The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-04-04

L
The morning star Of memory!
BYRON.
IT showed all night. The ground was
covered two feet deep. audit was still showing
when the family Mt River.view arose and
went about their morning business.
First. old Sandy, who slept in the house.
and performed tho duty of waiter crept down
into the breakfast parlor to open the win
dowa and light the fire.
He found great difficulty IN forcing bnck
the shutters that were blocked up with drifts
ofsnow. And when at lust lie succeeded in
pushing them open. the shrouded enrth that.
broke cold and white upon his sight fic,l
him with tlismay.
Very soitly. meanwhile. Elspeth nscended
the Htairs lnd entered the deserted chamber
of her young mistress.
'SSha in still asIeep," said Elspeth glanc.
ing ut The white curtains Of her bed that via
still closed.
She put down ler billets OF wood, raked to-
gethcr the embers. kindled the fire, and swept
the hearth. In nll this she unavoiiahly
made some noise, md thercupon grew un-
easy lest shc should disturb the supposed
slum'Grer who had. the night previous, gone
to bod with ~ nervous headache.
"ll0w sound she does sleep" suid ElHpeth.
glancing at the motioi,less white curtains,
rs SHE left the room To bring fresh water.
She le-entered. filled the ewers. making an
inevitable rattling with the crockery ware,
and glnncing anxionsly ut the bed. Then
with some effort and more noise she hoisteti
the windows, and pslahed open the shutters.
sending down grcnt drifts ofsnow, and letting
in II food Ofcloud ell light
"liow long she sleeps" said Elspeth. ap-
proceeding the al, and softly putting nside
the curtains, for the purpose OF gazing upon
thu beloved slu' nbercr.
That he'd, it ., needless to say. was empty.
my Eracio a.! She hasn't sGpt here NIL
night. ! think my mistress has been sick.
and she's hacn sitting up with her. Why
rouldn't they have called me-" said Elspeth,
with al in. nred air, as she hurried from the
chamber in,o that of her old mistress.
"fou antsy mend my fire. and hand me my
wnd,lcd wrapper, Elspotl. as | shall get M
ut once, said Lady Elizabeth. vino waslyinE
| awake.
Yes. my lady; l hope you find your.
self better this morning" said Espeth, look
ing around. expecting to find Lady AIDE
hide wrapped UP in a shawl, aud doing
| in an easy chair.
BETTER: Why, ! am well enoughl What
| do you mean:'
why. thought you being i'll in the night,
| my lady, was the reason why Lady Adelaide
stayed with you"
adelaide stnyol with me? Why. Adelaide
has not been with me! What on earth IRE
yon thinking about. gsrt!''
Lady Adelaide not with you nll night!
cried Elspeth. opening her eyes wide with as
constituent.
"Why no! What is the ,ns,tter? Are yo,
crazy" exclaimed her mistress impatiently
well, my lady, all can say 10, Lady Ad
night! sud Elspeth. in alarn.
Newer alept in her own roum last night!
CALCULATED Lady Elizabeth.
mo, my lady"
innS'turhet'to uhe'b, rnsaeateRiisshsmsut
she snid-
ooh. very well! ldnre soy il, is all right.
And now help me OH with my wrapper, and
go down and nee that the parlor is we'll
warmed md the breakfast ready. shall be
down almost immediately"
Elspeth hurried below-staus 10 do her mis-.
tress's bidding.
Indy descended to the breakfast pnrlor. shp
found the room glowing with tho genial
warmth and light of n great hickory fire,
that bla:etl upon the hearth. and the table
smoking with fragrant coffee and M album
,lant breakfast. which, together with all the
other home com orte. enabled the family to
bid defiance to tho depressing effects Of the
Indictment weather without.
Orville Deville stood with his hack to the
fire. and his eyes fixed carelessly upon the
English paper in his hands.
Good morning, Orville. regret to have
kept YOU wnitiQg. my son. SitdoWn at once;
but where is Adelaidr?"
She has not yet come down. I believe,
ma.inm, said Mr.. Deville, placing chairior
Ills mother.
~ hope she has quite recovered of her hend.
ache. said the lady.
morning. ElsretE. has your young Indy got
over her indislosition?" nske,l Mr. Deville,
turning towards the waiting woman.
~ do not knoI, sir; I've not seen Lady
Adelaide this morning." said the abgiail, in
dismny.
'.You not seen her, El.peth!'' said Mr. De.
willie.
"Yon not seen her, orvillel" exclaimed
Lady Elizabeth.
What in the world is the meaning Of all
this" inquired Mr.. Deville, looking from the
mist ress to the maid.
..Sl,e did not occupy her room last night.
Elspeth tells me. and she hns not l'een seen
this morning, asit appears, exclaimed Lady
Elizabeth. in turn.
"Is 1t possiblc-what can it menn"' cried
| II,
said. "Nonsenae! there can I've nothing amiss
She IL in some other room-in the library or
the pantry. Go and look for your young
Indy, Elspeth. and atop gaping and staring.
We live in humdrum neighborhooi, tnr
from thieves and assnssinn. womanl
Come, hurry! will warrant that We find Lady
Adelaide has forgotten herself in the library
over some old book, orelse is with the house.
keeper in the pantry, in close discussion OF
some dish that requires long and careful pre-.
paration. Go you to the lower doininione,
while ascend to the higher"
And without another instant's delay, Mr..
Deville hurried from the breakfast room.
The search began. Vain search! ADELAIDE
waa not in the library, norm the pantry, nor
in any Of the chambers of the house, nor at
any of the cottages about tho place. No ole
could find even truce OF her. The servants
Of the farm were mustered and qucstionetl-
no one had seen or heard Of her since the
prees.ling day. Thefamiy became dread ully
alarmed. They, without n single clue to the
causes Of her isapl'earancc, were lost in the
most pain nj conjecture.
How forgetful and thoughtless We are!''
ut length exclaimed Orville; "for while wo
have been searching elsewhere. she may have
returned quietly to her chamber. Let us
search ttels again."
A plan no sooner suggested than followed
up They hurried to her chamber. 1t was
deserted us before.
They looked around for some sign to guide
thepa to her fnte The letter lying upon the
centre tnble caught the eye of Orvillc. lie
snatcIied it up. 1t was directed in her own
hand to himfclf. He tore it open. glanced
over the first few lines, flushed red then
turned deadly pale, and crushing the letter III
his hand, sail-
Dear mother. pray take these women out,
and wait for me II few minutes in the par.
lor, where will sOop join yop."
but that LETTER. OryiIlc?" said the lady
ut ~ from her to met explains her all.
But her..Adrlaide! what OF her."
Safe. hope! Dear mother. give me op.
Aytunity to read and reflect. will join you
ae paPlor in . few minutss."
lady, full Of wni.der and anxiety. called
women, tiia lstrsating, left bcr son
Nv hiA,self into tho chair by the
We and again took her letter,
but, spread it before him and
time care ulsS. AND from Begin
An by assuring him that his happi.
hsen the dearest object of her life,
sgging hian to forgive her, II all these
ekehsdisnorantly.e maineda an obstacle
&c very happiness she entreated him
3pdee leniently those well:meaAipG but
St6esn parents who Ind no nnjustly ;orcett
nOa bis lie AZ unnatural md hate ul bond
5hs told him TINT SIC lett with the intention
81 remaining away forevsv. and by her aban.
donmsnt him, liz would bs A6lo to frso him.
aelR, iSkally, from all engagements to her. Aud
With her asIpl exquisite sense o. derncy. SHE