The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-07-18

When Is II to be, Auntie? Have you
thought well?" I 5 55ass
sS Now, Miss Tabitha resented the fact
that her niece had not betrayed more
agitation. She resented also the in
ference that her reply to the wooing
carpenter had been necessarily afirm-
alive. So she remained silent for a
little space as a rebuke, then spoke
with asperity:
Il have not set any time. 1have not
told Mr.. Smith that would marry
him. Proposals are no such rarity
with me that should snap at any
offer. might have married any single
man in Grayborough IL I had chosen.
l did not choose. AS for my thinking
we'll, I have done nothing all my life
but think for you and for others. 1t
would seem odd at this time IL had
not learned also to think for myself.
l consider your assumption to be i'm
pertinence."
Lois rose, feeling genuinely sorry.
went to the other end of the table and
put her long round arms about her
aunt's neck.
Forgive me-" she whispered. Il
did not wish to hurt you. Tell me all
about 1t when you wish, Auntie."
Miss Tabitha was Modified. She
had asserted the dignity of her spins
terhood. There was a shadow Of
smile on her thin lips as she said:
Il am to give Mr.. Smith his answer
this afternoon. He will call for 1t. 1
daresay that shall tell him Yes He
needs me, think. He is a widower,
you know, and since his wife's death
five years ago his home has been at
skies and sevens. His only child, Sa
manthy, now fourteen years old, needs
a mother. guiding hand and spirit
ual counsel. You will not be sorry,
Lois?"
To the girl. standing with bent head
listening, vista of freedom opened, OF
escape from an existence that was
grinding her soul to bits. She had
longed for liberty ceaselessly and pas
sionately, but had never dreamed that
1t would come so soon, or in such fash
ION. Even then she could not stoop to
hypocrisy. so she answered:
Il am not sorry, Auntie; am glad.
You will not need me in your new life,
which hope will be happy. The world
is calling me and l will go. There is
work somewhere for me to do, a life
for me to lead. seem to feel that
shall do good to some one, who is wait
Ing for me. Grayborough belongs to
my past and I am not interested in it.
My future beckons me- T will never
forget you, but when 1 go do not
think that shall come back again. l
shall not stay to the wedding, but you
must write me of it and Of your new
life. l hope-I do hope that you will
find contentment" She stopped and
kissed her and left the room.
That afternoon Mr.. Absalom Elipha-
let Smith, carpenter and widower,
called and remained for a half-hour
alone with his charmer in the prim lit
tie parlor that looked out over the
hollyhocks and r-o'-clocks to the
street. He went away with the answer
he sought. If he did not look radiant
ly happy it was possibly because he
was old and had travelled a path not
new to him. In copy of the Boston
Globe, five days later Lois English saw
this advertisement:
"Wanted-A governess for three
children, all under twelve years. Must
teach music and two languages other
than English. Liberal COMPENSATION
and a pleasant home to properly quail
fed person. Full references required
and given. Address,
Charles Roy Glynn,
BALCONIES Ranch, Kinney County
Texas"
She answered this advertisement i'm
mediately. By the middle of Novem-
ber after fearful farewells from her
pupils and chilly embrace from her
aunt, she was on her way to the south
west. Her last view of Grayborough
showed gray waves, dashed by a bitter
wind, up-tossed to gray sky. .
(To be continued.)