The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-02-24

"Well, sir, I can't say azackly. 1t
was a sort of wasting sickness, like.
She couldn't keep nothing on her
stomach, of late. poor dear; and she
had pains that racked her, and used
to complain of a burning feel in her
throat; out of sorts altogether, as you
may say. l believe it all came from
fretting."
"Why did she fret so much? Was
her brother every unkind to her?"
"No, sir. don't think it was his
unkindness that worried her. But he
used to keep very late hours-hardly
ever coming home till the last train,
and that worried her. Not that he
was ever the worse for drink. He was
the soberest young man as ever was
but she was of jealous disposition
and the thought that he was out en-
joying himself with other people used
to prey on her mind
THAT was hardly fair, if he treated
her kindly when he was at home. A
sister has no right to be jealous of a
brother"
perhaps. not, sir, but jealous she
was, and fret she did. I've nobody
but him in the world. Mrs. Moff,' she
sald-my name being Moff-'and can't
bear him to be always away. There
was time when he spent all his even
ings at home And then tears would
roll down her poor holler cheeks, and
it went to my cart to see her so mis-
cradle. | had a feller-feelin', you see,
sir for know how it worrits me when
my master stops late at the Coach and
Horses on Saturday night"
All, but it's different with hus-
band. A wife has right to be exact
ing, not a sister. Now, tell me how
they left the place, and all about it.
I'm interested in this poor girl, and
perhaps l may be able to befriend her.
Where did they go?''
He was going to take her to some
place near the sea, on the other side
OF Grandchester, and a good way off.
The name has gone clean out of my
head. He was very kind to her from
the time she fell ill., She told me so
with her own lips. Castor was never
so kind to me in all his life.' she says.
He fancied it was the air here that
didn't agree with her, she told me, and
it is rather relaxing air, here, sir. l
feel it so sometimes, myself, and if it
wasn't for my drop of beer 1 should
go off in dead faint"
What kind of young woman was
Miss Foy? Was she like her brother?"
mo, sir. she were not. 1 never laid
eyes on brother and sister more un-
similar. She had been very pretty,
there's no denying that, but her ner-
vous, worriting ways had that worn
and proved upon her that she was old
and 'aggard before her time. She had
light brown hair, and a fair skin and
blue eyes, and l dessay she had been a
pretty figure before she wasted away
like, but her 'ealth were never good
from the time knew her,
Did you see her the day she went
away?" asked the vicar.
1t wasn't a day, sir She went late
at night, by the last train to Grand
chester. She was to sleep in Grand
chester. and go on to the seaside next
morning: and l do say that it wasn't
the right thing for young person in
her state of 'ealth to travel late on a
winters night But there, poor Teller,
it wasn't his fault, for he had to be
at the Office all day"
'She was wrapped up warmly, sup
pose?"
Yes, she wore thick Scotch plaid
shawl that he bought her the winter
before"
BLACK and red?" said the vicar.
"Black and red" assented the
woman, with some establishment. Zone
would think you'd seen it, SIR"
Il told you l was interested in the
young lady" answered the vicar
vaguely.
He took out his memorandum book
and wrote down the date and hour oil
the young woman's removal from Rose
Cottage. She had left in the one cab
| that piled between Parminter village
and the Parminter Road Station. The
cabman could be forthcoming if he
were wanted. Mrs. Moff suggested.
Mr.. Leworthy rewarded this worthy
woman with a crown piece, half Of
which he stipulated was to be given tt
the little girl when she came home
from her errand, and then he walked
briskly back to the station, which wa!
a good half mile from Lawson Lane
He was lucky enough to get train il
less than half an hour. and he wal
back in Grandmother at three o'clocl
in the afternoon.
Here he took a cab and drov'
straight to Mr.. Brockbank's Office, tt
whom he impaired all he had done.
Upon my soul, you're clever fel
low, vicar!" cried the lawyer; "yu1
ought to have been something bette
than parson."
You mean I ought to have beel
something that pays better. Now, lool
here, Brockbank, you must start off t
Milldale by the first train, and get tn
coroner to order a post-mortem. n
post-mortem necessary, forsooth, sal
that fool of local surgeon, because tn
immediate cause of death was obvious
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