The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-01-17


mentioned in her presence.
Now that 1t was mentioned, how
ever, Miss Wells was quite equal to
the occasion. She laughed a little and
said easily, with more OF her art than
Of her nature In her tones:
Every cruel Of him, isn't It? Or ut
least, 1t would be cruel IL minded.
But don't, you see.''
"Of course not. OF course you
don't" said the other ladies'.
1t was about an hour after this when
they heard steps on the line again, and
something mounted UP and looked in.
Through the steam on the glass the
face Of man could be dimly seen. He
tapped softly on the window In Miss
Wells corner.
A deeper flush came into her white
cheeks as she came face to face with
Cyril Ardener.
Wont you ladies come QUIZ" he
said. I've found O real fire."
But they refused, preferring the Ills
they had to suffer to trudging over the
rails in the keen, outside air. Miss
Wells, however, had not spoken.
"YOu will come, won't you, Con-
stance?" said he, in a lower voice.
A shiver ran through her, not caused
by the cold. It seemed long time
since Cyril had called her by hel
Christian name.
She hesitated, and then said YES
Cyril helped her out, and led her
across the lines back to the platform.
Then she asked, suddenly:
where's Miss Fairbrother?"
"She's gone of with Glynn," said
Cyril, smiling, latter quarreling with
me-
.Ahv' said Constance.
Cyril could detect jealousy, pique
pride, in the simple utterance. They
walked along the platform in silence tc
the Office Of the station master, where 8
bright fire was blazing.
With O cry Of delight Constance went
down on her knees before it, and
spread out her stiff fingers in the wei
come warmth. Cyril stood near, look
ing down at her delicate, worn face, II
khich the blue veins seemed preterpat
urally large. After long silence b,
said, suddenly:
"You think asked you to come ou
here because I had quarreled with tina
little fiirt? You are wrong"
Constance flushed slightly, but dii
not glance up.
II asked you because the little COOS,
let out something which was the las
thing she should have let me know l
she wanted me to forget you. You hav'
been fretting, it seems?"
Brough to task SO suddenly, Con
stance could not keep the tears out Q
her eyes.
NO." she said, rather feebly.
| n toll
= it true that you are not SO hard as 20
!! pretend - be? Is it true, for instance,
e and he came nearer to her, "that 70
Z are sorry you snubbed me SO unmerc
= fully that day-you know when?"
= There was O pause. Constance we
much ,agitated. But she gathered he
) forces together and answered, wit
4 some spirit:
8 mo, it is not true am not sorry
But there was tremor in her gent
a voice, q tenderness in her eyes, whic
d belied her words.
a ST don't believe you," said Cyril, {
h he knelt down on the floor beside he
n ST mean don't believe your words.
y believe your eyes. And can read
'e them that you do care; but you a
d very unhappy, lonely, since you qua
,reled with me"
Is Then she gave way, and q piteous Il
le tie sob betrayed the feeling she hi
sr been trying to hide. She stole one
ut her white hands, which not even tt
fe. frost had succeeded in making red al
o ugly, and held 1t tenderly in his ow