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

fnther. don't be discon-
"rmember how much worse off We
| were before We had any work at all. Better
hnye too much than too little. ON sure
had rather Ike worked to denth than starved
to death, replied Ally, smiling.
THAT poor creetur-is ahe awake?"
whispered the old man, pointing over his
| shoulder to the stranger on the bed
II think not, father" replied Alice, as slls
arose., aud put inside her work, and prepared
to ret breakfast on the table.
Yes, ! am awake; | should have let you
Know it before hearing all your talk" spoke
the voice. from the bed,
oh. that don't matter. not the least in the
world, we hnint no secrets. thank Heaven.
How he YOU. chill?" said the little old. man,
going to the side of the bed.
where am ~
You are in the city mansion of Timothy
Midget, watchman in ordinary, in the ser.
vice Of their worships the mayor and corpor.
alton, replied the littlo old man. who was
not without his dry vein of humor.
GLOW came here''
I'm going Of my lust rounds lust night I
fell upon you, my child. Yes actually did,
in moren one sense, for tumbled over you,
where youlay kivered over vii snow. Frien's
ooh. my heart! begin to remember"
murmured the stranger to herself
when you picked me up was quite alone?"
inquired tho st ranger.
Quite, my child"
care you sure there was no one with mel"
Entirely sure, my poor girl"
And nothing-nothing in my arms?" she
asked with anxiety.
Nothing whatsomdcver ofnvther one sort
mort vet anothcr-nyther with you nor nigh
YOU. You were quite alone. and empty hand.
ca INTO the bnraain. We turned the snow up
all round you to SEQ il so he you had O bundle
or basket, or anything to signify who you
were and where you come from; but there
was nothing.
"l.ost-lost! persisted in tho snow; and
am n murlcress!' murmured the stranger. IN
innrticulate language.
Have you lost anything, my child?" in
auirel the little old man.
~ have lost n small parcel, containing a
change OF clothes. 1t does not matter" re-.
Piled the stranger, evasivcly. and then, coy.
erins her face with her hands, she Croauetl
deeply.
Poor thing. you be come from the country
mayhaps?'. inquired the little old fellow, com
passionately.
.Yss, REPLIED the stranger in an almost
be2" '''>''
Yes" agnin responded the wayfarer, as II
unable to get out one other word
Poor child. Door child! n hard thing to
find. even for city born, as know. to my
sorrow; but for n stranger-ayo young girl seek.
ing .it-oh my! You are an orphan, may e?"
Yes" murmured the stranger, covering
her face with her hands.
Poor child. poor child! we'll don't cry:
YOU shall stay here until you can do better.
I've young dnrter OF my own to larn mo
mercy, thank God sonow you just be easy;
or orr! i you want to get ,uP TO- breakfast. II!
your clothes long ago"
Papa dear, no: it is better for her to lie
still, said the young girl in whisper. T.
When breakfast was over, the old man
took his old over-coat and hat from their
| peg and put himself into them.
Now. little papa, you must not go out in
the cold this morning" snid Alice, as soon
ms she noticed his preparations.
My dear. ! shall miss grent day'e work
don't. The snow is two feet deep on the
sidewalks. shall clear q goodly sum this
dny in slqveling it away from afore doors. I"
And get p!eurisy that will lay you up
for two months"
"iou needn't talk Ally. Timothy Midget
m'st-stop. what's the sounderous words?-
embark in this cnterprise' Yes, Timothy
Midget must embark in this enterprisel''
And SO saying, the little old man went and
brought u shovel from the back yard, and
plsklHR through IHe room. Went out ut the
| front door and departed.
Alice hurried with her work. cleared the
| tnbe and set it away. replenshed the stove,
swept the room, heard Eddy his lesson, made
her guest as comfortable as circumstances
would permit. and then put on her coarse
shawl and hood to go to rehearsal
II an very sorry to have to leave you, but
| am employed Mt the theatre, and every
dry at ten o'clock | am Obliged to attend r..
hearsnl, or be fined for staying away. I
shnll he bnck by one o'clock; Eddy will stay
with you to wait on you, when you need him.
And when you wish toget rid Of him, you can
send him upstairs"
Fl thank you." was oil the wayfarer could
answer, and Alice departed.
Little boy, come here" purmured the
stranger, us 5000 as she y4s left alone with
| tho lad.
Eddy approached.
"When was found in the snow, was there
Ill child fonnd?'
"a child! Lord no. ma am" replied the lad,
| in nstonisllmrnt.
| Are you sure there was nct?'
| Lord, yes, Oi course am! what made you
ask about IL cliild?"
Ill thought there had been a child
found"
Law, mn'am, you only thought 80, you
know, because you were 80 out of your mind
like. Why, long ago. when We we're poor,
you know, and father was In 80 much trouble
he took brain fever. and what do you think
he thought?'i u