The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-12-28
said such Q thug"
rels.. Ssen ;. days Ehen


u shouldn't IL \ knew of any better place.
But I hope you won't say anything about
It."
'of course we WON'T.
:.I've always felt free to come in hero an,
say anything wanted to. 7 shouldn't go
nowheres else"
SNOW there's one thing, Mis- Pcndar,"
Mrs. Wall said, eagerly. II want to know
II you know what he's lost?"
Mrs. Pcndar left her spoon In tho stew, and
sat up. "Well, II you can find out you'll do
more than can. He's been just as uneasy
as a fish out Of water this week past, an I've
been polkin' round, loolkin' everywhere, but
can't get nothin' out of him. Hos lost
somethin'; know that"
"Its money!" said the grandmother; "you
needn't tell me. knowcd it tho minute 1
sot eyes on him."
"You don't mean he's been in hcre!" cried
Mrs. Pendar.
"Hc was in here not ten minutes aforo YOU
come"
'sFsor the land sakes!'
Fanny suddenly got up, went over to the
window and pulled the curtain little aside.
A CLEAN Of light shot into the room. "He's
out there with o lantern" she whispered.
The other women crowded up and pecped.
"1t's him pokin' around there with q Ian
tern, just as sure as you livc," said Mrs.
Pendar. "It does beat the Dutch.''
Mrs. Pendar stayed quite u long time. She
ate second plate of the stew, and she had
much to say about Eleazcr West; she was his
housekeeper. She had no sooner gone than
Fanny hurried out into the woodshcd and
picked up a basket Of kindlings which she
carried through into the parlor. ''Is Jimmy
comin' tonight" asked her mother.
s"1 sure expect him." Fanny replied. She
hastened to kindle the parlor fire; then she
went up stairs and put on her best dress; it
was garnet cashmere, and she looked very
pretty in 1t. She had a dark, clear complex
ion, and the color suited it, She was scarce
~ dressed when the door bell rang, and she
ran down to answer it. ~ wonder how late
he'll STAY" her mother said, as she went
through the kitchen. 'There amt much oil
in the parlor lamp; it amt been filled since
Sunday. didn't s'pose he was comm again
so soon."
"I'll see to it," Fanny answered.
"What sent him out tonight" said the
grandmother, when they had heard the outer
and the parlor door open and shut; s'it amt
his rcg'lar night till to.morrer."
II s'pose they've got considerable to talk
over iist now," Mrs. Wall replied with sig
niticant smile. She meant that as the young
couple were to bc married in two weeks, on
Christmas Day, they would naturally wish
to see each other more in order to make the
necessary arrangements. However, mar
riagc in Fanny's case was, not expected to
make much of change in her manner of
life. The young couple were to live ut the
BRIDES house with her mother and grand
mother, and she was to keep on with her
diessmaking. There was no other way:
the two old women had to be supported, and
the young mans income was not large. He
was quite young, and lie had never been
able to lay aside any money; until recently
he had had a mother of his own to support.
He stayed later than usual that night.
The grandmother and mother had both gone
to bed in the little bedroom off tho kitchen,
when Fanny went past the door witt,
the lamp OH her way upstairs. SIS that
you, Fannyl" her mother called out of the
bedroom.
eyes"
"Have you locked up everything,"
ayes"
There was O strange sound in Fanny's
voice, and her mother noticed it. s.Is there any
thing the matter?" she called in subdued
tone She was afraid of awakening the old
woman. Mo-" said Fanny shortly; ther
she closed the door after her.
But tho next morning shc confess Il
her mother that there was something the
matter. Her lover had been turned out OF
the shop. He worked in Elcazer Vests
chair factory. at seems as if he nigh,
have turned off somebody besides him, that
wasn't going to be married in two weeks"
said Fanny with indignant toars II don't
care if work Is dull. Old 'Lcazcr West
knows just how 'tis, what hard work we've
had to get along; and everything. 1,
wouldn't have hurt him to have kept Jim
my, it there wasn't much work, as rich as
he is. Jimmy says he doesn't think thcrc'll
be any work before next April"
"Well, do hate to have it put off," said
Mrs. Wall.
"It's dreadful bad singn toput off a wed
DIM" remarked the grandmother.
"Well, there isn't any other way" said
Fanny II told him guessed we'd get
along some way, but he says he amt going
to get married and live on mo, anyhow. He's
going to wait until he can earn something.
He's real determined about it''
"Well, l call it pretty hard lincs,n said her
mother.
Fanny could not help crying some, as she
sat and sewed She had to sew, no matter
how little she felt like it. She had promis-
fd a
was at work finished that night She sewed
steadily all the morning. 1t was nearly noon
when Eleazer West came to the door again.
Tho grandmother had seen him coming
through the yard.
sThcre's that old coot comin' agin," said
she. wonder what he wants now.' ~
But she hurriedly took OFF her long pur-
pie calico apron and threw it behind her
chair. She also Strengthened her cup Fan
ny put the handkerchief with which she
had been wiplng her eyes into her pocket and
sat sewing dcfinantly. She barely nodded
when Eleazer entered. Hc drew chair
with a scrape to the stove; then he seated
himself and entered upon the subject of his
errand. He wanted to buy the gray goose
II want to know, Mis- Wall,n said no.
'what you'll let me have that old goose of
yours for"
Before her mother could answer Fanny
spoke up. Her cheeks were glowing and her
eyes snapped at Elcazcr.
"We want that goose ourselves" said she;
tive don't want to sell 1t at all''
Eleazer ignored her. He kept his inquir-
ing eyes upon Mrs. Wall, who looked fright
encd.
"Why, I dunno-hardly," she stammcrcd.
But Fanny spoke again. 'sThcrcs no use
talking about it," said she; 1--WE are not
going to sell the goose. We arc going to
have it for our Christmas dinner Mother
has nothing to say about it, Mr.. West; the
goose belongs to me. My money has paid for
the corn. I'm the ono you've got to deal
with"
Tho old man turned smilingly to her.
"Well, how much will you let me have it for,
Fanny"
II tell you we shan't let you have 1t at all.
We want it ourselves"
"rm willing to pay you u pretty good
price,"
Fanny raised her head and looked at him.
'Look here, Mr.. West" said she; ''if you
want that goose so bad, there's one way you
can have it. You take Jimmy Arnold back
into your shop"
s'Why, Fanny" gasped hcr mother. Flea
Ger turned to her with an indulgent air.
"Fanny don't realize what she's talkin'
about, guess"' said he. "Now, what do
YOU think You'll let TINT goose On for Mis,