The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-05-23

deef thought upon the floor.
"You came to tOw; to seek service, my
fol her tells me- What sort Of service?-May.
be could help you to get it."
II do not know" said the wantlerer, va
ca .t!;.
come to town to seek?"
II did not come to seek service at all"
"But you told my father So"
"It wns some mistake; he misunderstood
me, or else did not know what was talking
about"
But if you did not come for that. what did
you come for?"
ITO lose myself" answered the way:arer.
~ declare you came very near succeeding.
oh, poor dearl you are heart broken and
brain-crazed about something, that's clear
enough; but you ought not to think oflosing
yourself Well see what we con do for you,"
saii Alice, gently.
you are kind, and will tell you thus
much: Icame from far up the country. My
father and my mother are both dead have
NO friends, NO MEANS Despair drove me to
the city,"
"Poor girl! you left the wilderness of trees
for the wilderness Of human beings. thinking
that the last, l,eing Of your kind would have
more sympathy for you. Well, many do the
like"
"But have found sympathy, in one case
| ut least Oh, thank you! Now let us speak
no moro Of this. In an hour ! set forth
again"
"Tp gol Whither?"
II do Pot know"
"Then you shall not leave US. Oh, l have
known what it 10 to bc very poor. You
smile; you think We are poor enough now.
| Well, 80 We are. But We have been vet poor.
er. Ihave known what IL ~ to suffer cold.
never was homeless, and think that to he
homeless is worse than all. And SO, Ishould
expect the Lord to east me forth of his care
the day that sent u desolnte girl homeless
from my door. 80 you are to stay here .qu:
| til you can do better.
This whole tenement is a beehive. Every one
is busy; MUST not be drone."
"And you need not. ! have just thought
Of what you can dc" said Alice; and here she
paused, and vivid blush suffused her pale
face. Then, recovering herself, she said
think the Theatre and n!l attached to It
very, very wicked, and even l was brought
up to think it sinful but was driven to it
| for n living: and when first went there /
prayed to the Lord that if that were sin,
might not be led into deeper sin.
And to this day ! am not satisfied
living Is wrong. know that there are very
badly. behaved persons ATTACHED to the thea
| tire, and know. also, that there ore very well
conducted people there
While Alice talked the stranger had fallen
into reverie: Evidently her thoughts were
"You are not hearing me-" said Alice.
anxiously.
"Oh, forgive me. What were you saying?"
mo matter what was saying; but was
about to say that Mr.. West, our stage direct.
or, told ne last night that, u knew OF any
good-lo9king, respectable young girl. with q
Guo uvnA Al
the to bring her to the theatre, il she would
| come"
"Well?"
II think you answer the description. II
yod woald come would gladly tak e you"
as do-a very humble one, but one which
would keep you from want"
:'But know no more Of that business than
any other
at is not expected that you should; you
are to learn it. Hence your humble post and
small en- pay: But Il With your fine figure. and
yoI will be sure to rise in your profession"
ut is q laborous one?"
"Yes, am sorry to say"
every"
tms snd tsesss;. wiz it employ all
VERY much 40, indeed, Il you attend to the
Alice, with regret, for she nov feared that her
unhappy guest would east away this last
poor chance ofa living; livery sxactiag ind
abaorbing indeed"
"Then l willenterit," exclaimed the stran.
ger:
That night the old watcllman WAS told that
his strange guest, who was unfit for service,
would y future accompany his daughter to
the theatre
"Well, the Lord guard all poor young
women" was ali that the old man said.
Accordingly, the next morning Alice con.
the city could then boast. They entered the
old and aingy building BY q basement side
door that led through long, dark and mar.
row passage to the door Of the managers Of:
fee.
Alice put her hand upon the knob, and then
suddenly paused, saying
"There now, do you know never even
thought Of asking your name, and Il had
gone into the managers Office, | shouldn't
even have known how to introduce you"
"You are like the Arabs, 30 delicate In hos.
pitality that they do not even ask the name
OF the traveller they entertain. Well, my
name if-is-Nora Norl."
Mora Norl? queer namei well, come in
Miss Norl."
mot Miss but Mistress. have boon mar.
RED"
"Married! your exclaimed Alice, looking
In amazement and pity ut her companion.
tm nrrieJ and Widowed 40 younui,