The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-11-08
A Winter Niglt;
Found in a Snow-Dri{t.

Certainly YOU may, you are very kind.
I'll get her warm first though. Will you sit
in papa's lap, Ally, till you are warm?"
The child nestled under her fathers chin
and looked at Dorothy with great scared
ewes. Mr.. Penfold took her to the fire and
sat down, a look of pain and perplexity i'll
his eyes.
Dorothy held her hands to the blaze, then
rubbed the child's feet, smiling up into the
little face and telling all sorts of quaint lit
tie stories to divert her mind.
Mr.. Penfold kept silent for some time,
then he said:
"Do you think, Miss Snow, that q child
can constantly dream the same thing with
out there being some foundation for tile
fanoy?"
81 thsak It is very probable Ally had indi-
gestion, and had nightmare. l think when
a child is timid, it is best to allow her to
sleep WITH someone; then, when she awakes
in a fright, there is someone to comfort her
and reason with her.
'She shall sleep with me tonight; when l
am gone, let her share a room with one of
the maids till she has grown out of this trick
of dreaming. Poor babyl she misses her
mother, perhaps"
Mr.. Penfold fro1sned, but said nothing,
only pressed his child closer in his arms,
and looked into the fire.
Dorothy was sorry she had mentioned the
child's mother, she feared it looked like
curiosity, so she began to talk very fast, ai3l
was rewarded by kind smile from her
host, who said with an evident effort:
NtAlI,, 49,, ~ ,,t,. b,r ,aokbo, . ; . A.
good, she shall have another some day"
Don't want anyone but papa" said Ally
sleepy.
eyes with passionate tenderness.
In a second the child was asleep.
"Shall l carry her up, Mr.. Penfold? If
directly you lay her down. See, here is a
soft shawl, wrap her in that; the cold sheet
will startle her"
Dorothy placed the shawl round the child,
and held out her arms to take her.
Mr.. Penfold shook his head, saying:
II will carry her, she is too eavyfo you.
Take the light for me, child; l don't want to
disturb the servants, they are SO merry"
Dorothy did as be desired, walking in
front with the candle.
The best bedchamber was on the same
floor as the drawing-room, or best parlor,
as Agnes called ii.
4 Thu passage was panelled with shining
oak; a soft velyet-pile carpet deadened their
footsteps.
They passed a door that was partly open,
and as Dorothy looked in she distinguished
the figure OF a woman fit away among the
shadows. Dorothy de not start or scream,
hut n faaItrr -P ~ IN, c{,rrn1 l.r \ va .I ,,o,,
ertheless.
soft white bed, and left Dorothy to tuck her
up costly.
Dorothy heard the smothered sound of
room, then an understandable sensation of
alarm seized her.
She was afraid to pass the room where
she had seen that shadowy shape alone.
She tried to feel brave, and twice took up
the light and put it down again, when she
heard a gentle knock at the door, and old
Agnes's voice saying:
us there anything you want, Miss Snow
-an extra pillow, or more bed-clothes? Did
you lie warm last night? Miss Ally is q very
chilly child"
Dorothy assured the woman she had all
she wanted, and made her come in to take
peep at the rosy sleeping face ofthe child.
Poor balrnH' said Agnes, putting one OF
Ally's little dimpded hands under the bed.
clothes tenderly; ''she is a timid thing, and
her papa pets her till she is full of whims
and fancies. She'll be all right with you, ]
dare say. If she is not, Tl have her bed
taken to my room. Supper is served miss
it is getting late"
Without a word, Dorothy fastened along
the corridor to the drawing-room, where
she found Mr.. Penfold reading.
Down below the servants were keeping
Christmas noisily.
AS Dorothy entered, Mr.. Penfold lait
down his book, and said with a smile:
Come, Miss Snow, let us go and eat some
of Agnes's mince-pies, or she will never for
give us. Ally is all right, l suppose?"
Eyes, she is sleeping sweetly now. She
Is a nervous child"
Eyes, / am afraid she is. She wants some
one with lLer who is patient and sympa
thetic. 1 suppose l must see about a govern
ess. She has learnt nothing yet, and 1 an
not sorry; 1 want to keep her my baby q.
long as possible"
A wild hope sprang up in Dorothy's heart
Why should she not stay as little Ally's
~governess2 it. would be a labor Of love t.
teach so loveable q child.
A sudden impulse caused her to say:
perhaps when you have heard my story
Mr.. Penfold, you may find it in your hear
your little child. l am sure l could teach
her, and / must find means of earning III,
bread for two years at least"
And when the two years are up?"
'The need for work will have passed;
shall be independent"
you will marry?'
NO. never want to put myself In
mans power"
''That sounds very severe from such pref
ty lips, Miss Snow, though Idon't know BIZ
that you are right. Marriage moro Otter
means misery than happiness"
CHAPTER III.
Two days later Mr.. Penfold asked Dor
othy If she had any commissions for town
rs he was going there that morning.
Dorothy looked startled, and said:
"Going away2 l I'm sorry. When vii
you return?"
ION New Years Eve. l thought periap
you might have a commission for me; l shall
go to Oxford-street, where all the swell
shops are."
Ally was busy decking Christmas-trce
Ooiotuy WIS eHSabeu III dressing COILS. Silt
coIored up and said nervous!y:
II wish I might trouble you to get me ;
hat and a dress from jays; l have the
money for them, and can send the measure
ments."
How independent you are! 1 suppos;
you want black, if l am to go to jays. 1t i
a neutrality-suspicious., is it notP Are yot
in mourning, child%'
"Yes.n
'For q near and dear friend?"
For the nearest and dearest friend one
can possess. l can't talk about it now-it
hurts"
Forgive me, child, and let me have YOU
letter Of instructions soon. My train start;
at noon, and l have business in Cardiff
Wait a moment, Miss Snow. Send the child
away. ! wish to speak to you"
Dorothy rose and said:
ALLY, run into my room and bring dowI
a big bunch Of holly-berries you will see OF
the table. / want to make a holly-berr,
basket"
The child ran away, and Mr.. Penfold put
his hands on Dorothy's shoulders and sale
earnestly:
Miss Snow, whatever you may have t,
tell will make indifference. You may coun
~aN 1,.- = ~