The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-08-31


! ! ! J !: !
.M(e It was Johns brave
"WS ~ good fortune to Of
NS2kSS1& fer his arm to Miss
@kzANSFeL Mackenzie, and es-
HkS29Ho cort her home. The
/@S night was chill and
V&aEk0Mh starry; all the way
NSf eastward the trees
NZF of the different gar
r@SWs dens rustled and
ESQ looked black. Up the
Hbone gully Of Leith Walk, when they
came to cross it, the breeze made a
t1lsh and set the flames of the street
lamps quivering; and when at last they
had mounted to the Royal Terrace,
where Captain Mackenzie lived, great
Salt freshness came in their faces from
the sea. These phases of the walk
remained written on Johns memory,
each emphasized by the touch of that
light hand on his arm; and behind all
these aspects of the nocturnal city he
saw, in his minds eye, a picture of
}he lighted drawing room at home
where he had sat talking with Flora;
and his father, from the other end,
had looked on with a kind and 'front.'
cal smile. John had read the signifi-
canoe Of that smile, which might have
escaped a stranger. Mr.. Nicholson had
remarked his sons ENHANCEMENT with
satisfaction, tinged with humor; and
his smile, If it was thought con-
temptuous, had implied consent.
At the captains door the girl held
out her hand, with a certain emphasis:
1nd John took it and kept it little
longer, and said, Goodnight, Flora,
dear" and was instantly thrown into
much fear by his presumption. But
sAe only laughed, ran up the steps and
rang the bell; and while she was watt
ing for the door to open kept close in
'eha porch, and talked to him from that
point as out of a fortifcation. She had
= knitted shawl over her head; her blue
Highland eyes took the light from the
nedghboring street lamp and sparkled;
ond when the door opened and closed
upon her John felt cruelty alone.
He proceeded slowly back along the
terrace in a tender glow; and when
he came to Greenside Church he halt
ed In doubtful mind. Over the crown
tof the Gallon Hill, to his left, lay the
Way to Collette' where Alan would soon
DO looking for his arrival, and where
ne would now have no more consented
20 go than he would have willfully wal
ssswed in bog; the touch of the girls
hand on his sleeve, and the kindly
light in his fathers eyes, both loudly
tarbidding. But right before him was
the way home, which pointed only to
bed. place Of little ease for one whose
fancy was strung to the lyrical pitch,
and whose not very ardent heart was
--3ust then unanimously moved. The hill
'shop, the cool air Of the night, the COM
'pany Of the great monuments, the sight
Of the city under his feet, with its hills
and valleys and crossing files of lamps,
drew him by all he had Of the poetic,
and he turned that way; and by that
quite innocent DETECTION ripened the
crop of his venial errors for the sickle
of destiny.
On a seat on the hill above Green
4ade he sat for perhaps half an hour,
looking down upon the lamps of Edin-
burg, and up at the lamps of heaven.
Wonderful were the resolves he
formed! beautiful and kindly We're the
vistas of future life that sped before
him. He uttered to himself the name
OF Flora in so many touching and dra-
matie keys that he became at length
fairiy melted with tenderness, and
could have sung aloud. At that juno
ture certain creasing in his great
coat caught his ear. He put his hand
into his pocket, pulled forth the en-
we9ope that held the money, and sat
Htupefied. The Cation Hill, about this
period, had an ill-name of nights; and
70 be sitting there with four hundred
pounds that did not belong to him was
hardly wise. He looked up. There
~as man in very bad hat little
On one side of him, apparently looking
at the scenery; from little on the
other second night-walker was draw
ing very quietly near. Up jumped
John. The envelope fell from his
hands; he stopped to get it, and at the
came moment both men ran in and
closed with him.
A little after he got to his feet very
core and shaken, the poorer by purse
which contained exactly one penny
postage stamp, by cambria handker-
chief, and by the all-important enyel.
o0e.
Here was a young man on whom, al
the highest point of loverly exalta.
ton, there had fallen blow too sharI
20 be supported alone; and not many hur
.dred yards away his greatest friend was
sitting at supper-ay, and even expect.
ing him. Was it not in the nature Of
man that he should run there? HI
went in quest of sympathy-in quest o.
chat droll article that we all suppose
ourselves to want when in strait
end have agreed to call advice; and HI
went, besides, with vague but rather
splendid expectations Of relief. Ala1
was rich, or would be SO whe1
- came Of age. BY stroke
Se the pen he might remedy thi'
misfortune, and avert that dreaded In
ferview with Mr.. Nicholson, from