The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-03-15

- &c
CHATTER XIl-(centiaueA.)
'T'll wait for you" he sud, gruniy.
THANK you. sir" cried Emmeline,
Il shall not. I hope. he long"
Jarvis walked towards the door Of
the room, then stopped, turned, and
looked ut Emmeline. who was about
again eagerly to approach him.
But, turning once more sharply from
her, he exclaimed
II can't bother any longer with you;
I must 60 and bait my horses"
Then Numbered down stairs, and
presently Emmeline heard his coach
rumbling leisurely away.
And Jarvis was In a state Of great
excitement; no longer knew what to
think concerning EMMeline-the way
In which she had looked ut him. the
manner of her words, he was saying
to himself, had completely puzzled him
and turned him topsy-turvy.
And just then, turning q corner too
sharply and coming In contact with
a lamp-post, his coach was nearly
topsy-turvy, too.
Left alone with Nicksey, who cOll.
ttnued to sleep on, 1t required all EN-
meline's courage and sense Of the duty
she had to perform to Withhold her
from ut once hurrylng to rejoin her
lovers uncle.
But she argued with herself that
something very serious must have oc.
Cured to Noel Darlington that so sud.
denly, and without explanation Of any
kind he had left her; that he would
have been with her most certainly,
but TINT something. she could not
Imagine what, had rendered it impos.
sible that he should rejoin her.
She would then act alone; and while
striving to fulfill the oath she had
sworn to her dying parent, her mother
would win from heaven promise OF
succor and protection Tor her child.
The small piece of candle which Elm.
incline had lighted was nearly burnt
out, and IN that wretchcd house, with
that madly drunken ruffian for her only
companion, darkness would indeed III
terrible.
She sought. and in one of the draw.
ers. amongst Nicksey's slender stock
Of clean and folded linen, found a
couple Of candles.
By this discovery she was greatly
comforted aud eMboldened.
The fact was Nicksey himself had q
great horror of darkness; could not for
moment endure it. for then his i'm
agination cOnjured up frightful shad-
ows which appeared to fit before and
around him.
And more than that, light was neces-
sary to him that ne might see what he
was about In case that unwelcome Wis
ttors should arrive at his place of
refuge.
Emmellne stood for several minutes
looking Mt Nicksey, who still slept, and
seemingly as II he had NO present In.
tenti0n Of awakening.
The young girl dared not arouse him
and yet must know where were those
proofs which some way she must OBJ.
tain.
Would she be able to persuade tina,
man to deliver to her those papers 80
necessary, SO precious to her?
And in what mood would Nicksey
awaken?
That Emmeline was soon to learn,
for having gently stirred him, and sew.
eral times pronounced his name, he
muttered savagely, while his eyes were
still closed and he was yet but half
awake.
"Who brought me to my own housci
Just let Inc know who played me that
pretty trick. and whether man or wo-
man, Ill make 'em sorry for It,"
And his teeth grated together, and
his clenched fist was Overwhelmingly
raised.
Emmeline, greatly terrified, retreated
from beside the ruffian toward the
| door Of the room; but almost before
she had Raced it Nicksey's heavy
breathings gave token that he was
again asleep.
Even in his slumber Nicksey occa-
slonally shivered with the cold; Emme.
line, too, was depressed with the chill.
Illness which she felt. and which was
rObbing her Of much of her natural
energy and courage; and, above oil, she
thought warmth would perhaps i'm.
prove Nicksey's temper and reconcile
the savage beast to remaining In his
den.
So she set to work to endeavor to
kndle fire in the rusty crate and
succeeded.
She took the liberty of removing
some more OF the little remaining
straw from Mr.. Nicksey's chairs; even
ventured to make firewood of the back
Of one Of them, and with the help of a
few Goals which she found lying near
the foot of the truckle bed, had soon
bright and cheering blaze.
And presently Nicksey was suddenly
quite awake, and sitting upright in his
chair.
whats that? What's the mattery'
he cried, looking very frightened.
ITS only me-" said Elnmeline, fear
fully, and in a trembling voice. II
have lighted fire for you"
And Nicksey held his hands over ii,
and thrust his knees almost into It.
That's 1t. Well DONE" chuckling
with great satisfaction. That's Just
what wanted. for was persisted"
There" said Emmelinc, now stir.
ring the fire to increase the blaze. "You
feel more comfortable already, do you
not?'
"Hilloa." exclaimed Nicksey now for
the first time that evening distinctly
beholding Emmeline. "Why, it's the
young uni"
Emmeline smiled and nodded
Eyes, the young 'un,' unused Nicksey;
first she was boy, and now he's u
girly'
But your friend has explained to
| you" began Emmeline. but was in
terrupted by Nicksey, who stammered
out:
HE told me something's don't know
what-but whether boy or girl, you
are the young 'un took such fancy
for, and that's enough for me to Know"
The bright fire and the unexpected
company Of the young 'un' had put
Mr.. Nicksey into very good humor,
and Emmeline was pondering how she
could approach the subject Of the let
tiers when he cried:
AFTER all. it's all the same to me
whether am here or anywhere else.
90 long MS I have q good fire and
plenty Of light, and am not Alone" and
shivered slightly as he repeated ''alone.
I don't like to be alonc!'
Those words furnished Emmeline
with Q hint as to how she might pro-
coed.
II understand" she said, with as.
sumed pleasantly. you prefer plenty
A