Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-12-25
at is PLEASANT enough work with only

'You are very young, Miss Snow, TO have
had any experience. Why you can't be
twenty"
mo, i wish was; am only nineteen.
Ally, which is E%'
Jane went away singing softly to herself,
and the afternoon passed away, and the sun
went down amid flame-colored clouds.
Dorothy was teaching Ally the beauty Of
the ever-changing sky. The sun sank like
ball Of fire, and dusk crept over the earth
like mantle of silence.
Ally slipped away to see II papa had
finished his business. She found him in his
study sitting before writing table reading
paper; his face was pale and troubled, and
the light of the reading lamp shone full
upon his haggard face.
Ally ran TO him, climbed upon his knee
and said:
MAY have tea with you, papa~
He kissed her very tenderly, then hastily
writing on a sheet of paper, Darling, does
this refer to you? Send back word by Ally,
yes or no." he then cut out half column OF
newspaper and enclosed II, saying to Ally;
"Where is Miss Snow pet?"
~ left her in the nursery, papa she has
dressed for dinner, so shall find her there
still"
run then pet, and give her this. Tell her
papa wants an answer"
When Ally ran into the nursery, her
pretty white frock futtered about her, her
tiny dancing feet tripping lightly over the
polished floor, Dorothy stood by the fire in
her black velvet dress with the jeweled
cross flashing on her fair bosom.
Here's letter from papa, Miss Snow"
Dorothy took it in surprise, and knelt
down to read 1t by the light of the blazing
log-fre. The printed slip futtered down on
the rug; she hastily picked it up and read 1t
with the look of hunted creature.
Ally grew impatient.
please, Miss Snow, papa says am to
take back an answer"
Dorothy rose, pushed her hair back from
her forehead like one daZed, and with
weary sigh drew Ally to her, saying:
ALLY, did papa look grieved or angry"
HE looked sorry, Miss Snow, and he for
got to kiss me-"
"Then run back to him, pet, and when
you tell him Miss Snow says yes kiss him
very kindly with your little arms around his
neck"
Ally ran away to do her bidding, and
found Mr.. Penfold pacing the room in an
agitated manner. She ran to him with out
stretched arms; he picked her up tenderly
and she put her arms about his neck, saying
as she kissed him:
Miss Snow says yes, papa"
God help her then, poor girl! Come,
petite, we will go to her."
Dorothy still stood by the fire, tears steal
ing softly down her cheeks. When Mr..
Penfold entered she turned 10 him and said:
"0h. Pierce, what can do to make you
understand the misery that made me des-
perate and glad to get away at any cost?
Send the, child away and will tell you all
about it."
Mr.. Penfold kissed Ally, rang bell, and
said to Jane:
"Stay here and give the child her tea.
Miss Snow is going to write some letters for
me before dinner"
Jane stayed, and as Dorothy went down
to the study with Mr. Penfold, she seemed
! excited and upset.
In the study CHEEKY fire burnt brightly.
Pierce drew a chair to the fire, and pursua-
ded Dorothy to sit down.
She did as he desired, while he bent over
her, his eyes trimming over with pitiful
love. Dorothy's hands trembed as she
clasped them over her knees, saying softly:
my troubles began year ago, when my
dear mother, after brief illness, died. She
was the widow of a rich mine-owner; the
dear dad had been keen man OF business,
managing his affairs with such skill that
when he died he left his wife a large for
tune, and splendid opportunity Of increas-
ing it.
"All, by his WILL after dear mothers
death, reverted to me, but left my mother
to choose guardian for me, should she die
during my minority. My mother had but
few friends, and no near relations. She
chose as a guardian an old friend Of my
fathers, q man who managed her affairs for
her.
nHe is a man Of about forty, handsome
and shrewd. My poor mother believed him
to be the best man breathing, and died,
leaving me and all / possessed under his
sole control. He came directly after her
death and took his post as head OF the
house, and treated me with marked kind.
ness. Everything promised that he would
be model guardian; but from the first
shrank from his too tender manner-al my
instinct was against him.
IT begged him to allow me to return to
my old school, till came of age, but he
would not hear of it, neither would he al
low me companion of my own age. In.
stead, he brought his sister to rule in my
mothers place-a prim severe woman, ten
years his senior.
by degrees, all the old servants were
sent away, till stood alone, martyr to
their power. l dared hardly call my soul
| my own. But worse than Margaret Middle
toms severity was her brothers too evident
partiality. He haunted me. 1 never knew
peaceful moment.
AT last the crisis came. He asked me te
marry him, declaring 1t was my mOther's
wish, and when gave him decided refu
sal, said IL he could not force my love, he
could make me marry him, If only to save
my honor, and swore, with an awful oath,
to make me humble by outraging my limo
! cence.
II had no one to whom could appeal, he
had me cut off from all ties, was entirely
in his power; and one night fancied tast
ed something strange in the wine at dinner,
and was seized by a dreadful drowsiness
that took away vital power.
II had sense enough left to know he had
drugged me, and made some excuse to get
to my room. There / drank enough warm
water to act as an emetic; then while he
thought me sleeping the deep sleep of in.
sensibility, managed, by dropping from a
I low window In got away inst ae I was with