The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-04-19
BROKEN PROMISES.

Washington Post.
BROKEN PROMISES.
ATRUE STORY.
ooh, dear! there comes those chill
dren! Itold them expressly to stay
in the dining-room toplay. Having
them around me all day, l feel When
night comes us if l would like to have
q little peace and quiet"
Mrs. Holt spoke impatiently, and
a frown contracted her brow us the
noisy steps in the hall drew nearer
at is time they were all in bed
anyhow" said Mrs. Holt, as thepnr
lor door burst open, and three chill
dren, q girl of five years of age. and
two boys of seven and nine-rushe,l
in laughing gayly.
Gracious, what a noise!" cxclaim.
ed George Prentiss, Mrs. Holt bach
elor brother, a rather nervous young
man, ofabout thirty years of age
'Lucy, do send them all TO bed at
once. They'll deafen Mrs Delwyn.'
"Please don't send them off on my
account" cried Mrs. Delwyn. a fair
gentle-looking woman, who had nr
rived that day on n visit to Mrs
Holt. 81 like children, and dom,
mind their noise in the least. Yor
forgot that l live with my sister
who has seven"
"But we want to read aloud that
article in the Review" said Mrs
Holt, "and We can't read with thu
children in here. Jessie, Charley and
BERTHE, go up to bed Mt once"
ooh, mamma, do let us stay just
a little WHILE" cried Charlie, plead
ingly.
ave won't mako any noise
mamma" said BERTHE.
"And it's SO lonesome upstairs, .
whimpered Jessie.
"No, you can't stay; go ut once. >
Mrs. Hollis voice was very i'm
patient.
"Wcll, then, can we have some O
the candy Uncle George brought
home? asked Charlie.
eyes; but l can't trust you to helE
yourselves to it, you'd all be sick
Go upstairs without any fuss, and
when you are all in bed III come ur
and give you each n piece. Now
CO."
"You'll come straight up, nam.
maj"
eyes, run along now, like good
children"
The little ones ran to father,
mother and uncle in turn, gave
each an affectionate goodnight kiss,
and then rushed off, eager for the
promised treat.
Mrs Delwyn and George Prentiss
we're engaged in discussion as ia
the merits of n recent popular novel,
but as soon Us the door closed be.
hind the children, the young man
rose and took the Review from q
drawer III the centretable.
"Will you read first?" he asked,
turning to his brother-in.law,
"No. you may have that privilege, "
rejoined Mr.. Holt, laughing.
"But is it well to begin before Mrs.
Holt goes upstairs to give the child
rem that candy?" asked Mrs. Delwyn,
"Oh, never mind that" said Mrs.
Holt, as she took up her fancy work,
and settled hersclfin one oftlle easiest
OF easy chairs. II don'tsuppose they
will expect me to come up..'
Mrs. Delwyn laughed.
eff they don't expect it they are
very different from any children I
ever saw BEFORE" she said. you
may be sure they hurried to bed with
all possible speed, and areimpatient-
ly waiting for you now"
"Well, they must wait, then, that's
all. ! will give them the candy in
the morning. ldon't feel equal to
going up stairs now. l am tired out.
Come, George, do begin"
Mrs. Delwyn said no more, but
found it difficult to fixhermind upon
the reading, so much in sympathy
were her thoughts with the children
upstairs. She wondered if they
would go quickly to sleep without
complaint or remonstrance.
Mr.. Prcntiss had been reading
about half an hour when the parlor
door opened suddenly, and u little
vision in IL long, white night,lress
and long, golden hair appeared on
the threshold.
"Mamma, Charlie and Berthe say
amt you ever coming up?"
"Jessie! l am astonislled at YOU.
How dared you come downstairs?
Go back at once. You'll take your
death of cold; and bare feet, tool:
:But you said you'd come up and
give us the candy, mamma, and We
"NOt another word! Go back at
once. You shall have the candy in
the morning"
The child hurst into q food of tears,
and went sobbing upstairs, leaving
the parlor door wide open. Mrs.
Holt, with a heavy sigh, rose to
close it.
What unreasonable little creatures
children are?" she said. "Now, I
suppose Jessie will cry for an hour
at least"
Mrs Delwyn felt like saying" And
no wonder!' but restrained herself.
The next day was spent 10y the
friends in sight seeing. Mrs. Holt
was anxious that Mrs Delwyn should
miss nothing in that direction, and
took her from onepublic building to
to another until theywere both tired
out.
II must lie down for an hour if !
am to go to the childrcn's sociable
tonight, Mrs. Holt said, on reach.
sv,<. ,1o