The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-07-23

shame that 6blig-
In this little hut, while my
cousin lives in mansion and
wears the diamonds that should have
been NINE"
my dear, how can you call this
pretty cottage a hut, and how can you
complain when you are doing SO wellP
Let May wear her diamonds, and
please, dear, for my sake, if for moth,
Ing else, do try to be contented.1
Florence Arleigh made no reply, but
pressed kiss on her :Sdher's forehead
and left the room. :
AS the door closed, Mrs. Arleigh
leaned back in her chair and. watched
tho last rays of the setting sun, while
her thoughts flew far awasto the home
of her childhood. Her cheek was fam
ned by the soft South wind and no sound
disturbed her musings of by-gone days.
She gazed into the blue sky, where the
clouds fioated and floated away in the
distance, but she saw not the clouds,
for her mind pictured the old home
where her infant footsteps had been
guided by the tender hand of mother.
Then She. saw. herself, o happy
maiden; In the shady, old forest,
twining wreath of flowers and crown
ing herself Queen of the May. She
smiled rs she thought how surprised
she had been to learn that an artist
had been sketching her while she ad-
dressed the trees rs her subjects. How
her young heart had lcaped with de-
light rs she saw the admiration express
cd in the eyes of the stranger. Then
she thought how she had been wooed
and won by the artist and how he had
taken her to the residence Of his father.
Then tear after tear fell from her ewes
as she thought how she and her hus-
band had been turned away from the
home OF her father-in-law, and how
her husbands proud sister had said:
when ! marry, | shall not disgrace
my family by marrying the child of a
poor farmer" Oh! the days that fol
lowed. the happy days, in which she
tried to make their cottage pleasant
home for Leon, who worked early and
late TO paint the pictures which brought
enough money M support them. Bit
tcrly she wcpt rs she thought of the
brilliant June day when death entered
her home and her brave, handsome
Leon was laid in the little parlor and
her two children walked on fip-toe say
ing, over and over, Papa is dead, and
mamma is sick. !" Her reverie was in-
:crrupted by sounds of mirillaw which
came from the chamber OF the little
cottage which Mr.. Arlcigh had been
pleased 30 will to his sons widow.
Upstairs is r coy room in ,H:'l.ich
Florence md ieeelile Arleigh do the
copying by which they earn ih6:r bread.
They have been copying. but are not
doing so now, for Leolne is laughing
hsprtily while Florence stands before
the mirrGf saying. in tragic tones,
How haye the mighty fallen! And Ar
leigh must earn. her bread by the sweat
of her brow. Where is the poet who
will imm0rtalize the fair face reflected
in yon mirror Where are the brave
men who will gnze with admiration up
on these golden tresses, these azure
eyes? Where are they? Alas! tlfey
are here, but they are not the ones in
whose pockets the gold dollars jingle
merrily, for the men whose money
would make them acceptable in my
sight pass my 'beanty unadorned' and
bow at the shrine of my cousin. .
Leeline leaned back in her chair and
laughed until the tears started from her
cyl ooh. Florence" she said, .'are
go Bazy or are You rchearsing for pr
yate theatricalsp'
Neither, butt seriously, Leo, was
not intended fori this kind of existence.
| was not born to spend my life daub-
ing my fingers with ink. fwas born to
walk like this through rooms which art
had done its most TO beautify," and
Florence raised herself 4, her full
height ',a ;oo and walked mnisst'A3'ly across
"Well, said Leoline, ''if you have
flashed, We will continue our work. !"
'Oh, dear! Work! work! Nothing
but work! t;.iak our grandfather
was too mean for anything or he would
not have given all his property TO Aunt
Emma and left us without a cent. y
FLORENCE sui! Leoline graycly,
;'onr grandfather is dead aad whatever
his faults may have been, we are not to
Judge him. He gavs us this pretty cot
iagc and VIC are doing nicely"
'.Thcre. you little saint; take il all
back. Let us have peace said Flor
cnce, kissing Leoline and hurrying to q
small table on which were scattered
pens. ink. paper, e.e,
Not long after this fiopance and
Leol:ne had been out for walk anJ
were returning home when they were
met i BY one one. Of Mr.: Leslie's servants.
"your cousin. Miss May, is very sick.
and Mrs. Leslie sent me 10 inquire il
you would assist in nursing her.
Leolnc thought n moment and then
said. '.1'cll Mrs. Leslie / will go if
moti,sy il wiling
.:2hp' exclaimed Florence, "you are
little idiott to think Of going, and /
hope mother viii rot permit YOU 10 20.
The disease may be contagious, and
you will come iionie sick and we'll
have no end of trouble. Ics. and who
is to do all the copying while you are
gone? LeiAunt Emma hire SOM. .ef'ae.
/ am sure she has cnoIigll<anoAcy.'
..You need nos~.opy any more than
Usual. Ye,. kiA,w have a little money
w1li,s. saved for a rainy day. and we
will manage some way. So don look
50 cross, for feel it my duty tc GO
v sDnty! Fiddlesticksi Aunt Ein,ns
va not think Of duty when poor father
Y ~ this time they had reached home
and Florence rushed in exclaiming,
Mother. May Leslie is sick and Aunt
Emma wishes Leo. to help take care of
her. and Leo. says she is going and /
know she'll catch the smallpox or
\something dreadful" and Florence sat
own, out Of breath, while Leoline knelt