The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-08-12


his right arm outstretched over the
counterpart above the still slumber-
ing child. At the sound of Solomon's
entrance, however, Mr.. Lorraine awoke
at once, rubbed his eyes, and looked
in dazed way around him; then his
eyes fell upon the infant, and his
face grew bright as sunshine.
"Bless me, meenister! Haze We been
watching here a nicht?"
II fell to Sleep" was the reply, "and
I was dreaming, Solomon, such bonny
dreams! thought that was up yon-
der among the angels, and that one
of them came to me with a face 1 we'll
remember-ah, so bright!-and put a
little bairn-this bairn-into my arms;
and then, as I held the pretty one, a
thousand voices sang an old Scotch
song, the Land o. the Leal.' Dear me!
and it is nearly daybreak, sup
pose?"
Solomon did not reply in words, but
pulling up the blind, showed the outer
world still dark, but trembling to the
first dim rays of wintry dawn, while
snow was thicKly falling, and the gar
den was covered with sheet of virgin
white. The minister rose shivering,
for the air was bitter cold; his limbs,
too, were stiff and chilly.
'SWhat's to be done now?" asked
Solomon, gloomily. Il maun AVA an
flemish the grave, but Mysie will be
here at six"
II will watch until Mysie comes"
answered Mr.. Lorraine; then, bending
over the bed, he continued: See, Solo
mon, my man. how soundly she sleeps,
and how pretty she looks"
Soloman grunted and moved toward
the door.
"Will put on the parritch mysel'o"
he demanded. Eye maun be wanting
something after sic night"
Nothing, nothing. Go on to the
kirkyard"
An hour later, when the old woman
appeared, having let herself in by q
key at the back door, she was at once
appraised of the situation. Having
learned by old habit to keep her
thoughts to herself, and being of kind
ly disposition, and the mother of a
large grown-up family, she at once.
without questioning, entered upon her
duties as nurse. The child having
wakened, crying, she took 1t up in her
arms and hushed it upon. her bosom.
where it soon became still; then, pass
ing to the kitchen, she warmed some
new milk, and fed it with spoon.
BY this time day had broken. and
when he had seen the child comfort
ably cared for, the minister put on his
cloak and walked forth to make in
quiries.
The village consisted of one stray
Cling street with numerous small cot
tages, few poverty-stricken shops,
and a one-storied tavern. Jock Stew
ems, who kept the latter, was stand
ing on the threshold with a drowsy
stare, having just thrown open the
door; and on questioning him Mr.. Lor-
raine gained his first and only piece
Of information. A woman, strange to
the place. had entered the inn over
night carrying an infant underneath
her shawl, and asked for a glass of
milk, which she had drunk hastily and
fitted. away-like ghost. Her face
was partially hidden, but Jock was
certain that she was a stranger. Stay!
yes, there was something more. She
had inquired for the manse. and 'the
inn-keeper had pointed out the direc-
ton of the church and the minister's
abode.
Further inquiries up and down the
village elected no:fuFther Information.
Perplexed and weary. the good man
trotted back to the manse. Here. in
the rudely-furnlshed kitchen, he found
a bright IRE burning. his breakfast
ready. and Mysie seated by the ingle-
side with the child in her lap, in
volubls conversation with the old sex
ton