The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-07-26

homeward hound. ana board her with these
lines, wenthcr permitting.
"Of course the chances nre you will not no.
ceive them ateea; but still you possibly may,
cnse for Overlooking; and then pictured to
myself that bright facc reading an unexpected
letter in inid-ocean, and 30 tuste before.
hand the greatest.pleasure my mind con con.
ceivc-the delight of giving you pleasure, my
own sweet Helen.
~ and devotedly you arc beloved-know 1t
SO well that feel TINT words nre almost
wasted in repeating it. Indeed. the time,
hope. il ut hand when the word love will
hardly be mentioned between us. For my
part, think it will be too visible in
every act, and look. and word OF mine, to
need repetition. We do not speak much
about the air We live in. We brenthe it, and
speak with it, not oft.
~ suppose all lovers are jenlous. think
should SO mad if you were to give me RI
val; but then donot understand that i'll.
nntured jealousy which would rob the b.
loved object Of all affections but the one.
know my Helen loves her f,lthcr-loves him,
perhaps. as well, or better, than she does NE.
Well. in spite of that, ] love him too. Do
you know. never sire that erect form, that
model of courage and probity. come into a
room. but say to myself, Here comes my
onsi a. hut hut for , HI. man there would be
unexpected circumstance has given me lit.
tie military influence (thcse things do hup-
pen in the City,: md | really believe
that. what with his ucknowled ycd
merits Il am secretly informed IL very high
parsonage said. the other day. lie had no re-
n post will shortly he offered to your father
that will enable him to live henceforth, in
England, with comfort, might say, atliu.
cnce. Perhaps he might live with us. That
depends upon himself.
Looking forward to this. and my own
st,l , 4, greater happiness, .iivcrts my mind
awhile from the ever pressing anxiety. But,
alas it will return. BY this time my Helen
is on the sens-thc terrible, the treacherons,
tho cruel seus, TINT spare neither beauty nor
virtue, nor tho longing hearts at home.
have conducted this office for some years.
and thought knew care and anxiety. But
lind knew neither till now.
II have two ships ut sen. the Shannon aud
the Proserpinc. The Proserpine carries
eighteen chests OF specie, worth IL hunirc,
and thirty thousand pounds. ] don't care
one straw whether she sinks or swims. But
the Shannon carries my darling: and every
gust at night nwakens me. and every day 1
20 into the great room ut I.loy.i's ami watch
the thermometer. OGod! be just, and strike
| her not for my offcnses!
"l'esi,lca the direct pcrils ofthe sea IRE
some others you might escape by prudence
Pray avoid the night mir. for my sake, who
could not live if any evil beiel you mud be
80 well us usual when | left. Would l had
words to make you know your own value.
| Then you would feel it II duty to be prudent
But must not sn,l,len You with my
fears: let me turn to my hopes. How bright
they are! whatjoy. what happiness, is sail
| nsk myself what nm that such paradise
should be mine.
My love. when we are one, shall we share
| every thought, or shall ! keep commerce,
| speculation, and its temptations away from
your pure spirit? Sometimes think should
like to have neither thought nor occupation
unshared by yon; and TINT You would purify
trade itself by your contact; ut other times
! say to myself 20. never soil thnt angel
| with your miserable business; but go home
to her as II yon were going from earth to
heaven. for II few blissful hours. But you
shall decide this question and every other.
| Must close this letter? Must / say no
more, though have scarcely begun?
Yes. will end since, perhaps, you will
never see it.
when have sealed it. mean TO hold it
in my clnspcd hands. and so pray the Al
! mighty to take it safe to you, and to bring
YOU safe to him who can never know pcace
nor JOY till he sees you once more
| "iour devoted and anxious lover,
ARTHUR Wurdluw."
Helen kolleston ren,l this letter more than
once She liked it none the less for being dis.
connected and unbusiness. like. She had seen
her Arthur y business letters; models of court
eous roncisencss. She did not value suc
| compositions. This one she did. She smiled
over it, all beaming and hluslling: she kissed
| it, and read it again, and sut with it in her
lap.
But by and by her mood changed, and,
when Mr. Hazel ventured upon deck again,
he found her with her forehead sinking on
her extended arm. and the lax hand of that
same arm holding the letter. She was crying
The wholedrooping attitude was so lovely,
resolute, looking wisttully ut her.
She caught sight of him, and, by n natural
| impulse, turned gently away, as if to hide
her tears. But the next moment she altered
her mind, and said, with u quiet dignity that
cume naturally to her ut times. "Why
should hide my care from you, sir? MI;
Hazel, may speak to you ms clergyman"
Certainly" said Mr.. Hazel, in somewhat
fuint voice.
She pointed to seat, and lie sat down
near her.
She was silent for some time; her lin
9uivered little; she was struggling
inwardly for that decent COM
customs distinguishes the lady from the mere
woman; and it wns with pretty firm voice
she said what follows
II am going to tell you n little secret: one
! have kept from my own father ltis-that
| have not very long to live"
Her hazel eye. rested calmly on his face
while she said these words quietly.
He received them with amazement ut first;
Amusement; that soon deepened into hor-
ror. What do YOU mean? lie gasped.
What words are these
"lhank you for miniing SO much" said
she. sweetly. II willtcll you. ] haye fits of
coughing, not frequent, but violent: and
That is bad sign. YOU know. have been
| so for four months now, aud / am n good
deal wasted; my hand used to lie very plump,
look ut it now. Poor Arthur"
She turued awny her head to drop gen
tie, unseltisli tear or two; and Hazel stared
ed hand she still held out to him, and
glanced, too, at Arthur Wartllnws letter,
held slightly by the beloved fingers.
He said nothing, and, when she looked
round again. he was pole and trembling
The revelation was 20 sudden.
speak Of this no more But now, | think,
you will not lie surprised that come to you
for religious advice and consolation. short
as our acquaintance is"
II am in no condition to give Them" said
Hazel, in great agitation. Il can think of
help me, and give me wisdom for that"
but firmly. Il have had the best advice for
months, and get worse; and, Mr.. IIuzei,
shall never I've better. So hid me to bow to
the will Of Heaven. Sir. l do not repne at
leaving. the world; but it does grieve me to
think how my departure will affect those
She then looked ut the letter, bluslcd, and
hpSlt0tpI moment. Inf ended Inv ivinr IL