The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-11-12
A Winter Niqlt;;
OR,
Found in a Snow Drift,
"C33:aA fs:"E

her throat among the snowy folds of lace
that crossed SO daintily over her pretty bust.
Il cannot tell you how delighted | am to
see you are able to come down.. Sit here by
the fire. What is your name, child? Mine
is Pierce Penfold."
She looked blankly up at him a moment.
Then as her eyes wandered awav to the
snow-clad hills she faltered out family:
Mine is Dorothy Snow, and l am very,
very grateful to you for your timely help.
Had you not found me l should be lying
dead now-froZen to death in the snow.
drift"
My dear young lady, my old mother used
to say: God is always in one place, no
matter where his wanderers stray He
guided me to YOU last night, and it is a Great
happiness to me to think that l, under
Heaven, was allowed to help you. Let me
give you a glass Of wine, and promise me
that you will consider me q friend.
Let there be silence between US as to all
that concerns you till Twelfth Night, wien
] will meet you here, in this room, to burn
the holly: until then you are my honored
guest; after then, perhaps, you will let me
be your true friend. Now, Miss Snow, here's
merry Christmas to you. Shake hands,"
She held out her hand gratefully; as he
pressed it he noticed she wore a gentle
mans ring, a costly jewel engraved with a
masonic emblem. tie raised her hand and
looked at it eagerly, saying:
This ring was given to you by a ma
son'":"
Yes, a knlgh templar-my father"
Then, my dear, you are twice welcome,
once for yOurown sake, and once for your
fathers, since he was a brother 'masOn.'"
lie is dead, or l. should not be here"
Tears dimmed the innocent blue eyes, and
the sensitive lips q~uivered grievously.
Ally changed the subject, saying:
did you hear the waits last night, Miss
Snow? did"
Dorothy shuddered, and remembered with
pain that she heard them singing of peace
and goodwill while she was the centre of a
scene of strife. But she said nothing of this,
only lifted the child to her knee, and talked
to her Of Christmas-time when she was a
happy child.
Pierce looked out on the ice-bound earth
a little sadly. 1t was long since he had seen
his child Graded in the arms of a gentlewo-
man. Somehow the sight of those two in
the big armchair, filled a void in his heart
and home, and he wondered vaguely for
what purpose this lovely girl had been
thrown in his path.
The day passed peacefully away, and the
nighttime came brilliant and starlight.
Little Ally had tired herself out over a
snapdragOn after a late dinner, and Dorothy
had carried her off to bed, heard her pure
prayer, and had stolen back to the cheerful
sitting-room where her host sat recalling
the sight Of the fair young face as it bent
yearningly over his motherless child.
He had noticed, too, how contidingly Ally
had nestled in the kind arms of her new
friend, and he felt that the instincts Of a
child are to be trusted.
He drew a chair to the freside, and said
softly:
MY little girl is very lonely; you have
been a perfect godsend to her to-day. 1 am
50 glad to have you here. dreaded to-day,
and 10! it has passed so pleasantly that |
now regret it has flown SO fast. You look
very pale, are you tired?'
mot at all. Shall l play for you?:"
II wish you would, l love music"
He hastily opened a grand piano that
stood back in the shadows, lighted the cam
dies, and placed a pile of music before her
marked with the name of ALLISON Penfold."
Dorothy picked out one called "A Year
Ago." and as SIZE sang tears splasned heavl-
ly down upon her little white hands. The
words touched her so deeply.
AS she concluded, the sweet clear voice
faltered and ended in a sob. Pierce bent
over her compassionately, saying:
Poor child, | fear the song has stirred
sad thoughts in you. Play this one for me-
He put a song in front of her and sang
out j~ovially.
While he sang, Dorothy heard another
sound, shrill and heart-piercing-a child's
terrified cry. She flew up the stairs to the
pretty be%dchalnber where she had placed
the child.
Ally was standing trembling with fright
at the bottom Of the bed. At sight of Dor
othy she flew to her with outstretched arms,
crying:
'Oh, Miss Snow, 1 nave been so very
frightened. A dreadful woman, all in black,
like a bagey, came and woke me by kissing
me with cold lips. Then when | cried out
she ran away so quick
Poor little Ally! you have been dream
ing said Dorothy, taking the child in her
just then old Agnes came in in a great
autter, saying:
..Heyday! what's the matter, Miss Ally?
why do you cry out so? You've had too
much to eat, l expect, and it has made you
have one of your foolish dreams. Hush now;
let me put you to bed, you'll take cold"
The feeble light of the lamp showed the
anxious face OF the old lady, and the fright
ened face of the child. Ally repeated her
tale. Agnes shook her head and seemed
vexed, for she said sharply:
tAlways the same foolish farley, Miss
Ally; how many times have l told you it is
but a dream"
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