The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-11-12

and Miss Snow is taking her to sleep With
her"
"Will she not disturb you, Miss Snowo:"
"Oh no; | should be glad to have her if |
may"
certainly you may, you are very kind.
Pll get her warm first though. Will you sit
in papa's lap, Ally, till you are warm?'
The child nestled under her fathers chin
and looked at Dorothy With great scared
eyes. Mr.. Penfold took her to the fire and
sat down, a look of pain and p%erplexity in
his eyes.
Dorothy held her hands to the blaze, then
rubbed the child's feet, smiling up into the
little face and telling all sorts of quaint lit
tie stories to divert her mind.
Mr.. Pentold kept silent for some time,
then he said:
do you think, Miss Snow, that a child
can constantly dream the same thing with
out there being some foundation for the
fancy":'
81 think it is very probable Ally had indi-
gestion, and had nightmare. / think when
a child is timid, it is best to allow her to
sleep with someone; then, when she awakes
in a fright, there is someone to comfort her
and reason with her.
she shall sleep with me tonight: when |
tl1A So'iSs ~ Wv iitAiN " WI II JIG vi
the maids till she has grown out of this trick
of dreaming. Poor baby! she misses her
mother, perhaps
Mr.. Penfold frowned, but said nothing,
only pressed his child closer in his arms.
and looked into the fire.
Dorothy was sorry she had mentioned the
child's mother, she feared it looked like
curiosity, so she began to talk very fast, and
was rewarded by a kind smile from her
host, who said with an evident effort:
"-Ally must not miss her mother; if she is
good, she shall have another some dav."
"DOnt want anyone but papa" said AlIy
sleepy.
Mr.. Penfold smiled and kissed the drowsy
eyes with passionate tenderness.
In 4 second the child was asleep.
Shall l carry her up, Mr.. PenfoId? If
she sleeps here too long, she will rouse ur
directly you lay her down. See, here is d
soft shawl, wrap her in that; the cold sheet
will startle her"
Dorothy placed the shawl round the child,
and held out her arms to take her.
Mr.. Penfold shook his head, saying:
II will carry her, she is too heavyfor you.
Take the light for NE, child; l don't want to
disturb the servants, they arc so merry"
Dorothy did as he desired, walking in
front with the candle.
The best bedchamber was on the same
floor as the drawing-room, or best parlor,
as Agnes called it.
The passage was panelled with shining
oak; a soft velvet-pile carpet deadened their
footsteps.
They passed a door that was partly open,
and as Dorothy looked in she distinguished
the figure of a woman fit away among the
shadows. Dorothy did not start or scream,
but a feeling of alarm stirred her heart new
ertheleSS.
Mr. Penfold laid his child tenderly or the
soft white bed, and left Dorothy to tuck her
up costly.
Dorothy heard the snothcred sound of
his footsteps as he went back to the sitting
room, then an understandable sensation of
alarm seized her.
She was afraid to pass the room where
she had seen that shadowy shape alone.
She tried to feel brave, and twice took up
the light and put it down again, when She
heard a gentle knock at the door, and old
Agnes's voice saying:
SIS there anything you want, Miss Snow
an extra pillow, or more bed-clothes: Did
you lie warm last night: Miss Ally is a very
chilly child"
DoANAA IiAO "iAAAs 'Ho A'NN 49,
she wanted, and made her come in to take
a peep at the rosy sleeping face otthe child.
Poor bairn!' said Agnes, putting one of
AlIy's little dimpled hands under the bed
clothes tenderiy; 'she is a timid thing, and
her papa pets her till she is full of whims
and %fancies. She'll be all right with you, |
dare say. If she is not, III have her bed
taken to my room. Supper is served miss;
it is getting late.'
Without a word. Dorothy fastened along
the corridor to the drawing-rOOm, where
she found MI. Penfold reading.
Down below the servants were keeping
Christmas noisily.
As Dorothy entered, Mr.. Penfold laid
down his book, and said with a smile:
.'Come, Miss Snow, let us go and eat some
of Agnes's mince- pies, or she will never for.
give us. Ally is ali right, 1 suppose
Yes, she is sleeping sweetly now. She
is a nervous child"
Eyes, | am afraid she is. She wants some.
one with her who is patient and sympa'
thetic. l suppose | must see about a govern
ess. She has learnt nothing yet, and an
not sorry; [ want to keep =. my baby as
long as possible
A wild hope sprang up in Dorothy's heart
Why should she not stay as little Ally's
governess? it would be a labor of love tc
teach so lOveable a child.
A sudden impulse caused her to say:
''Perhaps when you have heard my story,
Mr.. Penfold, you may find it in your hear
to trust me with your greatest treasure
your little child. / am sure | could teach
her, and 1 must find means Of earning ny
bread for two years at least"
"And when the two years are up"
IL. kVV>bo mad FOR y,orl- will bnyo ynscoI.