Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1890-01-18
be glad Of q glass OF wine, I feel so shaken

Enough to make you, poor child. I'll go
back with you to look at the child; my
heart mlsgives me on her account"
Surely no n would harm a little limo
cent child?'
IL hope not, Miss Snow"
After Dorothy had drank her wine she
went to bed. All was right, jewelry I'M
touched, and Ally sleeping peacefully.
Old Agnes gave a sigh Of relief; she had
dreaded she knew not what, and was reliev-
ed to find, so far, all was well with her
charge.
The next day passed peacefully away
and Dorothy forgot to fear every shadow;
but the brulse on her forehead reminded
her unpleasantly of the nights adventure,
and she longed for Mr.. Penfold to return;
she felt she would be safe IL he were at
home.
She missed his jovial presence and kind
thought for her. And 1t is not TO be won
dered at that, considering his great kind
ness. she being young and impressionable,
she should set him up in her heart Of hearts
as q hero.
And, indeed, he was no ignoble n A
surprising wrong, that had wrecked his life
and made his home desolate.
This had been bravely borne by him three
years before, and the thought Of that made
old Agnes very tender to her young master,
whom she had nursed in infancy, anu 10.
as an own child.
Dorothy awoke on the morning Of New
Years Eve with a heart at rest. Before the
night came her hero would be with her, and
her heart felt light at the thought, az she
wished the time away.
Towards evening, when dusk had darken-
ed the quaint rooms and made mysterious
shadows in hooks and corners, Dorothy sat
down on the fur rug by the fire, and draw
inglittle Ally into her lap, began 10 talk 10
her OF long walks In the woods when the
frost kings reign was over.
The room grew darker and darker, but
the freight glowed bright and warm, and
the two were costly nestled together, Ally's
dark head on Dorothy's breast. Dorothy
resting her back against her armchair.
when the frost has gone, Ally dear, we
will go 10 Caerphilly Castle; among the
ruins there are always beautiful lichens and
moSses."
"Yes-yes, Miss Snow; we'll find lots Of
lovely flowers for dear papa, he loves flow-
ers; and Drift shall go with us, and run and
leap about amid the ruins, sha'n't you,
Drifts"
Drift, reused from his slumhers, wagged
his tail-a dogs way Of saying YES" Ally
explained, as she smoothed her little hand
over his rough head.
Dorothy loved Drift; he had been the
means of rescuing her from death in the
snow, so she allowed the bonny brute to
put his big head on her knee.
After a time Ally's voice grew drowsy,
and she fell fast asleep on Dorothy breast.
Dorothy was glad she had done so, for she
wanted to sit up and see her papa. SO she
kept very still, and after a time fell asleep
too, lulled by the steady tick, of the clock,
and warmed by the bright blaze.
When she awoke, a pillow had been placed
under her head, the light burned dimly, and,
sitting opposite, watching her with admir-
ing eyes, was Mr.. Penfold.
She could not move for fear of waking
Ally, so she kept still with her eyes not
quite closed, and waited. She was afraid
her dress did not properly cover her pretty
ankles. She could see the eyes Of the man
she had got to think a hero bent upon her,
and her face glowed with bushes beautiful
Us the tints Of a budding rose.
Mr.. Penfold looked into the ireglow and
sighed; he was looking careworn and tired.
Somehow, without knowing why, Dorothy
felt sorry for him, and wished she had the
power to comfort him.
AS she lay there wondering about him,
she saw him start up with an angry cry, and
spring TO the window; they were ON the
ground-hoor In q room that looked out on
the lawn. A modern French window had
been substituted for the old lattice, so that
Ally could run in and out at pleasure in the
summertime.
Dorothy's eyes were fixed on this window
as Mr.. Penfold wrenched 1t open, and she
saw for one fieetiug moment the face that
had so frightened her that night in her bed
chamber.
Mr.. Penfold had flown out on the lawn.
Dorothy rolled Ally on to the fur rug, and
went to the open window.
She saw Mr.. Penfold fly across the SNOWY
lawn to the main road then the hedges shut
him from her sight, and she could only shut
the window and wait with what patience she
could till his return.
CHAPTER Nv.
Mr.. Penfold did not return for some time.
Dorothy saw him talking to Agnes In the
path before the door, and wondered what
could have made him look SO strangely eI-
cited.
He did not come back to the sitting-room,
but shut himself up In q little room leading
out of the hall that he used rs a study.
Dorothy turned up the lights, stirred the
fire, reused Ally from her sleep. and made
har smart fhen returued In the room in