The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-04-18

| Dick, who knew that now, of all times,
! ever they had been, when she was left
alone in her hour of trial. Yet he had
not written, there was no answer to the
| telegram announcing the boys birth,
| there had come no word nor sign out
of the dark darkness of hope and fear,
doubt and despair, which was gradually
creeping over her.
| And after all, she told herself, il was
not TO be wondered at If Dick had got
| little tired of her-a stupid little
thing like her, as ignorant as a child.
What was there in her to keep such a
man as Dick faithful and true when
the width of half the world was
stretched between them? And then
her eyes fell upon the bangle, which
she always wore upon her left wrist,
with it's bright beacon of hope and
trust. Dicks last message to her-"Din-
ma Forget" No, nothing should make
her doubt him he was overworksd, i'll,
something had happened to keep him
from writing.
Don't worry about it, dear Esther"
she said bravely. "Dick would not leave
me without letter without some good
reason for it. Please don't doubt him;
you don't know how good and kind
and thoughtful he Is. you don't, indeed,
Esther"
mo, don't" said Esther, dryly;
then with an outburst of tenderness
very rare in one of her serene and COM
posed nature, she cried: ooh, don't
look at me in that reproachful way,
darling. / want to believe this Dick of
yours perfect do, dear. But when We
go on day after day, week after week,
and 1 see your anxious eyes, see your
face getting whittier and whiter-why,
can't help feeling angry at times, and
suspicious, and-anG as II should like
to kill somebody" she ended passion
ately.
Dorothy did not speak for a long
time. but sat tracing the words on her
bangle with very thin and fragile
looking finger.
II know what You must think" she
said at last. And know what Dicks
silence must seem to you; but prom
ised to trust him whatever happens, and
always will. He gave me this the
very last of ALL" she cried, holding out
her wrist-oh! so much too small for
the pretty bangle now-towards her
cousin, "and he gave it as a token be-
tween us; 'Dinna Forget l know it
will all be right by-and-by, Esther, I
know it will; but wait little longer,
before you condemn him, just little
longer"
The piteous appeal went straight to
Esther's heart. well, won't men,
tion him again, Dorothy, dear, not for
another month. We will talk about 9TH
er things. Are you going for drive to-
day? The carriage will be here at 3
o'clock"
"Just as you please, DEAR" Dorothy
answered listlessly.
II think you ought to go. 1t is good
for you, and good for the boy, too, and
of course you won't have a carriage
at least, not such carriage always"
NO." said Dorothy.
Esther was busy making a wonderful
bonnet for the wonderful boy, and she
pinned in several folds of lace and
tried several effects before she spoke
again. Isn't it odd" she remarked at
last, "that Lord Aylmer has left his
carriage and horses and servants in
town all this time, when he is away.
Perhaps he never takes them out of
town." suggested Dorothy.
Perhaps not. Anyway, it is very
pleasant for us as it is, Esther replied.
We'll shall go and get ready" and,