The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-04-26
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/ 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 overworkad, i'll,
something had happened to keep him
from writing.
Don't worry about 1t, 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"
| NO., 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 see your anxious eyes, see your
face getting Writer and whiter-why,
I can't help feeling angry at times, and
suspicious and-and as if I should like
to kill somebody" she ended passion
! ately.
| Dorothy did not speak for 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,a and
| I 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 token be-
tween us; 'Dinna Forget know it
will all be right by-and-by, Esther,
know it will: but wait little longer,
before you condemn him, just a little
longer"
The piteous appeal went straight to
Esthers heart. "Well, won't men
ton him again, Dorothy, dear, not for
another month. We will talk about 9TH
err things. Are you going for drive to-
day? The carriage will be here at 8
o'clock
"Just as you please, DEAR" Dorothy
answered listlessly.
II think you ought to go. It is good
for you, and good for the boy, too, and
| of course you, won't have carriage
at least, not such a carriage-always !"
"No," said Dorothy.
Esther was busy making 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.
| well, I shall go and get ready" and,
| gathering up her bonnet and materials,
she went out of the room, leaving Dor
| othy alone.
Almost Immediately Amelia Harris
came in, bringing bag filled with lit
tie vases of fresh flowers. "Ohw said
Dorothy, those are lovely. Is it a
pretty place, Amelia? I suppose you
! haze Otter been there"
Eyes, madam; have been there once
or twice. Amelia replied
1T is fine place, is it not?' Dorothy
asked.
ga very grand place, madam said
| Amelia, apparently giving all her at
tention to the flower vases.
"And Lady Aylmer-what is she
like?" Is she nice-handsome?"
my lady is very handsome, madam,
said Amelia, putting the last vase in
its place, and coming to put a fold o,
the window curtain straight. every
naughty and hard-like, but very hand.
some for all that"
"Ahv
Dorothy sat in silence for a minute
or two. Amelia Harris began to tidy