The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-11-01
"Gone away for always" in a mysteriou,

"Gone away for always" in a mysterious
whisper.
.Has she gone to God, dear? Isshe dead?'
II don't know. But once papa said she
was worse than dead. What did he mean?,
81 cannot tell you, dear. Some day he
will explain, perhaps"
Dorothy ate some breakfast, and dressed
hurriedly, watched all the time by the child's
bright eyes.
When she put on her pretty black dress,
that Agnes had freshened up so cleverly,
she stood psrplexcd by her short sleeves
and bare breast. Just then q knock came to
the door, and old Agnes entered with q
white lace tichu OH her arm, and a pair Of
crimson mittens in her hand,
See here, my dear; this will make Your
dress more suitable, and here is a piece of
flannel to fix across your chest"
Dorothy took the things gratefully, say
ing:
How good you are to mel shall never
forget your kindness"
The old woman patted her cheek kindly,
and said:
Nonsense, child; l am only too pleased
to see you aple to get up. l feared you
would be i'll. Come down, it is very cold,
and there is a nice fire in the parlor."
Dorothy looked very quaint and pretty, ms,
with timid step aud dowr-droppcd eyes. she
entered the handsome sitting-room holding
Ally's hand.
Mr.. Penfold threw down his book, and
came forward to meet her, his handsome
face full of genuine admiration at the pref
ty picture she made, with his gift pinned at
her throat among the snowy folds of lac,
that crossed so daintily over her pretty bust.
al nnnpnt tall vn,, how J.lirbtal I ~, a.,
see you are able to come down. Sit here by
the fire. What is YOU name, child? Nine
is Pierce Penfold.'
She looked blankly up at him a moment.
Then as her eyes wandered away to the
snow-clad hills she faltered ont family:
Mine is Dorothy Snow, and l am very,
very grateful to you for your timely help.
Had you not found me | should be lying
dead now-frozen to death in the SNOW
drift"
My dear young lady, my old mother used
to say: God is always in one place, no
matter where his wanderers straw He
guided me to you last night, and it is a great
happiness to me to think that |, under
Heaven, was allowed to help you. Let me
give you a glass of wine, and promise NE
that you will consider me a friend.
Let there be silence between us as to all
that concerns you till Twelfth Night, when
l will meet you here, in this room, to burn
the holly, until then you are my honorcd
guest; after then, perhaps, you Will let me
be your true friend. Now, Miss Snow, here's
n merry Christmas to you. Shake hands,"
She held out her hand gratefully: as lie
pressed it he noticed she Wore IL gentle
mans ring, a costly jewel engraved with n
masonic emblem. lie raised her hand and
locked at it eagerly, saying:
This ring was given 10 you by Il ma
on'?.'
Yes, a knight tcmplar-my father"
Then, my dear, YOU are twice welcome,
once for your W sake, and once for your
fathers, since he was a brother mason"
"lle is dead, or l should not be here"
Tears dimmed the innocent blue eyes, and
the sensitive lips quivercd grievously.
Ally changed the subject, saying:
Did you hear the waits last night, Miss
Snow? Idid.'
Dorothy %shuddered, and remembered with
pain that she heard them singing of peace
and goodwill while she was the centre of n
scene of strife. But she said nothing oftllis,
only lifted the child to her knee, ard talked
TO her of Christmas-time when she was a
happy child.
Pierce looked out OF the icc-hound earth
q little sadly. 1t was long since he had seen
his child graded in the arms of a gentIewo-
man. Somehow the sight of those two in
the big armchair, filled a void in his heart
and home, and lie wondered vaguely for
what purpose this lovely girl had been
thrown in his path.
The day passed peacefully away, and the
nighttime came brilliant and starlight.
Little Ally had tired herself out over a
snapdragon after a late dinner, and Dorothy
had carried her off to bed, heard her pure
prayer, and had stolen back TO the cheerful
%s.tting-room where her host sat recalling
the sight of the fair young face as it bent
yearningly over his mothcrless child.
lie had noticed, too, how contidingly Ally
had nestled in the kind arms of her new
friend, and he felt that the instincts of a
child are to be trusted.
He drew a chair to the tireside, and said
softly:
My little girl is very lonely; you have
been a perfect godsend to her to-day. am
so glad to have you here. l dreaded to-day,
and 10! it has passed so pleasantly that |
now regret it has flown so fast. You look
very pale, are you tircd?'
Not at all. Shall | play for you?"
Il wish you would, Ilove music"
liz littsthS ofSilto q SllIhi pllIiD lllft
stood back in the shadows. lighted the can
dies, and placed a pile of music before her
marked with the namcof ALISON Penfold.''
Dorothy picked out one called "A Year
Ago." and as she sang tears splashed heavi
ly down upon her little white hands. The
words touched her so deeply.
As she concluded, the sweet clear voice
faltered and ended in a sob. Pierce bent
over her compassionately, saying:
Poor child, | fear the song has stirred
sad thoughts III you. Play this one for me.
He put a song in front of her and sang
out jovially.
While he sang, Dorothy heard another
sound, shrill and heart-piercing "a child's
terrified cry. She flew up the stairs to tho
pretty b%edciamber where she had place.
the child.
Ally was standing trembling with frighI
at the bottom of the bed. At sight of Dor
othy she flew to her with outstrctclcd arms
crying:
"Oh, Miss Snow, / have been so very
5 frightened. A dreadful woman, all in black
like a DOGGY, came and woke me by kissin.
. me with cold lips. Then when | cried on
she ran away so quick
Poor little Ally! you have been dream
ing" said Dorothy, taking the child in he
1 arms.
Just then old Agnes came in in a grea
futter, saying:
"Heyday! what's the matter, Miss Ally
I why do you cry out so? You've had to,
, much to eat, l expect, and it has made YOU
| have one of your ~foolishdreams. IIushnow
l let me put you to bed, you'll take cold"
The feeble light of the lamp showed tht
anxious face of the old lady, and the fright
5 ened fac. of the child. Ally repeated he
? tale. Agnes shook her head and seemed
7 vexed, for she said sharply:
always the same foolish fancy, Ms
Ally; how many times have l told you it i
but a drcam?"
"She is too young to understand the mean
ing of dreams, Agnes"
dreams have no meaning, miss"
t 81 suppose not; but it is hard to believ,
, that when awakening from a vision of ter
ror. Shut your eyes, little pet, | will 81
with you till you can go to sleep again."
Take me to Your bed, Miss Snow"
MAY l. Agnes"
3 The woman looked veXed, bnt led the wa,
. with a light.
T. the foot of the stairs thpy met Mr.