The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-01-05

had increased; the
snow was falling
heavily, soaking her through and
through.
Suddenly she remembered what the
milk-woman had told her; she would
go to the English am bassador-perhaps
he would give her relief and enable her
to get home
She paused once or twice to ask her
way but she could get no answer She
was nothing more than street waif,
and was accordingly thrust aside as
such. At last a little gamin gave her
the information she asked. The place
| she sought was three miles off.
Three miles. She was footsore and
faint; she had not sou in her pocket;
and her child was fainting with cold
and hunger. 1t seemed to her that her
last hope had gone.
Then she suddenly remembered that
certain Miss Dove, a wealthy Eng
| fish woman, had founded a home in
Paris for her destitute countrywomen.
She knew the address, it was nearer
| than the British Embassy. She drag
| ged herself and child to II. She had
| just sufficient strength left to ring the
| bell, when she sank fainting on the
| threshold of the door.
When Marjorie again opened her
eyes she was lying in a strange bed,
| and lady with pale, grave face was
still bending above her.
Where am II" she cried, starting
up; and then she looked around for her
child.
A cold hand was laid upon her fever
| ishly burning forehead, and she was
gently laid back upon her pillow.
"The child Is quite SAFE" said a low,
sweet voice. 1--WE have put him in a
cot, and he is sleeping; try to sleep,
| too, and when you waken you will be
stronger, and you shall have the little
| boy"
Marjorie closed her eyes and moaned,
and soon fell into a heavy, feverish
| sleep.
Having seized her system, the fever
| kept its burning hold, and for many
days the mistress of the house thought
that Marjorie would die; but fortunate
| ly her constitution was strong: she
passed through the ordeal, and one day
she opened her eyes on what seemed to
her new world.
For time she lay quietly looking
about her, without movement and
without word. The room in which
| she lay was small, but prettily fitted
| up. There were crucifixes on the wall,
and dimty curtains to the bed and the
| windows: through the diamond panes
the sun was family shining; coy fire
nlled the CRATE; on the hearth sat a
woman, evidently a nurse; while on
| the hearth-rug was little Leon, quiet
as mouse, and with his lap full of
| toys.
1t was so dreamy and so peaceful
that she could just hear the murmur OF
life outside, and the faint cracking of
the fire on the hearth-that was all.
She lay for time watching the two
figures as in vision; then the mem
DRY of all that had passed came back
| ePoAA AASi, anu ShC SoDpcu. III d IuO-
ment the woman rose and came over
to her, while little Leon ran to the
bedside, and took her thin, white hand.
Mamma" he said, don't cryv'
For in spite of herself Marjorie felt
the tears coursing down her cheeks.
The nurse said nothing. She smoothed
back the hair from her forehead, and
| quietly waited until the invalid's grief
had passed away.
Then she said gently:
do not grieve, madam. The worst
OF Your illness is over. You will soon be
WELL"
Have l been very il.?" asked Mar
jorie, family.
Eyes, very i'll. We thought that you
would die"
And you have nursed me-you have
saved me? oh! you are very good,
| Who-who are you-where am II"
you are amongst friends. This
| house is the home of every one who
needs home. 1t belongs to Miss Es-
| Their Dove. 1t was she who found you
fainting on our doorstep, and took
you in. When you fell into fever she
gave you into my charge. / am one
OF the nurses"
| She added, quietly:
| There, do not ask me more ques-
tions, for you are weak, and must be
very careful. Take this, and then, IL
you will promise to soothe yourself,
the little boy shall stay beside you
while you sleep"
Marjorie took the food that was Of
fered to her, and gave the promise re-
quired. Indeed. she felt too weak to
talk.
(fo De coArrSUED.)