Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-10-05

| felt by those whose responsibility in
the matter was at stake.
Very different were the feelings of
Mrs. Brown, whose four husbands had
one by one died penniless. She
viewed every moment that she waited
J on Harry as bread taken from her
own mouth. Money he had none, and
| the scanty furniture of the cottage
would only suffice to defray his grand
fathers funeral expenses. Moreover,
she was now quite anxious to quit the
cottage before dark.
ITO bide through another night at
this solitary spot would just be my
DEATH" she said to Jim Blame, who,
| partly from curiosity and partly from
| genuine regret for his old friend
tragic end had walked up to the coil
tage. "Will you take Harry along
| home with YOU she added.
Cant" was the conclusive rejon-
der "My missis wouldn't keep him
| along with our children for an hour.
! He's best with you"
Me! as 'asnt scarcely room enough
myself to turn round in, my attic is
that small! And them as is short
Witted is always a good bit worse
when they find themselves in a
strange place"
His mother may turn up in day
or two. If you'll stay here along with
him, I'll send my Mary up with some
vittals. Seeing I've l1nowed his grand
father from boy, I'll do that to help
you along"
mo! l amt going to bide here
through another night-not ~
Well, then, you can get along as
best you cant" Having thus freed
himself from all responsibilities in
the matter, Jim turned and walked
away.
Gust a man all over! All for his
SELF" exclaimed Mrs. Brown, closing
the door and returning to the kitchen,
where large, bright fire shed cheer
full glow around. Its freezing hard"
she muttered to herself, "and the fuels
a running short. To-night'll see me
in my own snug room-there's no mis-
taking it,"
With the last word her eyes rested
on Harry. 1t was not kind glance,
and it was not attended by smile or
kiss. He was accustomed to both
and he missed them. Uttering frac-
tious cry, he looked away and cow
cred near the fire.
mind you don't fall in," calculated
Mrs. Brown, angrily.
Startled by the first words of anger
/; that had ever been said to him, he
glanced towards the speaker with a
despairing, terrified look, then walled
"Mumsy Mumsy!"
Indeed, l wish she'd come as much
as you do" was the rejoinder.
| Not another word did Harry ven
ture to utter. His aimlessly ever
moving fingers stole to his golden
curls and chung to them. Something
was greatly disturbing his unthinking
mind. He was feeling SO storm-tossed
and lonely. What had become of the
one being "Mumsy" whose tender,
caressing ways had been so comfort
ing to his dazed brain? Why had he
slept in his well-worn velvet suit all
night before? Why
But there were so many confusing
questions fitting across his bewild-
cred mind. Everything was so
strange-so altered. No one was kind
| to him now.
more footsteps!" exclaimed Mrs.
Brown, hurrying to the door Like
as not it's is mother come back"
The same hope had rushed into Har-
ry's mind, too. He struggled to his
feet and also hurried to the door, car
| rying with him his fayorite toy, a
broken horse.
But the new arrival was only a con-
| stable come to interrogate Mrs. Brown
| on the incidents of the previous night.
| Quickly both became engrossed in an
| animated conversation, and neither
paid the slightest heed to the poor
| child.
| Restless and irritable he was left
| to wander from room to room, muir
| muring under his breath, "Mumsy!
| Mumsy!" At last he assembled the
| steep, narrow staircase, climbed on the
bed, and peered amongst the blankets
and sheets. Each instant the bar
i raised look in his expressionless eyes
| became more distressingly troubled.
Now he was downstairs again. roam
ing; backwards and forwards from
| room to room. A demon OF restless
ness had taken possession OF him.
The door into the garden stood slight
" ajar, and he wandered out. Hat
less and coatless, he entered the high
road, his eyes eagerly glancing some
times in one direction and sometimes
in another, always hoping that they
would rest on his mothers kind face.
A woman passed in cart wearing q
black shawl similar to the one "Mur-
sy" always wore, and instantly q
/ CLEAN Of pleasure flashed across his
face. The wearer OF the shawl must
I OF q certainty possess the gentle hands
/ that had sst q tended Il him with low
| ing care.
| Alas! the cart drove BY without
| stopping.
| In some inexplicable manner his ir-
responsible limbs caused him 10 fol.
low that cart until it was lost to sight
Then he entered a path leading across
some fields. Again his face bright