The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-01-01


glancing back, halt pleading, half com.
mandins. and to his great amazement
he found that he obeyed her. She
soon had the sleeve rolled up, and
then She found two long deep scratches
from the elbow to the wrist. She
bathcd them gently. and aus she did so
he wondered how those small gentle
hands of hers could have so much OF
warmncss i'll their touch. He smiled
as he so thought, and she knew it.
You smile. Yet know you suffer.
DO | bunglc so that you find mirth in
my motions?"
mo Betty. Twas for something
else | smiled, if I did smile. | did
think Here this little maid hath me
in her power; yet with my thumb and
finger, thus l might crush you, so
slight and tender are you.
"ln your power?" said the maid, i'll
quiringly, us she bound linen band
age on the wound.
AYE. You compelled me to obey
YOU"
"Why not? Brave men like you arc
worth the effort of compelling"
"Hey, there Betty. understand your
philosophy not? but somehow i am
content. 'Tis not displcasing bondage
for the moment, and then somehow
did feel healing in the touch OF your
fingers, so soft are they"
The girl laughed gently.
BETTY, do you compel young Mat
thew to do your bidding?"
"llim neither compel nor permit. ;"
"Yet l have heard he is inclined to
YOU"
Is he?"
"Yes. So have perceived. He is
n well-favored lad, Betty, and fine
wooer, | trow."
"What know you of wooing? They
do say you have sworn it, neither to
woe nor we'd, for you will acknowledge
nett her master nor mistress"
They say right, Betty. That is
my firm resolve, and ! am never shak-
en- in my resolution: But Matthew
hath resolved to win you"
Hath he? That is your firm opin-
ion?"
would you not favor him IL trihe?"
as it your concern? Tell me. Is
he strong and brave, and very iirm?"
"What shall l tell you?"
'That may know whether to favor
him ornot. None but the strong and
brave and firm, think, would favor
inmy eyes"
"That is we'll, Betty. Be steadfast
to that"
$50 shall. OF that be we'll assur-
ed" She said this with lowered tones
and gently Bonded head, her cheeks
sutfusing, but the strong man thought
she was just then greatly absorbed
with her occupation over his wound.
81 must haste now" said lie at
length. II must go to the settlement
for help to bring the brute, for he is
very heavy. Come. Let me Finish my
bread and cheese"
"Iou should not walk so far. You
should give the wound some chance to
heal"
But l am going"
mo. will not suffer it,"
"You will not? You?" He laughed
almost contemptuously.
She said no more. but when his eyes
were not upon her she silently with
drew. A brief time later he heard .
horse approaching, and from tho
window he saw Betty Lee, seated firm
ly on IL sleeps pelt that served for IL
saddle, and, with her red lips pertly
parted and IL saucy smile in her blue
eyes, she said:
'Rest you there, Renold, till l re-
turn. am going to the settlement
for YOU" and with Il word to the
mare she flew away.
"That maid hath spirit" unused the
discounted Captain, "slight though
she be, and she rides her mare as no
woman ever rode. But what! What
am ]? Here am again overpowercd
by her. slew Il ferocious beast this
and yet this little child re-
strains me. 'Tis strange, but tits
rather pleasing to he commanded by
her. ] do not seem to rebel. But no
more of that to-day, no more"
When the fair Betty came slowly
riding back a half hourlater, she look
ed demurely upon him with her blue
eyes as he put out his hand'for Il step
ping stone, and thus on onehand bore
her like q trifie from the saddle to the
gfpund.
t"The men with ceme at once" she
said, He made no reply, but led her
ma:e to tho shed, and then strobe
away, with mighty steps; and when
she saw him later he was with impcri-
GUS tones commanding the men to car,
ry II bears haunch to the old fort ut
Point, and the men obcyed
him. too.
For many days Betty saw Renold
no more, except in his solitary seat at
the meeting house upon the Lords
day. But one day she perceived him,
from her chamber window. makinghis
way toward the well that he might
drink. Very demurcly Betty threw IL
hood over hor fairhead, and with n
bucket and downcast eyes went to the
well herself. He had the bucket to his
lips and heard her not. SO that she
stood within hands reach of him, lie
not knowing it. When he lowered the
bucket she spoke.
"ioH will fill it again for me, and 1
will thank you, Renold."
lie turned, surprised, and f0r a mo:
mcnt looked down in silenocupon her,
his body towering great and mighty
above her slender, graceful figure.
"Nou came so Silly" he said, ut
length.
CAS- you came when last / saw
you"
Would you try to brighten me,
child?"
"Nay, no one ever made you know
what fear was, Ecnold. Then how
could |? Yet perhaps you fear me-"
"Why say you that?"
"iou used to come once in u while
to see my father. Now you come not
at all. You may come, Rcnoh.
will leave the room to you If alarm
you"
"Twas in my heari to come, but in
my resolution to come not; So | came
not"
"Why, Renold?'
Truly. ! know not: 'Tis pain to
keep away, yet ! will not come"
GLOW are your wounds, Renold3"
"Weli, thanks to you. Sometimes
I con,n In ennl Won. %D,,.L ,,,,~,, 500,