The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-10-05
CHATTER I.
u wllfal ) 0irl.

Blcunt, Indignantly. "Well, must say
think It hard-yery har1-in0re than
lsnost girls Of my age would BEAR
concluding her slightly mutinous speech
with hurried. bitterness, and turning
aside to the window AZ an ominous
rising In her throat gave warning that
1t was high time her eloquence should
come to an end.
1T is utterly out of the question"
interrupted her father, languidly. 80
put 1t out Of your head once for all.
could not let you have a fnrtlling
just nOw-evcn supposing 1t were q
matter Of life or death-being rs hard
up as well can be; my usual condition.
by the by. Look here, Katherine, II
Darlington calls while am away,
send him up to the square field, will
You, where nm going about those
cartridges? Come, Belle Gallant, get
up, you lazy Notwithstanding with
his foot, as he finished speaking, two
magnificent pointers as they lay DOING
beside his chair.
The GOODNESS of the refusal, know
ing. as she did, how Idly and selfishly
her fathers money was spent, together
with his whole bearing. reused Miss
BlOunt's quick temper beyond control
ut would be better for you to give
up your hunters and dogs and dress
your daughter properly than to go on
living beyond your means In the dis
honorable way you IRE dOing!" she
cried, passiOnatcly, her fine eyes fash
ing.
''That is just one Of the many points
on which you and SO totally disagree"
Archibald BlOunt answered pleasantly,
no whit moved from his usual calm
gentlemanly demeanor by his daugh.
ter's vehemence, moving ind0lently out
Of the room as he concluded, and clos
ing the door with almost womanly gen.
t1cness behind him.
VIXEN he was gone the girl cllnchcd
her small hands tightly together to
keep down the rebellious tears. and,
leaning her head back against the Shut
ter. strOve hai,i to suppress the feelings
that rose SD angrily within her.
As she thus stool. battling brlvely
with her thoughts, the dazzling August
sun shone brightly down upon her,
flushing her head and face and figure
with its gay warmth. so us literally to
frame her in its yellow gold-and
very beautiful little face 1t was to
frame, richly tinted, changeable and
passionate, expressing only too clearly
Mt times the secret workings Of her
heart.
Numerous were the victims who cried
for quarter to Miss Blount; indeed, she
had 1t very much her own way with
the sterner sex, few being able to with
stand her tender. wild, childish beauty,
even hardy veterans giving in hope
lessly to the little queen who thinned
their ranks SO mercilessly. Old and
young. grave and gay. succu:nDed with
out murmur to her smiles.
With women. however. she scarcely
got on so well, her exquisite unsatisfled
face being no passport to their favor.
They could see no charm in 1t for their
part-voted her "odd-peculiar-
bly, fast-barely goOd-looking." accord
ing to eacl speakers view Of the ease.
md sought ITO keep her down" with all
their might, though to no purpose;
for, otter employing all the energy
| they We're capable of to reduce her to
the common level, they wero fain to
confess that Katherine needed them
not She lived her life alone. careless
| of their appreciation or the reverse. and
but for Harriet Charteris would, III
| all probability, have possessed no f.
male friend.
Her father, Archibald Blount, was
cold. worldly, and selfish to the hearts
core. No love for his beautiful child
| ever warmed or frightened the stag
nant feelings of his breast; she was
there-l,efore his eyes-the living image
of her dead mother. but to him she was
little more than an encumbrancc, the
UNIV ished for consequence of regret
ted marriage.
1t was small wonder the girl should.
under the circumstances, pay but little
| outward respect to his wishes or COM
mands, though in her Utmost heart
there lay hidden for Him a lasting love,
| far stronger than even she herself be-
lieved could possible hive existed for
the father who held her in such slight
estimation, and spent his time in racing
or betting, or gambling away the small
income-a remnant of his once princcly
fortune-that sufiiced to keep them
from utter destitution.
Leaning back, now. with her head
against the woodwork Of the window,
she almost swOre to herself that no
love dreams should come between her
and her hopes of earthly riches; aud,
as she thought with bitter earnestness,
her revery was suddenly broken in
upon by the entrance Of a young man
of four-and-twenty. who. coming over
to the window. sank lazilv into Il chair
directly opp site to her: For moment
he gazeti wOItleringly at the girls
half averted sorrOwful face. wherein
the recent tears had left their silent
traces; after which scrutiny he inquired,
without any very great regard to the
selection Of his language:
"What's up:"
"For goodness sake, why cannot you
speak proper Engllsh?" Miss Blount
| asked, pettishly, glaacing swiftly round
from the window as she spoke. What's
up-now how am to understand what
| you mean by that, Nnless"-with n
short laugh-"yOu meant my temper!
That is up to all intents and puf-
coscs. I allow you. Did you mean
it,"
mo, my dear, I did not" the young
man answered.. calmly; II am only
anxious to learn what 1t is that has
grievqd you during my absence. viii
you tell NEE"
"yNhat Is the use?' Miss Blount In
Quircd, still with tho sense of.injury t,ill
J, upon her "YOu cannot help me, AMI
most sobnbly. II 1 told you my griev-
ance, would only consider me silly. All
men consider girl frivolous IL che hap
pens to wish for little more than tile
common nec.ssaries Of life" a
''There is an exception to every rule.
no nut me out Of that list" her COM
panion answered getting up from his
teat and possessing himself of one Of
the little nervous hands that for the
PAST few minutes had been endeavorins
most laudably to work a hole in the
handkerchief they held. ~ do not b..
long to it. as I could hardly think you
frivolous even II tried, or-or any.
thing else unpleasant, fancy; SAB tell
me your misfortune, and let me assist
you IL can"
well, 1t Is all about the Tauntons'
ball." the girl murmured. Il cannot 20
because have no dress nice enough,
end papa will not give me a now one
THAT'S all; SO now confess at once that
you think me ridiculous, and have
done with it."
poor little thingv was all the other
said, but his eyes wandered out to tho
glowing garden, whittier his thoughts
followed, running riot among the flow.
ers. as he concocted all sorts OF
schemes for the express purpose of
gratifying Katherine's last within. OF
c urse she should have q dress, but
who would choose 1t for him and when
chosen, how should lie persuade her to