Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1890-01-11

frosty sunlight shone In, and showed an
old-fashioned room, exquisitely clean and
neat, with a look OF comfort and homeliness
about It.
On a tiny table by her bedside stood a
piece of shining holly and a Christmas rose
IN a glass. beneath which lay a Christmas
card. prettily painted, and upon it the reas-
surfing words Pierce had written the night
before.
Childish laughter sounded In the hall and
the patter of childish feet.
Dorothy sat up In bed hastily, and caught
sight Of herself in the glass panel Of the
wardrobe, and for all her sorrow laughed
outright at the queer figure she cut in old
Agnes's nightcap, and much befrilled bed
gown.
Her head was a little dizzy, and her limbs
ached, but otherwise she felt little the worse
for that fall In the snow-irift, which must
have proved fatal but for the timely help Of
her generous host and his dog.
She took the flowers tenderly, and read
the kind words written on tine card.
Then she united her cap, sat up, and rub
bed her eyes.
The memory OF the night before at first
was dim and indistinct, then it gained force
and ~clearness, and stood wildly out before
her, dyeing her cheeks with shamed GRIM
SON.
She was still regarding the card with CRATE
full tear-dimmed eyes, when a knock came
to the door, and in replyto her timid Come
ill.," little Ally. in all the glory OF crimson
sash and Stockings, and white cashmere
dress, few in, her arms full of toys.
Agnes followed, her kind old face flushed
with cooking breakfast.
Sac carried a tray covered with a snowy
cloth, on which was a cup OF fragrant tea,
fresh eggs, and a tempting kidney, and put
II down beside tie bed with the hearty: "A
merry Christmas TO your SO dear 10 old En-
gland.
Little Ally climbed upon the bed ard
showed her Christmas gifts, saying in her
pretty way:
I'VE are all glad to have you here. Papa
/ says you are a Christmas guest, and as it is
our Sayior's birthday everyone is welcome
for his sake. Eat your breakfast, and come
down q~gick-sharp; papa is waiting TO see
you."
Agnes has ironed your clothes and Patty
| has put them out ide all clean and warm.
Why did yoa come so late?'
II came when your kind papa brought me.
What is your name, little one, aud how old
are you?'
Il am five mex birthday. NJ name is
Ally Penfold, and l am papl's sweet pet"
With a kind nod, after putting down the
tray, old Agnes brought in tie girls clothes,
and left her masters guest TO the entertain
ment OF his little d~auglacr, who was dis
posed TO be very friendly.
'Where is your mamma dear little AlIv?"
Gone away for always Ia a mysterious
whisper.
HAS she gone to God, dear? l. she dead?'
Il don't know. But once papa said she
was worse than dead. What did he mean?'
II cannot tell you, dear. Some day he
will explain, perhaps"
Dorothy ate some breakfast, addressed
hurriedly, watched all the time by the child's
bright eyes.
When she put on her pretty black dress,
that Agnes had freshened up so cleverly,
she stood perplexed by her short sleeves
and bare breast. Just then a knock came 10
the door, and old Agnes entered with a
white lace fehu oil her arm, and a pair Of
crimson mittens in her hand.
''See here, my dear; this will make your
dress more suitable, and here is a piece OF
flannel 10 fix across your chest"
Dorothy took the things gratefully, say
ing:
'IIow good you are to me! I shall never
forget your kindness
The old woman patted her cheek kindly,
and said:
Nonsense, child; l am only too pleased
10 see you able TO get up. / feared you
would be i'll. Come down. it is very cold,
and there is nice fire in the parlor."
Dorothy looked very quaint and pretty, as,
with timid step and down-dropped eyes, she
entered the handsome %sitting-room holding
Ally's hand.
Mr.. Penfold threw down his book, and
came forward TO meet her, his handsome
face full of genuine admiration at the pref
~ picture she made, with his gift pinned al
her throat among the snowy folds OK lace
that crossed so daintily over her pretty bust
Il cannot tell you how delighted am tC
see you are able to come down. Sit here by
the fire. What Is your name, child? Mine
Is Pierce Penfold."
She looked blankly up at him a moment
Then as her eyes wandered away to the
snow-clad hills she faltered out family:
Mine is Dorothy Snow. and l am very
very grateful TO you for your timely help.
Had you not found me should be lying
dead now-frozen 10 death in the snow
drift.n
MY dear young lady, my old mother used
to say: God is always in one place, nc
matter where his wanderers stray he
guided me TO you last aight, and it Is a great
happiness to me to think that i, under
Heaven, was allowed to help you. Let me
give you a glass OF wine, and promise NJ
that you will consider nee a friend.
Let there be silence between us as to all
that concerns you till Twelfth Night, wher
i will meet you here, in this room, to burr
the holly; until then you are my honored
guest; after then, perhaps, you will let me
be your true friend. Now, Miss Snow, here:
a merry Christmas to you. Shake hands
She held out her hand gratefully; as he
pressed il he noticed she wore q gentle
mans ring. a costly jewel engraved with q
masonic emblem. He raised her nnd and
looked at 1t eagerly, saying:
This ring was given TO you by a ma
son'?"
YES, a knight templar-my father"
Then, my dear, you are twice welcome,
once for your own sake, and once for YOU
fathers, since he was a brother mason"
He Is dead, or l should not be here"
Tears dimmed the innocent blue eyes, and
the sensitive lips quiyered grievously.
Ally changed the subject, saying:
I'D you hear the waits last night, Miss