The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-04-17
CllssY's LoVEl.

VlANNA v UVvO&
Il was an ordinary picture-a pretty
slender young girl seated under an ivy
wreathed porch, darning stockings; but
Philip stauntons eyes frightened as
they rested upon it, and q strange thrill
stirred his unusually unsusceptible
heart.
"Have Itraversed the wide world over,
and gone unscathed all these years" he
aaked himself, "only to fall in love, at
frst sight, with rustic divinity out in
tho wilds Of Yorkshirep"
At the sound Of his footsteps the girl
looked up, with startled cir, the lovely
peachbloom color deepening and bright.
eniug in her velvety cheeks.
What Cissy Moreland saw was tall,
dark young man. Of eight.and-twenty.
with . somewhat listless expression upon
his fine, handsome face. He wore
tourists dress ofgrey tweed, and carried
asmall knapsack slung across his broad
shoulders.
dMay / trouble You for drink of
wster?" he asked, in q low, musical
voice. that made the young girl stare,
IT, refined accents were SO different
from the rough speech to which she was
Accustomed
Before Cissy could comply with the
request, the kitchen-door swung sud-
denly open. and q hard, strong-fea-
tured face, with beetling black brows
and fiery eyes, peered out.
Mrs. Moreland, Cissy's step-mother.
Don't come in lere!" she cried; ih
shrill acrid voice, glowering angrily
at the astonished young man: "You
have nothing I want in that thing. /
never deal with tramps."
"Oh, mother!" cried Cissy, in dismay.
II am sure this man is no peddler."
"He's something worse, then, and had
better go about his business"
Mrs. Moreland was shout to slam
the door; when, by an amusing coinci.
dence, peddler's cart drove into the
yard.
She was one of those women who
make distinctions" Though unable
to abide one who carried his pack on
his own back, she had a weakness for
peddlers who had arrived at the distinc-
tion Of driving cart.
The angry look instantly vanished
from her coarse face, leaving 1t bland
and smiling. She decided that Philip
must be the avant courier.
"I'm sure I beg your pardon!" she
said, humblv, II took yon fer one O the
sort that goes about with smuggled
goods made at home, and cheap laces
they try to palm upon one as genuine
thread. I'm disguised with the whole
&, tribe. And Cissy there has put ME all
out Of temper with her trifllng and
idling. just like her dead mother, they
say. It's a dreadful trial to have an
other woman's child to bring up. I
would never have married Robert More
land had / known he would up aud die
at the end of five years, and leave me
to take care of his first wife's brat
i I have children enough of my own to
look after"
Cissy was accustomed to these TRADES,
but they always brought tears to her
eyes. She might have retorted that her
stepmother had seized upon the bit of
property that was left, and used it all
for the benefit of her own progeny, and
kept her shaving from morning until
night, but she refrained.
"Wait q minute" Mrs. Moreland re-
sumed, garrulously. "I've lots of rags
slowed away in the garret, that I've been
keeping until the right person comes
along. If you don't mind being hinder
ed, I'll go and gather 'em up"
A roguish twinkle showed itself in
his eyes, as the good woman disappear
/, ed in the direction of the upper regions.
"Mv pack only contains the kit of a
strolling artist" he said, smillingly.
"But here comes the real Simon Pure" /"
as freckled- faced man, with scraggy.
sandy mustache. climbed the steps,
bringing an armful of tinware and some
old-fashioned steelyards. II shall sb-
dicate in his favor"
! Cissy's cheeks were burning hotly,
but she caught up her straw hat. an ]
brin ging tumbler from the pantry
shelf, led the way to the we'll, IN the
shadow of some lilac bushes at the rear
Of the house.
Philip drank the cool water she prof
fered, as though il had been ambrosia
On returning the empty glass his gaze
happened to fall upon the pin that fas-
tened Cissy's collar. It was cameo Of
considerable value-a portrait finely
and artistically cut; but it did not lool
out of place, though her dress was o.
common alpaca.
II beg your pardon" !" he said eagerly
"But may ask where you got thai
brooch?"
at was my mothers" Cissy replied
"that is why like to wear it."
"Oh.-an heirloom! Can you tell me-
anything of its history?"
every little; My mother priced il
highly. The likeness is that of some
re1stive-a great aunt, I believe"
"What was your mothers maiden
name"
"Cicely Durrant."
| Philip gazed at the young girl curious.
". He would have said more, but Mrs
Moreland's shriu voice sounded ut that
instant, calling sharply for Cissy.
"Don't be lettering there, you good
for-nothing chlldl You might try tt
make yourself useful occasionally
You've only been burden to me evel
since your father died. Go up into the
garret, and bring down therest O then
rags"
Cissy fitted away, q painful Ausl
suffusing her face.
But she had not seen the last o
the handsome artist.
That evening, as she stood detected,
at the garden gate, wearied out will
the labors Of the day, and trying to es.
cape for few moments from her step
mothers shrewish tongue, he cam,
whistling along the lane, and pausei
near her.
l.