The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-10-19

Sit't WV NCGlJSaO htoul lliIe
alishted. Mamma moved gracefully
forward and greeted the stranger with
kindly warmth. "Come girls. welcom,
your cousin" said she, seeing we hes
itated. "lIuldah, those are my
daughters, Trixy and Flora. l hope
you will be good friends"
!, more timid than my twin sister
still waited, not knowing quito what
to say; but Trixy ran up with arms
outstrctchcd, and embracing the new
found cousin, kissed her on either
cheek.
"lIuldah," she exclaimed, "for PIT
pa sake mamma loves you dearly. but
Flora and will love you for yourself,
and we hope you will like us IL little
too!' she appealed.
"That | shall, truly" she replied
putting back the rings OF hair, and re
tuning the kisses warmly. Then
turning to mamma: "Auntie. l am
grateful Tor the kind welcome you
have given me-"
We all entered the house together
and Trixy and | escorted our cousin
to her room, where we assisted her in
preparing IL toilet for the evening.
Later, as we girls sat with mamma,
having II last confidential chat before
retiring for the night, we discussed the
new arrival that would now form one
OF the home circle.
"Whut lovely hair she has!" said l.
"Why, mamma, when she uncoiled it
it fell around her like u veil, and
begged to brush and dress it."
"What magnificent cycs!" said
Trixy.
"Yes," answered mamma, "thcy ut,
tractcd me ut sight. Large, full, and
lustrous but with u depth of sadness
there we seldom see. Girls. youl
cousin Huidah has n history, but un'
less she chooses to offer confidence
do not annoy her by questioning"
And we promised obedience. From
her first appearing the three irwin.
cibles," rs Trixy has called us, were
conquered. Sweet, winsome, and af-
iectionate she proved; laughing at
Trixy's oddities and drolleries, re,
turning the love and caresses we Law.
lshcd upon her, with tenderness and
feeling, yet not u word escaped her
to enlighten us in regard to the sad.
ness we all knew fingered around her,
even in her mcrriest moments.
After she had been with us q while
hcr guardian came to see her-hcr
mothers brothcr-a short, plethoric
man with irlsciblc temper and who
created quite an unfnvorable opinion
in the minds OF the three" who re-
sisted Indignantly the disposition he
manifested towards his niece.
81 wish TO speak to my ward alone,
Mrs. Winthrop" he said to mamma
the evening before his departure.
Very well, Mr.. Markton," mamma
rejoincd. "IIultlah is in her room.
Witt in the library, please, and l will
request her Attendance.
Trixy flew up stairs TO seek the tru-
ant.
"rhe ogre is waiting for you in the
library, mamma sad" Then wind
ing her arms around her as they came
down the stairway together: "Remem-
ber, cousin miine, ii the guardy is too
severe the threc-meaning mamma
and the twins-,lre in the room I'D.
joining. Ifyou need assistance just
call, for We are cqualto awhole army,
you know"
"Thani you, Trixy dear, for your
good intention, but l prefer fighting
my own battles"
For two hours We waited for the con.
ference to be over. Sometimes we
heard Mr.. Markton's voice, loud and
angry, but did not understand the
words spoken; again we heard him
crossing and recrossins the floor us if
too excited to sit still; and anon HUI
dah's voice reached us, always low,
firm, and decided.
Finally Mr.. Markton came into o.
presence, and wishing u got
bye said he would leave for home
the first train. Later Hulda emf.
also, but mamma, seeing the sig;
unusual excitement, signed for
be still, for the lustrous eyes gil.
with unshed Gears, und the y"
ing to bravely smile,
lously. Trixy, disoba
command, asked
".Are there any slain
tie. dearic?"
TO our surprise Huldah sa
the nearest chair, breathing
than speakins:-
ayes, one is slain" while su,
look OF woe and misery swept over,
young face as made our hearts az
TO see, but even then the lips "
closed to further confession. Mamnnl
motione,l for us to retire. which l
silently did, but Trixy stopped to kiss
her cousin us she passed out.
Shortly after Mr.. Markton's visit
his son Godfrey enthusiastically
with papers the guardian had
sent his ward to sign but-before
many hours we knew he had
come as awoocr, anda very persistent
one. too, and then we began to under
stand the persecution which Huldall
had borne in silence. Uncle Livings-
ton-IIuldah's fathcr-had died pos
sesscd OF considerable wealth, and
having faith in Mr.. Markton's intee-
rity had appointed him in authority
over his child.
But the guardian, recreant to his
trust, coveted the estates whose rem
tails returned an income far greater
than his own, determined his ward
should we'd his son and every innu-
ence was brought to bear upon the
deienseless girl to coerce her to his
will.
"Girls," said mamma, after we had
witnessed several maneuvcrs on the
part OF our cousin, to evade pri
vate interview with her guest, "ro
her. Godfrey is peculiarly distasteful.
Let us prevent any further annoyance
if possible. Poor girl, no wonder she
appreciated the kindness we have
shown"
Mamma" said Trixy. whirling
around from the mirror where she Ii ad
been admiring her own reflections.
may Inot try my charms upon him?