gay little world of
the fashionable watering place was as
tonished at the devotion accorded by
Major Livingstone to Miss Sedley.
Pauline herself was more than aston
ished, she was elated and overjoyed.
Major Livingstone was man who was
sought and courted by all the bellies OF
society--a man whose magnetic eyes
(as she herself had phrased it) and ten
derly modulated voice were enough to
set any feminine heart IN blaze. He
walked with her, he rode with her, he
read poetry to her, he sat with her dur,
ing the long golden September
twilights, until Pauline felt that
life beside him was the bright
est boon Providence could accord.
She heartily discarded her other suit.
ors. She cared no longer for ball room
or picnic parties. To her the whole
J world held but one man, and that wa.
Harry Livingstone!
But still he kept just outside the
charmed circle of love-making; he die
not propose. And Pauline, growing
J almost sick at heart, counted the day.
; that still remained of "the season."
"He will propose to- morrow or per
haps the day AFTER" she whispered t.
] herself. "Oh, surely it must com'
, soon."
It was evening before the breaking
up of the gay party that had enliveneC
the seaside hotel all summer, and
brilliant ball had been gotten up t.
celebrate the close of the brief happ,
, season. Pauline Sedley had dressed
for this festivity with unusual care
somehow she felt that it was to be
crisis in her ife. She wore lemon
colored Grape dress on lemon -colore,
B silk, like a fair, aureate cloud, and he
hair was looped up in its shining braid
2 by slender chains of gold. Her toilet
! she knew by the murmur that prevaae
the ballroom the moment she entered
was sasuccess-and Harold Livingstone
handsome eyes rested upon her fac
with evident admiration.
. But the evening passed away, throt
bing it's brilliant hours in music an
perfume, and Harold never came nea
her. She had cavaliers in abundance
she was the cynosure of all eyes-bu
he. the man of men, kept obstinatel
aloof.
o "Take me to the balcony. I am sti
fling for want of fresh air." she said al
:. most pettishly to the partner with whor
. she had just gliled through the redowa
"Thank you, I need detain you no long
0 err
8 And Mr.. Girdersleen, feeling himsel
, abruptly dismissed, left Pauline by th
side Of Major Livingstone and stake
away in high dudgeon!
"Harold!" she breathed softly, wit
pleading glance upward into his eye
. "You have not been near me all th
u evening""
"Ihaye been very busy with the com
9 panionship Of my own thoughts" h
answered coldly. II start for Europ
y tomorrow morning"
"For Europel"
a "To be gone I hardly know how man
.s years. I may visit India and the Ea
sr before I return"
y "Harold!"
d He bent down his head in cold cou
g. tesy.