The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-03-06

behlnd mo was the door; even as look
ed it opened quickly. There was astep
! knew, the sound Of voice loved |:
Where are you? Phoebe, my wife! r
No more signing over the frame, no
more gazing in the mirror, no more
watching for the messenger; before I
could we'll jump from my seat he was
there, his face was close to my lips
Well. it is Dolores's story that I am
telling you, not mine.
Safe. safe home at last, and there had
been no mishap beyond contrary winds;
he had outridden the messenger on the
road. The time passed quickly. As we
sat side by side looking out on the
landscape, the hills and dales all green
with the freshness of Spring, he took
my hand again in his, and then I no.
ticed that he wore ring that I had
never seen before. "What q magnifi-
cent ring, Ambrose!" I said, holding
his hand up to the light that I might
see it better. 1t was of foreign work
manship. curiously chased, and in the
centre was flashing stone set in dia-
monds. To my surprise Ambrose did
not answer at once, but looked trou-
bled; Of last he said: II cannot tell
you the whole story of the ring now,
dearest Phoebe; it belongs to my broth
or Charlford, he is i'll at Plymouth; to-
morrow You shall hear all about it,"
Iknew that Charlford's mad freaks
and misbehavior had long been cause Of
anxiety to Ambrose, (Charlford was his
youngest and best beloved brother so
1 forbore to grieve him with another
word on the subject.
is that our good Miriam at the door ?"
asked Ambrose presently. There was
certainly step in the passage; but
when ] went to see Miriam found her
in her own room at the further end of
the house. Afterward I remembered
that some one had passed along the
hedge and gone out at the garden gate,
but at that time I took no notice of the
occurrence. When the supper bell
rang began to wonder where Dolores
could be. 1t was long past her usual
hour for returning. At last I sent q
maid to the parsonage bidding her has
ten home. Alasl she had left an hour
ago. We searched all through the
house, in the garden and paddock; it
grew dark, and I could no longer con-
ceal my distress. Ambrose, too, looked
grave. He went with the coachman,
and they made inquiries in the villuge; !;
they even walked as far as the Black
Pond, but they found no trace of Dol
ores.
There was nothing to be done; we
could but wait for the morning. when
my husband said that he would himself
ride to Plymouth and send out mount
ed messengers to scour the country; she
could not be far off.
Very early the next day little piece
of paper was brought to me. With diff
Guilty I deciphered the words that were
written in pencil: "Desr and honored
Senora-Do not seek to find me. I
shall never return. have left with my
free will. Ever and ever will pray for
you your devoted and ungrateful ser
want. I kiss your hands and your feet.
Dolores de Riano Walters"
Ambrose was always a man Of few
words. He made no comment on the
letter. Very shortly he bade me q
loving farewell, and set forth on his
journey. I spent the day alone,
hoping for the return of Dolores.
Surely, I said to myself, Ambrose,
or one of the men, must find her
soon-she could not walk far, and there
was no coach to be hired in the village
even if she had the means to engage one /;
and knew how slender were the con-
tents of her purse. Why had she left
me? Was her brain unhinged by trou-
BILE? Would she again seek to put an end
to her life? Late in tho afternoon I
wrapped mantle round me and went
out to breathe the air. Perhaps should
meet one of the party and hear the news
that dreaded and yet longed to hear.
The gorsc hedge at the end of the gar.
den cleaned golden in the sunlight as
I passed; the bed of the sun dial was
red and blue with Towering hyacinths;
the ferns in every ditch and every stone
wall were putting forth their brown and
green fronds; the air was full of the
sounds of Spring. Tiger was basking in
the sunshine by the gate. "Tiger!" I
cried, struck with new idea, find her,
good dog. Seek Dolores!" He seemed to
understand at once when / fetched .
scarf of hers and held it up to him.
Without more ado he set off down the
lane and took short cut across field
to q neighboring wood. Every now and
then he stopped and licked my hand as
I followed close behind him. 1t was
warm and sheltered in the pine wood (;
the ground was slippery with fir needles.
The dog went on steadily toward q pile
of fagots that were stacked against q
low stone wall. On the other side ran
the high road to Plymouth. Here the
earth was carpeted with green MOSS
I stepped noiselessly across the open
space, thinking to climb the wall and
make my way home by the road. Tiger
had pricked up his ears-there was q
sound of horses hoofs: perhaps it was
Ambrose. For the moment forgot that
was seeking Dolores, but as I neared
the wood stack I saw her. Her
head was turned away from me, and
she was leaning over the wall with
clasped hands, straining her eyes in the
direction of the riders. The clatter of
the hoofs drew nearer. "Dolores" I
cried, running forward. "why did you
leave me? I have been SO unhappy
about you. Come home with me now. /"
She turned and saw her dark eyes
were flashing with staange light; she
grasped my arm and pointed down the
road. $50 alike" she murmured ;
Child, forgive ne! So alike, and I saw
my ring on his finger. Look, look
who is it?"
Hooked. Ambrose had seen me oil.
ready; he was waving his hand; by his
side rode q man whose face I seemed to
know man who looked weary and
dusty. Younger, yes, handsomer than
my husband, but csreworn and i'll. He
wore slouched hat. 1 could not dis
tinguish his features, and yet ss he sat
there in the sunlight I knew that they
were familiar to me.
"Who is it?" asked Dolores, more 60.
gerly than before.