Morris tribune., 1895-10-16

ingly intermlnapIe pralries WIN Dxo
wagons how, many a time, to please
and soothe her to sleep, he would walk
for miles alongside the wagons with
her in his arms; how he had helped to
nurse and tend her, with all the deep
seated tenderness and devotion that his
nature was capable Of; how he would
unbend from his seemingly austere
mood and gather flowers and play with
her on the prairie for hours together, SO
i that she might not miss the companion
ship of other children; how her slight
est wish seemed his proud privilege to
perform; how he had nursed her
through long sleepless nights of illness,
nor ever seemed to have but one thought
or wish, and that for her; how he had
parted with her, when she had gone to
| the convent on the Saskatchewan, in
what she knew was spirit of self sac
rif1ce, in order that she might not grow
up as ignorant as many of the children
in that great lone land. Even now, if
her father had broken the laws Of the
country, something told her it was no
mere greed of gain on his part-person-
| ally he was the most unselfish of mem
/ that had led him to do this, but that he
eventually might be able to bring her
into a sphere of life which would be
more congenial than the present one.
"Oh, father, father |" she repeated to
herself, as the image of his kindly, tsme
worn face rose before her from that
wonderful magic mirror Of the mind,
and which she knew and loved SO well.
One course lay open to her, and she did
not hesitate to contemplate it, where
only the matter of her own personal
safety and physical well being were
concerned. Her eyes were undimmed
now; rising, she went toward the win
dow and looked out.
"Do you think we shall have much
of blizzard?'' she inquired.
"It is impossible to say, but hope
not, he answered.
Then, as if it were in answer to some
project she had just communicated to
him, he continued;
"But you must not think of going
out in such storm; you would lose
your way before you went so yards.
Besides, if the inspector thought you
meditated any such thing, he would not
scruple to put you under some embar-
RAISING restraints. -
''Does that man control my move
ments?" she asked somewhat Indignant
ly. tThe day is past when the North
west mounted police relegated to them
selves rights that even the Russian po-
lice would hardly dare to take.
"No, he answered humbly, coming
toward the window and standing oppo-
site her, ''but you must recollect that
he is not a.
eyes, understand and will spare
you the pain of the admission. y
Thanks. I wish could help you, .
he continued, "but you can understand
my position. ] am not blameless in my
own eyes now, telling you what I have
done. -
Still he kept his eyes ayerted from
hers and tried to concentrate his gaze
upon the hurrying snowhakes, but that
was difficult thing to do.
And now the girl nerved herself for
her self imposed task. AS if to fix his
attention she placed one hand lightly
upon his arm, and he was forced to look
at her. Somehow, to him, this seemed
a natural and simple action coming
from her. He knew it was dangerous
and fatal thing for him to look at hel,
but then he was in no way different
from other men, although he belongea
to calling that is supposed to elilni
nate from its exercise anything APP
preaching sentiment. She was very
beautiful girl indeed, but whether it
was sense of pity for her or the witch
cry of her superior presence that inf1u
enced him he did not speculate upon
just then.
"You will perhaps forget what am
going to say now, 80 she said, catching
her breath quickly, eff it appears to I
you an unfair and unwomanly thing of
me to ask Of course, have no claim
on your consideration whatever, but I |
somehow think you would rather help |
me than otherwise. am not going to
insult you by asking you to avoid your
duty, but should like you to bear in |
mind my position. You must know my |
father is everything in this life to me,
and would not think twice of risking
my life in the chance of saving his,
though know he would consider such
a sacrifice wasted were l to lose mine.
Perhaps you can understand this =
He did not speak, but simply bowed
his head
She went on again;
II know that wherever he is on the
prairie at the present he is safe enough
he has weathered too many billiards..
AS long as this one lasts he is safe
enough from you, but, of course, you
know ne may pull in here any time it
lifts. What want to ask of you is that
you promise me not to interfere with
my movements whenever the snow may
stop. Ii may be nothing to you that I
promise my father shall never offend
again, but it shall be SO. 1t may not be
such very great thing to ask of you
after ALL but it means everything to me.
Perhaps might be more certain of the
success of my plans were I to keep my