The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-11-10

caim-r would say cheerful. Can your
priezt do morer'
BY the first glimpse Of day the party
sailed forth from the Preside into the
street. The wind had fallen, but still
charioted a world Of troubled clouds;
the air bit like frost; and the party,
as they stood about the ruins In the
rainy twilight Of the morning, beat up
on their breasts and blew into their
hands for warmth. The house had en-
tirely fallen, the walls outward, the
roof in; it was mere heap Of rub
bish, with here and there forlorn
spear of broken rafter. A sentinel
was placed over the ruins to protect
the property, and the party adjourned
to Tentaillon's to break :heir fast at
the Doctors expense. The bottle cir
culated somewhat freely; and before
they left the table it had begun to
snow.
For three days the snow continued
to fall, and the ruins. covered with tar
paulin and watched by sentries, were
left undisturbed. The Desprezes mean
while had taken up their abode at Ten
taillon's. Madame spent her time in
the kitchen, concocting little delica-
cies, with the admiring aid of Madame
Tentaillon. or sitting by the fire in
thoughtful abstraction. The fall of the
house affected her wonderfully little;
that blow has been parted by another;
and in her mind she was continually
fighting over again the battle Of the
trousers. Had she done right? Had
she done wrong? And now she would
applaud her determination; and anon,
with a horrid flush of unavailing peni-
tence, she would regret the trousers.
No juncture in her life had so much ex-
ercised her judgment. In the mean
time the Doctor. had become vastly
pleased with his situation. Two Of the
summer boarders still fingered behind
the rest, prisoners for lack of a remit
lance; they were both English, but
one of them spoke French pretty flu
emily, and was, besides, humorous,
agile-minded fellow, with whom the
Doctor could reason by the hour, Sc
cure of comprehension. Many were the
glasses they emptied, many the topics
they discussed.
"Anastasie," the Doctor said on the
third morning, take an example from
your husband, from Jean-Marie. The
excitement has done more for the boy
than all my tonics, he takes his turn
as sentry with positive gusto. AS for
me, you behold me. I have made
friends with the Egyptians; and my
Pharaoh is, swear it, most agree
able companion. You alone are hipped.
About house-a few dresses? What
are they in comparison to the 'Phar-
macopoeia'-the labor of years lying
buried below stones and sticks in this
depressing hamlet? The snow falls;
l shake it from my cloak! Initiate me.
Our income will be impaired, grant
it, since we must rebuild; but moder-
alton, patience, and philosophy will
gather about this hearth. In the mean
while, the Tentaillons are obliging; the
table, with your additions, will pass;
only the wine is execrable-well,
shall send for some to-day. My Pha-
roah will be gratified to drink decent
glass; aha! and 1 shall see If he pos
sesses that acme of organization-a
palate. If he has palate, he is per-
feet"
Henri" she said, shaking her head,
"you are man; you cannot UNDER
stand my feelings; no woman could
shake off the memory of so public a
humiliation"
The Doctor could not restrain tit
ter. Pardon me, darling" he said, "but
really, to the philosophical intelli-
gence, the incident appears so small a
trifle. You looked extremely we'll"
"Henri!" she cried.
ITO BE coNrtNusD.b