The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-03-01

the wide world whom Dprfot NV xUsit
rather not have leen inst thsn, thnl
person was David stevenson. i thini
she looked all the dismay which III
felt, and that she felt all and perhaps
more than the dismay which she look.
ed. u 5s I,
"Oh! is that your" she gasped.
David let his hands. with their glad
welcome, drop Instantly.
You're not very glad to see me, Do
rothy," he said. in quiet, but bitter re.
proach. a. Il
THAT is, you startled me,' she re.
piled, in a wild endeavor to put of an!
questions he might think proper to
ask her.
Evidently" he said, dryly, "and you
want to get rid Of me, eh?'
ooh, not at ALL" biting her lip and
wishing that she could sink into the
ground, or dissolve into thin air, any.
where out Of the way of his hard and
steely-blue eyes, which seemed to lool
her through, and to know in a moment
all the secrets of her life.
mo? All, that is better. Then
since you don't want to get rid Of me-
all in hurry, perhaps you will let me
walk a little way with you. May I?''
ooh, yes, certainly" said Dorothy
giving herself up for lost at once.
'Do you live near here?" he asked
At that moment there was slight
block on the pavement of the always
busy street, and just as David spoke
Dorothy perceived that the sweet.
faced lady who lived on the floor above
her was also blocked, and stood for q
moment or so face to face with her
Undoubtedly she had heard David's
question just as Dorothy had done
and undoubtedly Dorothy had never
seen her eyes so cold or her lips sc
austerely shut before. In her distress
and annoyance at being thus appar-
emily caught, Dorothy blushed vivid
guilty crimscn-a fact upon which the
sweet-faced lady put the usual con.
struction to which all highly moral per-
sons seem to jump at once in mo.
ment of doubt-that is, the very worst
possible one.
Can you give me no news from
home, them" Dorothy asked, in a des.
perate voice, raised far above her usu
al tones.
David looked down at her in sur.
prise-an involuntary action which
was not lost upon the lady, who wa:
still unable to pass on.
"News?" he repeated "Why, O.
course can. I have so much news tt
tell you that hardly know where tt
begin. Let me see-Lady Jane il
back, of course"
Dorothy turned her head in time tt
see that the lady had passed on and
was out Of ear shot before David had
begun his news.
There, just like Davids stupidity, tt
be too late. Why, she wondered, ir.
ritably, could he not have happened tt
say something which would have lei
that woman upstairs know that they
had known each other all their lives:
buC AO, lawn 111A CAW oyO
whenever and wherever she was con
cerned, and she supposed that he al
ways would. Her interest in the hom.
news was gone, lost in the depths O.
her annoyance, but she listened pa
tiently till he had exhausted that topic
till she had heard who was married
and who was dead, of fire in such {;
ones ricl-yard, and of a barn belong
ing to another which had been STRUCK
by lightning.
Then he told her how he had i'm
proved the Hall-her perfect old home
which in her mind needed improve
ment Of no kind-how he had put {
smart, capable gardener in to bring
the place into real good condition
"And old Isaac?" said Dorothy fierce
ly.
ooh, he is still about shouldn't
turn any old servant of yours off, yol
know. There are plenty Of odd JOBS
for him about the place."
what sort of odd jobs?" demanded
Dorothy.
(To be Continued.)