The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1897-07-23
~ n. CONAN DoNxA

IKE your poor dear mother you are.
cara! he cried. "As I looked at you
then It was a. Il abe had; come back
from the grave" He STOPPED toward
ner and kissed her. There, run away to
your sister. my dear and do not trou-
Ole. yourself about me. Nothing 10 set
tea yet. but you. win find that III viii
come right"
Clara went upstairs sad at heart, Tor
.ehe was sure now that, what she had
feared WAS indesd about TO. come TO
pass. and that her. father was sEofnes4o
take Mrs. Westmacott- to 30. his. wife.
IN ner pure and earnest mind her moth-
erss memory was en6hrined a. .thats bf
saint. and the thought that any one
should taah her aphae seeened i terrible
sdesecratibn. Even xorse. however. aid
TINS marriage appear when looked at
from the point OF view Of her fathers
future. The widow might fascinate him
oy ner knowledge Of the world, her
oasn. her strength. her unconvention.
ahty-all these qualities Clara was will
!ng 90 allow her-but she was convinced
tnas she wouldsb e u4enduFable az q life
companion. She shad come to an age
when habits are not lightly to be
changed. nor was she woman who was
at AL likely to attempt to change them.
How would a sensitive man IKE her
rather stand the constant strain OF such
q vile. q woman who was all decision.
with no softness, and nothing soothing
In her nature? It passed as q mere a..
centricity when they heard Of her stout
drinking, her cigarette smoking. nor
OCCASIONAL whifs at long clay pipe, her
co. M. -
ana ner companionship with the snake
EA1a, whom she was In the habit Of
bearing about In her pocket. All this
"ouAd become uncomfortable to her faith.
er when his FIRST infatuation was past.
FOR his own sake. then. al well rs for
ner mothers memory. this match must
% prevented. And yet how powaerless
she was to prevent It! What could she
aoz Could Harold aid her? Perhaps. or
1daF AT least she would tell her sister
and see what she could suggest.
IDA was In her boudoir. . tiny little
stepestr1ed room. q. neat and dainty as
herself. With low walls hung with
lman plaques and with pretty little
Swiss brackets bearing blue Kaga ware.
OF the pure white Coalport china. In q
low chair. beneath red-shaded stand
Ing lamp. sat Ida. in diaphanous even
Ing dress Of mousseline de sole, the rud-
~ light tinging her sweet, child-like
race. and glowing on her golden curls,
she sprAng up a. her sister entered.
and threw her arms around her.
= Dear old Clarai Come ana ut down
here beside me. have not had a chat
Tor days. But. oh, what troubled face!
What IL 1t then?" She put up her fore
nnger and smoothed her sisters brow
with It. 81 7Sff I. -
Clara pulled up stool, ana sitting
down beside her sister, passed her arm
round her waist. II am 10 sorry to
trouble you. dear Ida" she said. "Rut
do not know what to do.''
There's nothing the matter with
Harold?' is. s''
"Oh. no. Ida" 7.
''Nor with my Charles?"
mo. no."
Ida gave sigh Of relief. .sYou quite
frightened me. DEAR" said She 'sYou
cant think how solemn you look. What
IL 1t, then?" 24
Il believe that papa intends to ask
Mrs. Westmacott to marry him."
Ida burst out laughing. 'sWhaf can
have put such q notion into your head.
Clara?" .s. 81 - / -.'>''
1T 10 only too true. IDA. I suspected
It before. and he himself almost told
me az much with his own lips tonight.
I don't think that It 10 q Laughing mat
ter" -.
Really. I could not help Il. II vou
had told me that those two dear. old
ladies opposite; the Misses Williams.
were both engaged, you would not nave
surprised me more. It u really too
funny" st.e "A
Funny. Ida! Think Of anyone TAX
ing the place Of dear mother"
But her sister was Of more practi.
cal and less sentimental nature. 81 am
sure" said she. that dear mother
would like papa 70 do whatever would
make him most happy. We shall both
be away. and why should papa not
please himself"
But think how unhappy he viii be.
You know how quiet he his IN his ways.
and how even little thing will upset
him. How could he live with wife
who would make his whole life Q series
Of surpriSes7 Fancy what swhirlwind
she must b In e. house. A man at his
are cannot change his ways. am sure
he would b. miserable"
Ida's face grew graver, and she pom.
dered over, the matter for q few MINI,
sutes. II really think that you are right
- usual" said she e last. II admire
Charles aunt very much. you know,
ana think she 10 very useful and
good sperson, but I don't think she
would DO a. Q wife for poor. quiet
papa" 21s