The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-11-26
CHAPTER ",

Mr.. PenfOld did not return for some time.
Dorothy saw him talking to Agnes in the
path before the door, and wondered what
could have made him look so strangely ex-
cited.
He did not come back to the sitting-room,
but shut himself up in a little room leading
out of the hall that he used as a study.
Dorothy turned up the lights, stirred the
fire, reused Ally from her Sleep, and made
her smart, then returned to the room in
time to pour out tea, and had the satisfac-
ton of shaking hands with Mr.. Penfold,
who seemed his usual jolly self again, only
that his eyes rarely left his little daughters
face.
After tea he found Ally impatient to have
the book he promised her. SO he brought it
to her, and Dorothy had TO read it.
Then they discussed ONE Of C%aldecott's
quaint pictures, and in a pause Mr.. Penfold
said:
II executed all your commissions, Miss
Snow; your luggage viii arrive tonight,
and / have some change to give you out Of
your ten-pound note"
"Nons:nsc! you cannot have, if the peo-
pie sent all [ wanted.'
"Well, we shall see, Miss Snow. I am
clever at buying, | can tell you"
Dorothy did not ask him why he had
flown way, or if he had found the woman,
but she wondered vaguely who she could
be.
Pierce said his business in London was
happily settled, and he seemed to look re-
lieved when he spoke of it.
When her box came later on Dorothy
found it contained all she required, and
everything Of the best and prettiest.
When she had seen Ally to bed, and lock-
ed her door, taking the key away, she went
down, her cheeks pink as a blush-rose, her
eyes shining like stars.
Something was stirring in her heart glad
some as a summer song.
She did not yet know by what name to
call this tender joy that gloritied all things
about her; she did not know why her heart
beat light and gay, or why every moment
by her new friends side seemed happier
than the last.
In her deSolation, her loneliness, her mis-
cry, her heart had gone out to him, and
made him the lOve-elccted master of her
destiny.
She heard the sound of the piano, and Mr..
Penfold singing in 4 mellow monotone like
a bird with but one note, but that replete
with sweetness.
When she entered, full of grateful thanks,
he rose, took both her hands, and smiled OIL
her brightly.
She was indeed a goodly sight with her
rOse-pink cheeks, tender red lips, and eyes
of starry radiance.
Mr.. Penfold felt all her beauty'sspell, and
a rapture stirred in him that he was free to
win her priceless love if she had a heart to
give.
So glad and joyous were his looks that
ten years seemed lifted from him in as many
minutes.
Come, sing for me, Miss Snow. Let us
make this New Years Eve one to remem
Der for ever.
He took her hands and led her to the seat
he had just vacated, and babe her sing to
him something soothing, but not sad, and
telling of love, of happiness, Of bright de-
light and merry weather.
A sort of rapture rained from his eyes-a
liquid light of love; his cheeks were flush
ed, his hands trembled.
Dorothy looked at him, amazed, yet SYM
pathetic, and he said gaily:
"Child, have you ever freed all imprison-
ed bird, and seen it soar singing to the
clouds, to bask and battle in the sunlight?
Have you ever looked upon one in mortal
agony when sudden relief has come and
made a heaven of rest for them"
Eyes. Tell me, has such sweet freedom
come to YOU"
"It has, ma belle. 1 shall begin the new
year full OF hope and promise. Before it
dies away you will know my history, and
sympathize with my rapture tonight. My
blood seems to have fresh life, my heart
leaps like 4 trout in a sunny stream; life
seems all life, light, brightness, and beauty.
Are you glad for me?:"
"More glad than l can say. / do not UNI
derstand the cause for joy, but it is reflected
in my heart as in a crystal mirror"
May that pure fountain of tender wo-
manly love ever keep my image there, a
vision of delight such as l now feel. Icould
dance, sing, go mad with merriment! What
can you think of me, child? Lam like a
man possessed by unquiet spirits to YOU"
"You are all that is good and noble to me.
Little as know you, l can believe you good
and true as steel. Some day you will trust
nj with the history of this rapturous belief.
Now 1 will sing to YOU"
Her sweet clear voice rams out like q
chime of fairy bells, full Of throbbiny, dane
ing melody.
MI. Penfold bent over her, watching the
white fingers fly over the ivory keys.
Truly he had Gagged a nightingale when
he brought this frozen fairy to his home and
warmed her in his heart.
The evening sped on golden wings; time
was never less a laggard.
Supper-time came and passed, and the
new friends waited hand-in-hand together
ready to welcome the new year.
1--WE must open the window to let in oul
luck" said MI. Penfold as the hand of the
clock paused on the stroke of twelve.