The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-09-19
In PERIL.

""'ic" nouSc, u laISc, FaIllOllnn Duliu-
Ing, whic! even in summer time, when
all the trees were covered in vcr.lant
green, and flowers Doomed in the
garuens. looked dcs,latr; hut now it
was winter. and snow lay thick upon
the ground and upon the mountains,
the scene was one of intense ,lreari.
ness.
Yet, in spite OF i,i'.anl its distance
from amy town, the house was occu-
pied; the owner, 81 MIR. Seymour, artist
by professions. living there with his
lamlly in seeming content.
The family consisted OF himself. hi,
wife, and Two children, the eldest OF
whom, II gir, had Just reached her
twelfth year, while baby Eddie had
barely numbered rs many months: other
little ones had come between t!icsrtw
but they had as swiftly been pluckch
by deaths unsparing hand, leaving only
Il bitter memory in the parents hearts.
A couple OF nlal,l-scrvants and an old
man, who did odd Jobs about the place,
completed the small household.
One cold winters day, as evening
was approaching, Mrs. Seymour sat in
n room whose windows overlooked the
white, winding road, her eyes alter
hatcly wandering towards her babe,
who lazy in y cradle closr by, and the
road. over which darkness WAS so
quickly falling.
"A'lie," she called presently, aud as
lcl soft voice penetrated to her little
daughters ears, she rose from her seat
near the fire and crossed the room.
''lcS, mamma
"Lno!.! your eyes are brighter llail
mines is that the coach | see in the
distanrn.'
Alic climbed on TO chair and for
some time stood with her face pressed
close 10 the window, her eyes strained
as she tried to make ont tie dark look
in:s object which had raised her moth.
er'S hopes. AT last.a little Sigh escaped
her, and half-reluctan,ly she descended
from her high perch.
NO, mamma. she sad passing one
ARM lovingly round y :. scymours
neck 1t is only old Ja per with the
letters
a shade OF ,li>appoi, .ncnt Swallowed
her mothers gentle arr--di;apnpiui.
ncnt which soon CHANGED to anxiety.
Drawing Alic closer to her, she kissed
her as size whisprrcd:
at is three days since vutr father
LETT us; surely he will return Tonight!
He has never before remained AWAY so
long
Perhaps the roads have been ton
bad. Alic suggested, wishing To give
comfort by her hnprfu words
81 hope nothing more serious is
krepin" him. The coach generally
pasSrs before this. and sec no sign Of
it yet"
Jasper is coming here: will sre i!
he has brought Il letter from pa" Adir
crich,as She watched the ilur>rman ll,rn
ln.o the biz iron gate; ard with an
eager light in her eyes She dar;rs! oil.
She returned almost ;.i Quickly. way
ing IL letter in her hand. One glance
ut her smiling face todd Mrs. seymour
handwriting.
lier fingers trcmb!cl slightly as she
broke the zeal, but 81 slight llu>h ui
gladnes> stole into her checks wilra
she had scanned the short note.
lie will he home Tonight, Adj"
The coach, he says, will probably b.
late on account Of the recent fall OF
snow. but they are lolln,l to come"
Rising from her cra;r, Size wen, in
to the kitchen, where she found Jasper
warming himself by lhr blazing lire.
and enjoying the basin of hot soup
Mary, Tie cook, had prepared for him.
81 suppose y"n did mol see the coacl
rs you cam" from Shornli,m." she
questioned. after She had wished him Il
good evening.
40, mum, that didn't: hurried
back as qui~k rs could, for The old
bridge is Just rs unsafe is il can be-
arlrr the $ ',rn: | We're most afcarrd
To Grass it, can tell you.
Mrs. seymour crew pale. and. half
unconsciolL>lv, her band closed tightly
over A'lie'; shoulder.
What do ynn mc,n,' she said
brcalhle>sly. "Who says the bridge is
not >afr??''
81 say il, mum. and It's true as true
Unless the river calm, down Il hi, there
wont be much bridge lrl, hy To NOR.
row. Some o the planAs urr already
loo;rncd by the r;S.iing waters
Goo!-hravcns! Bat surely tho coach
will not pass over il tonight? Ilaye
You not given wai'nilg,'
The nEan shrugged ,i> shoulders. and
looked at her with Il ral!icr vacant cX.
preston i'll his eyes.
"'Iwrrr noar oi my business. mnm.
Old Jim will see for iiS<cii. when ito
rcache, the bridge, that its unsafe Ia
cross"
But j, is growing dark, and unless
someone i, tAcre Ia give them warning,
they may rush hea'IIony into danger.
Had you not better 20 buck and wait
there III case OF arcdcnta'
Jasper smiled. but shook his heal.
"lmpossibie, he ans"crc,l dr,'idc,l-
lE. "l'm late muw with th" pos,-bag.
aud ] d:ren'l lose my place ior the sake
o the caac'i."
But think, Tie lives Of your fellow
creatures are at stake" Mrs. Sr,moH,
cried wildly, wrinsin.s her hal,ls in
despair.
Can't help it, mna,, dllv i, duty.
and mine is to 90 hume rs quick as !
can. Good night, an lhtnk you kind
ly.'
He was gone before she could add
another word. Mrs. Seymour covered,
her face wilh her hands ior moment.
then she looked up, Il ray OF hope on
her face.
'Whcrc is Ben? lie lad luticr sad
die Prince, and ride with all speed to
the bridge
y dead silcucc followed her speech.
the cook and hnuscmai,l exchange
troubled glanccS before they answered
her. AT last Mary stepped forward.
III forgot to tell yoil, lnn' am. but
Ben has one OF his lad attacks Of
rheumatism Tonight, and is how in
bed
oh, dear. dear, what shall | do?
Ii only dared leave baby; bat he is 81
iii and irr;ful. Ec would scream him.
sell into Il iii ii lett him
"And neither of us cau ride" Susan
broke in, regrc:iuliy.
Adio, who I'al been sobbiny uiictlv.
now turned to her mother. and fun.
her arms around her.
DO not cry, mamma; can ride
will so To meet The coach. and keep il
from crossing the brid sc."
"Bu. il is too hate; and YOU do not
know the way"
"Oi yes do; have often driven
there with papl. Please !r! NJ" go
u cannot refuse, when 50 much de.
pends upon it. Come, Will saddle
Prince While you get ready
BY the ,imc Ad;r hatI Lonnch her