The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-08-11

himself respectfully on one Of the
and solemnly. he poured out glass of
raw spirit Meantime Mr.. Lorraine,
having Invested himself OF his cloak
ard hat, sat down in the armchair by
the fireside.
Here's fortune. sir" said Solomon
drinking of the whisky; then, wiping
his mouth with his sleeve. he sat bolt
upright and expectant. waiting TO see
IL his superior had anything more to
say. But, As the minister remained
silent, Solomon rose TO go.
Are We mindin' the funeral the
NORM" the sexton asked, taking up
his bonnet.
Mr. Lorraine nodded.
Can | bring We anything before
gang to bed? I maun rise at Ave 10
flemish the grave"
No; go to bed. l shall sit up and
read q little"
"Weel good might. sir"
Goodnight. Solomon"
ThereupOn Solomon left the room.
closing the door softly behind him.
Lighting candle in the lobby. he
made his way quietly TO a chamber in
the upper part OF the house. where
he slept. and which was. indeed. the
only chamber in the manSe. excepting
the minister's sitting room and adjoin-
ing bedroom. which contained any fur
niture.
Many years before Solomon had
taken up his abode there, on the min
listers invitation. and it was his only
he me. Besides performing the duties
OF sexton and clerk, he acted generally
as faetotum TO Mr.. Lorraine. attended
to the garden. and groomed the pony
on which the minister made his vista
items about the country. An aged
woman, Mysie Simpson, came in every
day to clean and cook, but invariably
retired TO her own dwelling at night
fall. So the two old men were prac-
tically alone together. and. despite the
difference in their social positions, re-
garded each other with a peculiar at
tacnment
The minister sat for some time mus
ing. then with sigh he took a book
from the shelves and began TO read
It was a volume of old sermons, writ
ten by south-country clergyman,
imprisoned. wrathful and in the mar
row sense Calvinistic. AS he read the
wind roared round the house, and
moaned in the chimneys, and ratified
the shutterless windows; Sut as the
wind rose the darkness decreased. and
the vitreOus rays OF the moon began
playing on the window panes.
Mr.. Lorraine lit his pipe-the only
luxury in which he INDUCED: for
despite his plump figure. which he in
herited, he was abstemious and a tee
totaler. Then, with another sigh. he
rose and walked thoughtfully up and
down the room; paused at one of the
windows. and looked down the moon
lighted lawn which sloped to the river
side; talking all the time to himself,
as was his confirmed habit
''Ay, ay. wild highland snow
coming Solomon says, Eerie, eerie,
is the sough OF the wind in the trees.
1t minds me ever of her, and when the
moons up it is like the shining Of her
face out OF the grave. Wee Marjorie,
my bonny doc. Thirty long years ago
she died, and I'm still here, still
herer'
Tears stood in the old mans eyes
as he looked out in a dream. Through
the long years OF loneliness and pow
erty-for his living was indeed a poor
one-he had cherished the memory of
one who had gone away from him TO
God when only in her eighteenth year.
Suddenly, there came a loud single
knock at the front door.
The minister started. listening, and
the same moment a gust of unusual
force shook the house to it's founda-
ton
Bless me, what's that" he exclaim-
ed II thought | heard knock at the
hall door. but maybe my ears dec eived
me. 1t was only the wind, I'm think
ing"
Anu ne pidSSu HIS piStiouo IeliCS
back in the drawer, locking it carefully
and placing the key in worn leather
purse which he carried in his pocket.
At that moment the knock was re-
peated.
Dear me- he cried, there's some
one knocking after all. Maybe it's a
sick call"
Lifting the candle from the table. he
trotted from the room. crossed along
the lobby, and opened the hall door
As he did so the wind sprang in like
q lioar apd tho LIGHT was blown ont