The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-08-05

ed the truth-that the hapless creA-
fture had been left there by some eEe
who had knocked and fed. Still hold
Ing the child IN his arms, he ran out
In the garden and looked on every
side.
Come back!' he said; whoever you
are, come back!'
But no one responded. The wind
moaned dismally in the trees that
lifted their black branches overhead,
that was all. He ran to the gate and
looked up and down the road, but
could see nobody. AS he stood in per-
.plexity the child cried again loudly,
and struggled in his arms.
BLESS me" he murmured. 81 must
take it in, or it will die of cold!"
He ran. back to the door and knocked
loudly again and again. 1t was some
time before he was heard. At last,
however. he beard footsteps coming
along the passage, and redoubled his
knocking. The door opened. and
Solomon Mucklebackit, half dressed
appeared on the threshold. Without
q word the minister ran into the lobby.
Losh me, meenister, is it yourself
calculated Solomon, in amazement. II
thought you were in bed"
Come this way-quickv' shouted
Mr.. Lorraine. Bring a light"
And still carrying his burden, he
ran into the sitting-room. Solomon
closed the door, struck match, and
lighted candle, and followed him i'm
mediately. Then his amazement deep
ened. To see Mr.. Lorraine standing
by the flreside with crying infant in
his arms was indeed enough t. awaken
perplexity and wonder.
my conscience, meenister, what hae
We gotten there?"
"A child! Some one left it in the
porch, knocked, and ran away. Run,
Solomon, search up and down the road
and see II you can find them. Shame
upon them, whoever they are. Don't
stand staring, but run"
Perfectly bewildered, Solomon stood
gaping; then with one horror-stricken
look at the infant. left the room, and
ran from the house.
Left alone with the child, the min
lister seemed puzzled what to DO. He
held it awkwardly, and its cries con-
tinued; then, to still it, he rocked it
to and fro in his arms.
Finding it still troublesome, he
placed 1t down in the armchair, and
softly loosened the shawl in which II
was wrapt, freeing it's little arms.
Its cries ceased for a time, and IT
lay with eyes wide open, spreading it,
little hands in the warm twilight.
The minister put on his glasses and
looked at it with solemn curiosity.
1t was tiny infant, about two
months old; its little pink face was
pirched with cold, and it's great biz,
eyes dim with crying. A commo.
linen cap was on its head, and its
gown was Of coarse linen. But it was
SO small, SO pretty, that the ministers
tender heart melted over it at once
He otfered 1t MS forehnger, which il
gripped with its tiny hands, blinkins
up into his face.
Poor wee mite" he murmured. ."
wonder who your mother is? A wick
ed woman, I'm thinking. to cast 70,
away on such night as this!'
As If in answer to his words, tn,
child began to cry again.
ct can see naebody," cried Solomon
re-entering the room; II haze searchi
ur and doom, as far toonways as Mysi,
Simpsons door, and beyont to tn,
waterside, and there's name stirring
It's awful stranger
He looked at the child, ane
scratched his head; he looked at tn,
minister, and nodded it ominously. A
curious conjecture, too irreverent 70,
utterance, had passed across his nat
urally suspicious mind.
fn@