The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-12-21
which ct Dick wondering what

WSAeNAVS1
could mean.
Well, after this Il very soon became
an established custom that Dick should
find his way over to Graveleigh a.
least twice in every week, and some
times Miss Dimsdale asked him to
stay to share their dinner, for she
was woman Of very, hospitable ma
ture, though she was quiet and some
what stiff in manner, and a little old
fashioned in her ideas. And although
David Stevenson had all her wishes on
his side, she really grew to like Dick
the better Of the two, for Dick was
gentle and kind in his manner to
each and all alike, content to let his
wcoing do itself-if the truth between
you and me be told, happy in the
present, and a little inclined to leave
the future to be as long the future az
might be because OF the terrible old
uncle in the background. Then, too.
there was always present in his mind
the knowledge that, sooner or later, he
would have to make a clean breast OF
his identity to Miss Dimsdale and to
Dorothy. and to cast himself upon
their mercy as regards the deception
which had really been no fault of his.
and to- persuade them to consent to
secret marriage. And whenever poor
Dick reached this point in his reflea-
tions, he invariably gave groan ct
utter despair, for he had dreadful
foreboding that never, never would
Dorothys aunt give even the most re-
luctant consent to anything Of the
kind.
So the sweet autumn days skipped
over-September died and October was
born, lived its allotted time, and in turn
passed away, and wintry November
came in. The last tinted leaves fell
from the trees of the great oaks and
horse chestnuts, and the tall poplars
which shrouded the hall were now but
gaunt and shivering skeletons, only a
memory of their old luxuriance and
glory. But to Dorothy Strobe the bare
and leafless trees were more beautiful
gowns Of green or in all the many
hued loneliness of their autumn frocks,
for to Dorothy all the world was light
ed and beautified by the warmth and
fire of radiant love-better to her the
leat1ess branches Of November with
love than the fairest blooms of spring.
time into which love had not yet come
During this autumn she had seen
but little of her old admirer, David
Stevenson. He had gone to the Hall
once or twice after he knew that "the
man from Colchester" had become a
frequent visitor there-gone with a
savage assertion of his rights as an
old friend and a lifelong intimate Of
the house. But when he found that
Miss Dimsdale had, as he put it, gone
over to the enemy" he gave up even
that much intercourse, and gave all
his energies to his farming, content,
as he told himself, to bide his time.
At last about the middle of Novem-
Der when half the officers of the regi-
ment were on leave, and soldering
and Colchester alike were as fiat and
dull as ditch water, Dick Aylmer got
into his dog-cart and turned the
horses head toward the big gates.
"Hullo, Dick!" called out a brother
officer to him, where are you going?"
ooh, drive" returned Dick prompt
ly.
ooh, drive" repeated the other,
noting the evasion instantly-trust
soldier for that. "Got any room for
fellow"
"Take you as far as the town il
you like" said Dick good-naturedly.
"No. never mind" answered the 9TH
tr. ell walk down with Shocks pres
emily"
Didn't want a lift, you know" he
explained to Shocks, who in polite So
ciety was known as Lord William
Veryl, "but did want to find out
where old Dick was going. But Dick
was ready for me, and as close as
wax"
eyes, know-tried it on myself
with him the other day." said Shocks
refectively. "Dick informed me he
was making a careful study of Mares
nests for the benefit of the British AS
ISOLATION"
(Te ia oo~%lN,.oIN