The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-11-05
CHAPTER TX.
"\Nhat Was Your Father?"

strenatn-on and on The world
surged by her, the gay. restless, ran
tastic world.
Have you ever reflected what IL
must be to emerge from ones own
narrow. familiar sphere into the cal
cium glare Of a great city? me
strange faces-oh, the strange races!
Some grave, some glad, some masks
inscrutable- masks which tell you
nothing of the heart below-whether
It pulsates to The iubilant music OF
TIE Deum, or throbs to the funeral wall
of a de grounds.
The hours crept by, and in phnu'
dun sort Of way, Laurie Isle noticed
the things around her.
Four. five, and the day shiyered ana
grew chilly, aad drew closer around
her draperies of dusk.
And that slender. black-clad figure
walked slowly more slowly-througn
the deepening twilight. And at last IT
naused ltogether-paused and leaned
heavily against an iron railing. and
looked up and down the quiet street
with bewildeIed, childish eyes.
Oh, she was tired-so tired!
In a house directly opposite her the
curtains wece still undrawn, and sne
could Gee into the room beyond.
Such a p,@sant room il was
bright. and cosy. and homelike-with
,ts cheerful blazing fire, and its sweet,
tndafinable suggestion of security and
rest.
A girl was,iitting lightly around the
room. She afanged little table and
placed Thereof shaded lamp and
some psazine, Then she drew up
hesisyft big Trlxish arm chair. The
A. opened anden old gentleman
4Ame slowly in. me sprang forward
10 meet and welcome him.
u TO the lone watcler on the pave
ment without came 4 strange. sick
ening faintness. To hertz was a mem
Nory and a mockery--a beautiful, taunt-
eg. miserable mockery!
NE put up her. hand and in faint
awa,, brushed the hot, slow tears
over ~ I'D then the girl beyond came
ara window-still chattering
81, and looking backward
as she cameA>nd drew the crimson
curtains close. ~ W - 0N
SO so--Laarie Lisie'srew a long. shud
s,,.a orea.n-that Was shut out---tha,
The dawn OF night broke over the
city, and "the lights flashed out in the
silent street" In the CLEAN of the
lamp at the corner men and women
hurried by to happy firesides.
All, no wonder eyes light and hearts
throb and feet hasten at this evening
hour, at the thought Of gentle, wait
ing face, of children's boisterous, low
ing welcome, of all that sweet and
simple sanctity which forms the crown
of home.
She reused herself with low moan.
Where would she go? Where could
she go? God guide her--where?
Again she resumed her weary walk.
And now the pavements were almost
deserted. but within lighted rooms
she caught sight of snowy, sparkling
tables and cheerful family groups.
Hark! What was that? A child's
cTy-shrill, terrified, half-defant.
She ran as fleetly as her tired limbs
would hear her In the direction
whence the sound came.
Under the light of street lamp at
The next corner stood little boy,
clasping tightly in his arms shaggy
dog. And surrounding him complete
iy. bowling and belligerent as SO many
email Indians. were half dozen lads
OF the genus gamin.
"Giye him to us!" one was saying,
ferociously-"give him to usl He's
mot your dorg. anyway. he amt! Give
him to us!"
..,Fhat's big. big stcry!' the vail
ant little master Of the dog cried, In
dignantly. though his eyes were filed
with tears. You stolded him and
followed you And you won't get Fun
my, you WON'T"
! won't we?" shouted one Of the
,0lliiuutiNc OCluouS bcStuS ulIls tdSluS
his grimy fist for blow.
"Stopi" Laurie Lisle cried, severe
~. "You boys ought to be ashamed
of yourselves to strike little chap
like that You are older and bigger
than he. Who owns the dog?"
For the moment she quite forgot her
own sad isolation. For all her girlish-
ness, very warm. womanly heart
beat under her quiet gown.
The small culprits fell back and
s5oiseai from other ~ the ia1y bs-
fore them In shamefaced dismay.
Hes my dog." the boy who still
held it asserted, with positive pro-
,prietorship. He's my dog--Funny Is.
Oh, here's papa! here's papai"
He raced 10 meet gentleman who
was coming rapidly up the street.
"Oh, papa! they stoldcd Funny, an
! went after him. an got him; an they
was goin' to hit me an, this lady
wouldn't let them, an"
He paused. out OF breath. His
father lifted him to his arms, dog and
al. and turning to Laurie, rased his
hat.
He was a short, rather stout man,
Inxtclv a.,