Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-12-04

are criterion. / wish had not founo her,
yet must take her home. What will Agnes
| say TO SO fair an addition TO our household?
Thrifty soull How much food will she
wantp will be her first Idea. Well, this Is
an adventure Young Lochinvar must have
been Hercules to have lifted his lady to
| the saddle-bow. Bother 1t all she Is not
very biz, but she is q dead weight. Steady,
my bonnie Blanche, steady good lass, so,
sol All, now we are right Go ahead, Drift;
you have found prize worthy Of your bark
| ing"
On, on they went in the chill moonlight
till all signs of Roath or Cardiff were left
behind, and they had entered upon purely
rustic district A few farmhouses relieved
the monotony Of snow-clad hills and ice
bound hoilows, and just where the road
seemed dreariest light flashed out from
the window Of large rough stone house. A
man opened gate and let his master I'm,
wondering what he was holding in front of
hin.
"Qulck, Jeml / have found woman In
the snow; she may be dead. Come, Agnes,
open the door; we are famished-starvei
with cold"
A lower door opened at the side Of the
house; bright freight flashed out from il,
and an old woman stood in the doorway,
saying in shrill thin voice;
"How late Jou IRE, Master Piercel Miss
Ally cried herself to sleep because you did
not bring her big doll; so / have hung up
her stocking for Santa Claus TO fill. hope
you have not forgotten it; she would be so
disappointed. Mercy on us, mani what
have you got there? A dead woman by all
that's horribleP
mo, no, Agnes; hope not. Help me-
All, that Is right, Jem. Down, Drift good
dog; your prize is safe"
Slowly the unconscious girl was carried
Into the bright stone kitchen, where shining
pans and a blazing fire made the place
bright.
They laid her down in the freglow on a
rug and Pierce Penfold knelt beside her
full Of anxiety. Removing the heavy fur
cloak, they found lovely girl, attired In
dinner dress OF rich black velvet, cut square
at neck, with elbow-sleeves. She looked
such dainty lady, lying there with her fair
pale face and tlaxen hair cleaning in the
fireglow.
II am afraid she is dead" said Agnes, all
concern and kindness, touched by the child
like beauty of her face. "l've heard rubbing
the body with snow sometimes restores ami
nation. Get some snow in bucket, James.
Come, Master Pierce, you had better fetch
some blankets and leave her to me. All the
maids are asleep, tired out.
Don't go too far away. / shall want you
to carry her to bed if she RECEIVERS. Poor
pretty one what could have driven her ont
on this awful night? Suppose, sir, you fill
the Warrington with live Goals and warm
hgI Co. l. 4.
usl she revives already. Get ont, sir, I'll
attend to her. Pretty creaturei what would
her mother say TO see her now? Bde still,
Drift; you are always poking your nose In
TO other peoples business"
The old lady chafed the lovely limbs with
snow till they glowed with rosy life, then
she pulled awry the wee wraps, covered the
beautiful form, and went off to her bed
chamber where folded under her pillow
was nightdress frilled with wide frills and
huge nightcap to match. These she sue
ceeded in putting upon the pretty stranger
before the steel-blue eyes Enclosed.
Then she gave her warm wine TO drink,
forbade her to talk, and after covering her
with hot blanket, went 10 call Master
Pierce, who came In Invested of his outdoor
garments, blowing his fingers, which he had
succeeded in burning beautifully with the
warming-pan.
Following him came tiny white-robed
form, crying:
Papa dear, papa dear, Ally can't sleep
till you cosset her In your arms"
"Drat the childp' said old Agnes not nm
kindly; ''she's always awake when we want
her asleep"
"oh, papa, what funny ladyi Where
did you find hen?'
''In snow-drft, darling. Come, let me
carry you to bed, you will take cold"
Put the child down, Master Pierce, please,
and carry this poor creature up to bed while
she Is warm.
"See, she has tainted again; the fire Is too
much for her.
''Sit up in nurses chair, dearie, while
papa takes the lady upstairs. That's my
own good girl nurse will give her an orange
II she will sit still till papa comes back"
Pierce took the beautiful form up in his
strong arms; the soft perfume of her hair
came just under his nose, her pale cheek
was warmed by his breath. lie carried her
up the wide oak staircase into a pretty
room, and laid her on sweet white bed
smelling of lavender.
She opened her eyes rs he laid her down,
and the big blue eyes looked up amazed in
to his handsome face. Her childish face
looked so curious in the big white nightcap
that he was bound to smile-such sweet
kind smile that, seeing It, the girl took COM
fort nestled amid her pillows, and fell
asleep.