The Bemidji pioneer., 1901-02-14

and was reading 1t aloud to Barbara.
sob, 1t is from Russia. Fancy Miss
Brand being in Russia, Barbara. and
she says:
MY Very Dear Little Dorothy: So
you are married! ! can hardly be-
lieve it--indeed, since having your let
s ter this morning I have been saying
to myself over and over again, "Doro-
thy Strobe is married little Dorothy
has got married, and still do not in
the least realize it. So you are very
happy, Of course, and you are going to
have baby--that Is almost an "of
course. also. And your husband has
got good appointment in India which
he does not dare refuse. That looks
like bread-and-cheese and kisses, my
dear little cousin. However. not that
money makes any real difference to
ones happiness, and so long as you
love him and he loves you, nothing else
matters, money least of all. But why.
my dear, have you waited so long be-
fore you told me Of your new ties? J.
have wondered so often where you
were and what had become of you. and
about four months ago wrote to the
old house and had your letters return
ed by horrid young man, David
Stevenson, whom disliked always be-
yond measure. He informed me that
you had left Immediately after dear
aunties death, and that he did not
know your present address. ! felt q
little anxious about you, but eminent
" relieved to find that You were evil
IDENTIFY not going to marry that de-
testable young man. who is, ! have no
doubt, all that is good and estimable
and af1uent, but whom, as I said. ]
have never liked.
Well, my dear child, you must let
me be godmcther to the baby when II
comes that i may spend as much
money over its corals and bells as ]
should have done over a Wedding-gift
to you. AS for coming to you-my
darling child, of course shall come
straight back, and help Barbara to
make UP to you for the temporary loss
of your spouse. ] gather from your
letter that he is all that Is good and
kind and brave, to say nothing OF be-
ing handsome and loving and true
you lucky little girl!
& Expect me when you see me,
dear, which will be as soon asSI can
possibly get myself to London. II !
were on the other side of the frontier
could pretty nearly fix both day and
time. AS 1t is, can only say that ]
will lose no time In being with you.
and / will stick to you till see you
safe on board the p. and 0. steamer.
My love to Barbara-how she and
I will yarn together over the old place
and the old days!-and much love to
you. dear little woman.
From your always affectionate
4. !" ESTHER. i"
This letter in itself was enough to
put Dorothy into the widest and gay
est Of spirits, and Barbara was almost
as much delighted; for, truth to tell,
the old servant had looked forward
with no little dismay to the prospect
of supporting her loved young mistress
Through her hour Of loneliness and
trial, and was therefore greatly re-
llicved to find that the responsibilities
of the situation would fall upon the
strong and capable shoulders of Miss
Esther Brand instead Of lying upon her
own weaker ones.
TT is so good and sweet and dear Of
Esther Dorothy repeated, over and
over again. Just like her to throw
everything else aside on the chance
Of being able to do a good turn to
some one in need. Now don't feel
half so nervous as I did"
Nor IT, echoed Barbara, speaking
OUT of her very heart; then she added
with a significant smile, Miss Esther
never could abide David Stevenson
neither could l."
Dorothy could not help laughing.
..Ah. think you were all Just little
hard on David. didn't want to be
Mrs David, it is true. But apart from
thatS;I don't see that there was so muck
amiss with him"
Ito be continued.)