The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-06-28

iole nlm, 6trctcueO Out hin hAnue, QnU sui,
in q faint, hut earnest voice, before eleven
witnesses, "ls she safe? Oh is she safe?"
CHAPTER ".
Sarah Wilson LETT off crying, and looked
down OH the ground with n very red face.
General KolIeston was amazed. "Is she
snfe?' Is who snte?" said lie. "He means my
mistress" replied Wilson, rather brusquely;
and founced out of the hall.
"She IL safe, no thanks to you," said Gen.
eral Rolleston. "What were you doing un.
der her window Mt this time Of night" And
the harsh tone in which this question was
put showed Seaton he was suspected. This
wounded him, and he replied, doggedly,
Lucky for youall was there"
''Fhut il no answer to my question" said
the General sternly.
at is all the answer shall give you.''
Then shall hand you over to the officer,
without another word"
do, sir, do, snid Seaton, bitterly; but he
added more gentlys"yo will be sorry for it
when you come to Your senses"
At this moment Wilson entered with u
message. "If you please, sir, Miss Rolleston
says the robhcr had no beard. Miss have
never noticed Scnton's face, but his beard
she hive; and oh. il you please sir, she beg
ged me to nsk him-Was it you that fired
the pistol and shot the rObber?"
The delivery Of this ungI ammaticnl mes
snge but rational query was like ray Of
light streaming into II dark place; it changed
the whole aspect OF things. As iar Sraton,
him through Wilson. Hissullcn mir relaxed
the water stood in his eyes. he smiled af.
fectionately. and said in low, tender voice
Tell her heard some bud characters talk
ing about this house-that was month ago
so, ever since then, have slept il the
Toulouse to watch. Yes, | shot the robher
with my revolver. and marked one or two
hut thny tI,rno %rN< I
must have got u blow on the head; for felt
nothing"
Here he WINS interrupted by n violent
scrcam from Wilson. She pointed downward,
with her eyes glaring; aud q little blood was
seen to be trickling slowly over Scaton's
stocking and shoe.
Wounded" snid the Generals servant,
Tom. in the business like accent Of one who
had seen thousand wounds
"Oh never mind that" said Seaton. at
can't be very deep for don't feel it, then,
fixing his eyes on General KOlleston, he said,
in II voice that broke down suddenly,
There stands the only man who has
wounded me tonight. 10 hurt me-"
The way General Rolleston received this
present, who had observed only the impcri-
! Gus and iron side OF his character He hung
Ills llent in silence moment, then. being dis
cnntented with himself, lie went into n pas
sion with his servants for standing idle
Run away, YOU women, said lie roughly.
"Now, Tom. If you are good for anything.
strip the man and stanch his wound. Andrew,
bottle of port, quick"
Then, leaving him for while in friendly
hands he went to his daughter, and asked
her il she saw any Objection to IL he'd being
made up in the house for the wounded con.
: Wit.
ooh, papa" said She "why. OF course not.
am all gratitude What is he like, Wilson?
for it il q most provoking thing, never
noticed his face, only his beautiful heard gilt
| tcring in the sunshine ever SO far oil. Poor
directly, and We will all nurse linn. never
di, any good in the world yet, and 30 why
not begin ut Once?"
General I.olleston laughed at this squirt of
enthusiasm from his staid daughter, and
went off to give the requisite orders.
But Wilson followed him Immediately and
stopped him in the pnssage.
"lfyou plense, sir, think you had better
not. have something to tell you" She
then communicated to him by degrees her
suspicion that James Scnton was in love
with his daughter. lie treated this with due
ridicule at first: but she gave him one reason
after another until she staggered him, and
lie went down stairs in most mixed ana
puzzled frame Of mind, inclined to laugh, in.
clined to be angry, inclined to be sorry.
Tho officer had just arrived, and was look
| ing over some photographs to see ii James
Scaton was lone of his birds" Such ALIAS!
