Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1890-01-18
A Winter Niglt;
Found in a Snow Drift.

sal uoWn, q iook "a pain anu peipicAity III
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
lie stories to divert her mind.
Mr.. Penfold kept silent for some time,
then he said:
.Do you think, Miss Snow, that a child
can constantly dream the same thing with
out there being some foundation for the
fancyg'
Il think 1t is very probable Ally had lndi-
gestion, and had nightmare. l think when
a child Is timid, 1t Is best to allow her 10
sleep with someone then, when she awakes
In a fright, there is someone TO comfort her
and reason with her.
''She shall sleep with mt tonight; when I
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 frowned, 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 1t looked like
curiosity, so she began to talk very fast, and
was rewarded by n kind smile from her
host, who said with an evident effort:
"Ally must not miss her mother: il she is
good, she shall have another some day"
.Don't want anyone but papa" said Ally
sleepy.
Mr.. Penfold smiled and kissed the drowsy
eyes with passionate tenderness.
In a second the child was asleep.
''Shall l carry her up, Mr.. Penfoldp II
she sleeps here too long. she will rouse up
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 ont her arms 10 take her.
Mr.. Penfold shook his head, saying:
II will carry her, she is too heavy for you.
Take the light for me-, child; I don't want to
disturb the servants, they are so merry"
Dorothy did as he desired, walking In
front with the candle.
The best bcdchamber was on the same
door as the drawing-room, or best parlor,
as Agnes called II.
The passage was panelled with shining
oak; a soft velvet-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 did not start or scream,
but n feeling of alarm stirred her heart new
ertheless.
Mr.. Penfold laid his child tenderln or the
soft white bed, and left Dorothy to tuck her
up costly.
Dorothy heard the smothered sound OF
his footsteps as he went back to the sitting
room, then an lndescribable 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:
rs there anything you want, Miss Snow
"a 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 bairnr' said Agnes, putting one of
Ally's little dimpled hands under the bed
clothes tenderly; ''she Is q timid thing, and
her papa pets her till she Is full OF whims
and fancies. She'll be all right with you, /
dare say. II she Is not, I'll have her bed
taken to my room. Supper Is served miss;
II Is getting late"
Without a word. Dorothy fastened along
the corridor to the drawing-room, where
che found Mr.. Penfold reading.
Down below the servants were keeping
Christmas noislly.
As Dorothy entered, Mr.. Penfold laid
down his book, and said with q 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 SUPPOSED"
"Yes. she Is sleeping sweetly now. She
Is q nervous child"
"Yes, l am afraid she Is. She wants some
one with her who Is patient and sympa-
thetic. j suppose I must see about q govern
ess. She has learnt nothing yet and I an
not sorry; / want to keep her my baby rs
long as possible"
A wild hope sprang up In Dorothy heart.
Why should she not stay as little Ally's
governess? IL would be q labor Of love to
teach so loveable a child.
A sudden impulse caused her to say:
perhaps when y0J have heard my story,
Mr.. Penfold, you may find IL In your heart
70 trust ne with your greatest treasure,
gour little child am suro I could teach
her, and I must find means OF earning my
bread for two years at least"
"And when the two years are upg'
1.-THE need for work will have passed; I
shall be independent"
.'You will mairy?'
MOI never want to put myself in q
mans power"
''That sounds very severe from such pref
ty lips. Miss Snow, though Idon't know but
that you are right. Marriage more often
means misery than happiness
CHAPTER III.
Two days later Mr.. Penfold asked Dor.
cthy II she had any commissions for town.
as he was going there that morning.
Dorothy looked startled, and said:
'Going awayf ! am sorry. When will |
you returny"
sOn New Years Eve. L thought perhaps
sou might have q commission for me; | shall
go to Oxrord-street, where all the swell
shops are"
Ally was busy decking q Christmas-tree;
Dorothy was engaged In dressing dolls. She |
colored up and said ~neryously: 4
~ wish ] might trouble you TO get me . |
hat and . dress from Jays; have the
money for them, and can send the measure
monts."
How independent you arei I suppose
you want back. III am y goto jays. Its
. neutrality-suspicious.. : II notf Are you /
in mourning, childyv
tsVoo /