The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-15

oAoAU AuOy WOuu6E6u b lGtl0 WHY
their fellow passengers Of the morning
we're hot Id greater haste, but forgot
them presently In the hustle Of depar.
ture: He, secured d pleasant seat for
her and then. 6ne TOR, himself at soma
distante from. har. 4 few minutes Of
waiting, Of idle watching Of the dark
landscape. SO. soon to be among
remembered things, and the train
moved slowly out Of town, and
as it moved away another train
steamed ip., She looked curiously at
the second train, but remembered chat
this was junction and did not 6bsy
her first nervous impulse, which was to
go to her whilom protector and ask
him IT he were sure they were on the
right train. She forgot the train soon,
and watched his stern, set face, and felt
sorry for him, and wished he might feel
as sure of the future as did she. Soon,
the conductor came, and she watched
him as he made his way towards her.
When he reached her protector, as she
alresdy called him In her inner con:
sciousness, that individual gave quick
start at some words uttered by the
conductor after examination of
his ticket. A troubled look settled
upon the resolute face, and he con-
versed earnestly with the conductor
d few moments, then glanced at her
ind fuse and came to her. IT told
you, said he; "that VIC don't know
what is right, and then We get punished
by ulalterable laws, and here is d
speedy ILLUSTRATION ii ths TACT; oniy
that I feel now that I might have
known the right, if had taken pains
to inquire. We are on the wrong
train.
She looked deeply troubled, but
said after moment:
"How con we get back?"
ut is of no use to go back to that
junction. We might as we'll 20 on to
Chicago now and 20 from there it will
really take not much longer, and lis yottt
trusted to my leading IN the first place,
will, if you will let me, see you safe
out of this. trouble"
II am used to taking care of myself, /"
she said. but her lips trembled q
sWhere are you goingq" he asked,
and upon receiving her reply added: "t
am going beyond there, so it will be no
trouble to me to SEQ you safe. I will
telegraph your dilemma to your friends
at the next station; we shall reach Chi.
cago in two hours, and the conductor
tells me we can Immediately take an.
other train back, SO that really the worst
Of il will be the extra four or five hours
in the train"
He remained sitting with her, and
uhatted lightly, for 8 time, till her
mind was diverted from the unpleas:
antness of her situation. Gradually
they wandered to deeper waters, and
talked again, as they had earlier in the
day, of the problems of life, and into
those queries and answers of theirs
crept ever and anon, bit of the per-
sonal history of each. He learned
what Q desolate life hers had seemed to
be; he learned too, what sweet,
CHEEKY courage must underlie her whole
being, that the desolateness should
have been so ignored, and he grew
ashamed of his own repining over o lot
which had SO much of brightness in it.
When the train drew into the great
depot in Chicago he felt that he had
learned to know a pure soul, and she
felt deep pity for the lonely life that
opened to her view. And as they took
the other train, which was to take them
rapidly to their destination, each felt o
regret that few hours more would part
them.
He sat silent for a long time after this,
wondering if he dared to do the thing
he wished. He was lonely, set adrift
in the great world by the death of his
wife. and he wanted true, womanly
heart to sympathize with his. Could
he do better than to ask this lone
ly woman, who had no kith or kin
in the world, to share his lot
with him? Could she do better than
take HIM, she who evidently had
summer land in her heart and could
make a bit of brightness wherever she
was? Each surely needed the other.
He asked her if she knew anyone in his
town, and finding she did know per-
son residing few miles from him, he
took his resolution quickly.
Il have good farm our there, he
said; zone hundred and sixty acres un-
der fine improvement, hoase and out
buildings all in fine shape. You can
find out about me from Mr." A
moment he hesitated as he saw that slie
did not realize what he meant; then he
continued earnestly, looking down into
the clear eyes lifted 80 fear
lessly to his: II feel as if I
was looking into the eyes Of my
wife. Am I mistaken" The last
words were breathed rather than ut
tered, and then she understood, and
the fame color mounted over the deli
cate features once more, and she said
quietly: @Do look so much like your
wife?"
He was bafled, and for q moment
knew not what to say, then rallied and
said:
"She has gone into the future.
don't know what or where that life may
be, aud I am lost and lonely without
her. I want that which has gone out
of my life, and believe you can supply
that want. You are alone in the world,
aud can make your life pleasanter,
am sure
1t was temptation, such as only
homeless ones can understand; but,
after a moment, she shook her head
and then, reading the questioning lool
in those keen gray eyes, she said, Will,
the color deepened in her face:
II loved once, and have loved eve
since. and it would not be right for m,
to marry any one, feeling as I do"
The door opened, and the brakeman
called ont the name of the place wher
she was to stop. snd the next moment