The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-11-05

had Oeen born for him of the snoW-drift.
lie took her in his arms, such a slim slight
burden. Why did she not unclose those
scaled eyes,:
Suddenly the SNOW ceased, the sky lost its
b!ack gloom. and the moon flashed out like
an orient pearl that had been DELAYED bv
pleasures i'll Paradise from diffusingits pale
rSys upOn the cold earth.
What Shall l do with the girl? She is
evidently a lady: but why here alone attwo
O'Clock III the morning with no one to pro-
tect her, pretty pet? She is very young, and
very Wretchcd ii those tear-dimmed cheeks
are a criterion. | wish l had not found her.
yet must take her home. What will Agnes
say to so tar an addition to our household?
Thrifty soul! How much food will she
want? will be her first idea. Well, this is
an adventure! Young Lochinvar must have
been a Hercules to AVE lifted his lady to
the saddle-bow. Bother it all! she is not
very big, but she is a dead weight. Steady,
my bonnie Blanche, steady, good lass, so,
so! All, now we are right. Go ahead, Drift;
you have found a prize worthy of your bark
ing"
On, on they yer in the chill moonlight
till all signs Of Roath or Cardiff were left
behind, and they had entered upon a purely
VIVA VI ASN liliOllSCS lollcS6u
the monOtony of snow-clad hills and ice
bound hollows, and just where the road
seemed dreariest, a light flashed out from
the window of a large rough stone house. A
man opened a gate and let his master in,
wondering what he was holding in front of
him.
Quick, Jem! I nave found a woman in
the snow; she may be dead. Come, Agnes.
open the door; we are famished-staryel
with cold"
A lower door opened at the side of the
house; bright freight flashed ont from it,
and an old woman stood in the DOORWAY,
saying in a shrill thin voice:
"HoW late you are, Master Pierce! Miss
Ally cried herself to sleep because you did
not bring her big doll so have hung up
her stocking for Santa Claus to fill. hope
you have not forgotten it; she would be so
disappointed. Mercy on us, man.! what
have you got there: A dead woman, by all
that's horribleW
mo, no, Agnes; hope not. Help me.
All, that is right, Jem. Down, Drift, good
dog; your prize is safe"
Slowly the unconscious Girl WAS carried
into the bright stone kitchen, where shining
pans and a blazing fire made the place
bright.
They laid her down in the fireglow on a
rug, and Pierce Penfold knelt beside her
1ull OF anxiety. Removing the heavy fur
cloak, they found a lovely girl, attired in 4
dinner dress of rich black velvet, cut square
at neck, with elbOW-Sleeves. She looked
such a dainty lady, lying there with her fair
pale face and tiaXen hair cleaning in the
fireglow.
Il am afraid she is dead" said Agnes, all
concern and kindness, touched by the child
like beauty of her face. 1--WE heard rubbing
the body with snow sometimes restores ami
nation. Get some snow in a bucket, James.
Come, Master Pierce, you had better fetch
some blankets and leave her to me. All the
maids are asleep, tired out.
"Don't go too far away. | shall want you
to carry her to bed if she RECEIVERS. Poor
pretty one! what could have driven her out
on this awful night? Suppose, sir, you fill
the warming-pan with live Goals and warm
a bed for her; no time to be lost. Lord love
us! she revives already. Get out, sir, I'll
attend to her. Pretty creature! what would
her mother say to see her now? Bide still,
Drift; you are always poking your nose in
to other peoples business"
The old lady chafed the lovely limbs with
snow till they glowed with rosy life, then
she pulled awry the wee wraps, covered the
beautiful form, and went off to her bed
chamber, where folded under her pillow
was a nightdress frilled with wide frills and
a huge nightcap to match. These she sue
cecded in putting upon the pretty stranger
before the steel-blue eyes unclosed.
Then she gave her warm wine to drink,
forbade her to talk, and after covering her
with a hot blanket, went to call Master
Pierce, who came in Invested of his outdoor
garments, blowing his fingers, which he had
succeeded in burning beautifully with the
warming-pan.
Following him came a tiny white-robed
form, crying:
Papa dear, papa dear, Ally can't sleep
till you cosset her in YOU arms"
"Drat the childw said old Agnes not mn
kindly; shes always awake when we want
her asleep"
"Oh, papa, what a funny lady! Where
did you find her"
"In a saow-drift, darling. Come, let me
carry you to bed, you will take cold"
Put the childdown, Master Pierce, please,
and carry this poor creature up to bed while
she is warm.
"See, she has tainted again; the fire is too
much for her.
Sit up in nurses chair, dearie, while
papa takes the lady upstairs. That's my
own good girl nurse will give her an orange
if she will sit still till papa comes back"
Pierce took the beautiful form up in his
strong arms; the soft perfume of her hair
came just under his nose, her pale cheek
was warmed by his breath. He carried her
up the wide oak staircase into a pretty
room, and laid her on a sweet white bed