The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-12-03
Dorothy liked the room much, for it look.

could they see her In her new role Of nurs-
ery-governess.
The housemaid Jane came up to make the
fire, and stood idly watching Dorothy and
Ally.
I Should not nave patience to teach a
child; you are used to it, l suppose. Miss
Snow?
Dorothy was about to say she was not,
but she thought better of it, and said
1T is pleasant enough work with only
one child"
You are very young, Miss Snow, to have
had any experience. Why, you can't be
twenty"
NO wish was; am only nineteen.
Ally, which is E?'
Jane went away singing softly to herself,
and the afternoon passed away, and the sun
went down amid tlame-colored clouds.
Dorothy was teaching Ally the beauty Of
the ever-changing sky The sun sank like
ball Of fire, and dusk crept over the earth
like mantle of silence.
Ally slipped away to see if papa had
finished his business. She found him in his
study sitting before writing table reading
paper; his face was pale ana troubled, and
the light of the reading lamp shone full
upon his haggard face.
Ally ran to him, climbed upon his knee
and said:
'May have tea with you, papa?"
He kissed her very tenderly, then hastily
writing on sheet of paper, Darling, does
this refer to you? Send back word by Ally,
yes or no." he then cut out half a column OF
newspaper and enclosed it, saying to Ally:
''Where is Miss Snow, pet:'
II left her in the nursery, papa; she has
dressed for dinner SO shall find her there
still"
"Run then pet, and give her this. Tell he,
papa wants an answer
When Ally ran into the nursery, her
pretty white frock f1uttered about her, her
tiny dancing feet tripping lightly over the
polished floor, Dorothy stood by the fire in
her black velvet dress with the jeweled
cross flashing on her fair bosom.
Here's letter from papa, Miss Snow"
Dorothy took it in surprise, and knelt
down to read it by the light of the blazing
log-fire. The printed slip tluttered down on
the rug; she hastily picked it up and read it
Ally grew impatient.
''Please, Miss Snow, papa says am to
take back an answer
her forehead like one dazed, and with a
weary sigh drew Ally to her, saying:
ally. did papa look grieved or angry?''
HE looked sorry, Miss Snow, and he for
got tokiss me-"
"Then run back to him, pet, and when
you tell him Miss Snow says yes kiss him
very kindly with your little arms around his
neck"
Ally ran away to do her bidding, and
found Mr.. Penfold pacing the room in an
agitated manner. She ran to him with out
stretched arms; he picked her up tenderly,
and she put her arms about his neck, saying
as she kissed him:
Miss Snow says yes, papa"
God help her then, poor girl! Come,
petite, we will go to her."
Dorothy still stood by the fire, tears steal
ing softly down her cheeks. When Mr..
Penfold entered she turned to him and said:
"Oh, Pierce, what can do to make you
understand the misery that made me des-
perate and glad to get away at any cost:
Send the child away and l will tell you all
about it."
Mr.. Penfold kissed Ally, rang a bell, and
said to Jane:
''Stay here and give the child her tea.
Miss Snow is going to write some letters for
me before dinner"
Jane stayed and as Dorothy Went 'iown
to the study with Mr.. Penfold, she seemed
excited and upset.
In the study CHEEKY fire burnt brightly.
Pierce drew chair to the fire, end pur,us-
ded Dorothy to sit down.
She did as he desired, while he bent over
her, his eyes trimming over with pitiful
love. Dorothy's hands trembled as she
clasped them over her knees, saying softly:
'My troubles began year ago, when my
dear mother, after brief illness, died. She
was the widow of a rich mne-owner; the
dear dad had been keen man of business,
managing his affairs with such skill that
when he died he left his wife a large for
tune, and splendid opportunity of increas-
ing it.
''All, by his WILL after dear mothers
death, reverted to me, but left my mother
to choose guardian for me, should she die
during my minority. My mother had but
few friends, and no near relations. She
chose as a guardian an old friend Of my
fathers, a man who managed her affairs for
her.
Gle is man of about forty, handsome
and shreWd. My poor mother believed him
to be the best man breathing, and died,
leaving me and all possessed under his
sele control. He came directly after hel
death and took his post as lead of the
house, and treated me with MAJ ked kind.
ness. Everything promised that he would
be model guardian; but from the first I
shrank from his too tender manner-all my
instinct was against him.
Il begged him to allow inc to return to
my old school, till I came of age, but he
would not hear Of it, neither would he al.