! was his expression.
At sight Of this Rolleston coIored up; hut
cxtrcated himself from the double difficulty
with some skill. "Hexham," snii he. this
poor fellow has behaved like n man, and got
himself wounded in my service. You are to
| take him to the infirmary: but mind they
must treat him like my own son, and moth.
ing ho asks for he denied him.
Seaton walked with feeble stems, and lean.
ing on two men, to the infrmary; and
General Rolleston ordered n cup of coffee.
| lighted n cigar and sat down cogitnting over
this strange business and asking himself
how lie could get rid Of this young mailman,
and yet befriend him. As for Sarah Wilson,
| she went to bed discontinued, and wondering
ant her own bad judgement. She saw, too
late, that, ifshc had held her tongue. Seuton
| and an for Miss Roliest0n. when it cume to
the point, why. she would never have nursetl
him except by proxy, and the proxy would
have been Sarah Wilson.
However, the blundcr blind passion had
| led her into was partially repaired Ly Miss
Rolleston herself When she heard, next day,
where Seaton was gone, she lifted up her
hands in nmazement. "What could papa lie
thinking of to send our brefactor to n hos
|
directed Wilson to cut noscgny and carry
it to Senton. He is II gardener, snid she,
innocently. "Ofcoursc he will miss his flow.
ers sadly in tllnt miserable place"
And she gave the same order every day,
with II consistency that. you must know,
formed part of this ounglady 'scharacter.
Soup, wine, and jelios were sent from the
kitchen every other day with equal p,ytin,,.
| city.
Wilson concealed the true donor oful these
things, md took the credit to herself. BY
this means she obtained the patients graft
tude, and he showed it SO frankly, she hoped
to steal his love as we'll
But no! his fancy and Ills heart remain ed
true to the cold beauty he had served 80 we'll
and nd she had forgotten him. apparently.
This irritatel Wilson at last, and she hui,
set to work to cure him with wholesome. but
bitter medicine. She sat down beside him
one day, and said, rhcerully: I'VE are all or
the keyfeet' just now. Miss Rollcst on y beau
| il come on o visit"
The patient opened his eyes with astonish
mcnt.
"Miss Rolltston's bcau?"
cay, her intended. What, didn'tyou know
she is engaged to he married."
''She engaged to be married." gasped Sea
ton.
Wilson watched him with remorselesl
eye.
Why, James," said slle after n while
did you think the likes of her would &c
through the world without a mate?'
Seaton made no reply but IL moan, and lay
back like one dead, utterly crushed by thi,
cruel blow.
A bnxom middle aged nurse now came I'M
and said, with touch of severity, Come
my good girl, 10 doubt you mean well. hui
you are doing i'll. You had better leave hin
to lls for the present
On this hint Wilson bounced out, and lef,
the patient to his misery.
At her next visit she laid nosccay on hi.
bed. and gossiped AWAY, talking OF every
At last she came to a pause, ana Seator
laid his hand on her arm directly, and looking
riteOusly in her face spoke his first word,
N"Docs she love him.
"What. still harping on herr" said Wilson
We'll, she doesn't hate him, suppose, o,
she would not marry him."
Does she love him."
La James, how can tell? She mayn',
love INN quite as much ms could love II
man TINT took my fancy" there she cast !;
languishing glance on Seaton); "but Nc,
no difference between her and other youn.
ladies: Miss in very fond other papa, foi
one thing; and he f,vors the match Az
and she likes her partner we'll enough; she i.
brighter like, now he is in tho house, and sl,,
reads all her friends letters to him ever nc
| lovingly: and do notice she lenns ON him
out walking. trile more than there is an,
need for
At this picture James Seaton writhed ir
his bed like some agOnizcd creature unde,
Vv'sectlon; but the woman, spurrel by jcul
ousy, and also by egotisticai passion, ind
no mercy left for him.
And why not?" continued she; "he is
young, and handsome, and rich, and dotc.