The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-08-31

An afternoon Soon after Maude was
waiting for her mother ,in y. shop!
looking rather dreamily out on the
street, she saw Broughton pass along
the pavement; he seemed to her to be
thinner than when she last, saw him.
and he had asrather worn and worried
look. a little child Of five or six
years was lettering along as we'll, with
her head turned the opposite way from
which she was going, in the annoying
way that children will walk in the
street; she bumped into busting
commercial traveller, with the result
that she sat down rather hurriedly on
the pavement and began ito cry Bit
terly;; the commercial traveller took no
notice of her whatever, but Broughton
stopped over her: put her on her feet,
ands gave her a coin.
Mrs. Briefly just then rose from he,
chair in the shop. She was woman
with sharp manner.
What's the matter, Maude? You
lave got tears in your eyes!''
Have I, mother? l. didn't know
it,
And the worst Of 1t was, whereye.
she went she heard his praises sung.
One night she, with her father ana
mother, dined at the Murdochs. II
was q large party. AS they stood and
sat about previous to dinner being an
rounced, Mrs. Brierley glanced with
very justifiable pride at Maude; she,
IN pearl-gray, looked, in the subdued
light Of the standard lamps, charm
ing picture of graceful refinement
Maude was talking to commonplace
old lady about the ravages of inf1u-
erza. There were two young fellows
near her; suddenly she heard one OF
them make remark which seemed to
stun her and stop the beating of her
heart.
Poor Jim Broughton got bad
foil"
so hear. His horse threw him III
the park, believe"
YES; served him right. He had n.
business to ride such a fidgety mare.
Maude found herself praying that she
night not faint or make scene; for
this news hurt her terribly. Poor mani
Poor dear man!
| After he had got his answer that
wintry afternoon he had systematically
KEEP: away from her; she never met
him now at peoples houses, and she
never thought she would have missed
him SO. And now, perhaps, he was
going to die. The young man who
had spoken of Jim's fall took her in
to dinner.
us Mr.. Broughton badly hurt?" she
asked him, in voice she tried to keep
steady.
They don't know yet; he was hall
stunned when picked up; the doctor
said probably his collar bone was
broken and some ribs, but all that
won't matter, as long as his back isn't
injured"
DO you think his back may be in
jured?"
There was little catch in her voice
which for the life Of her she could not
help. The young fellow glanced quick.
ly at her. Was this girl in love with
Jim Broughton? He knew Jim was q
general favorite with man, woman and
child, but he could not conceive the
idea Of anybody being In love with
him.
II don't know, Miss Brierley; he
may have only wrenched some sinews
you can never tell; he has been rid
lug like a mailman the last few weeks,
l can't think what has come into
him.
Maude felt she must do something
or burst out crying, SO she talked hard
and fast about the Merediths' dance,
talked the subject to death. Discussed
floors, and how to make them slippery;
she complained that the music had
been too far away, and then said she
liked 1t far away; said Mrs Meredith
was the best hostess in the world, and
then found herself agreeing: heartily
with her neighbor when he said she
mover introduced a soul; in fact, her
conversation was SO odd, that the
young man told the other young man
that he thought she was rather
"dotty."
Next morning her father went in e
inquire for. him; he drove Maude in
with him. Maude never before or aft
erwards prayed with such fervor as
she did that morning. !
When her father came out and made
his report her heart was flooded with
Joy; as II in sympathy, the sun sud-
denly beamed out ibraYely, and bird
hard by began to- sing like q mad
thing. at least 50 Maude declares. Jim
Brnughton says he knows there
couldn't have been q bird within I
mile 81; II I'll II 4,
III Jim Bpughton was not going TO die.
His collar bone was broken, and he
was one big bruise. but q few weeks
Of laying, mp would, the doctor said, p,t.
everything right. q
u ~ that evenings post the poor III
low, Who haA been eating his bravo.
heart ont n silence FOR 20 many weeks3
past received q little note witch }put
him a 4 stats Is foolish delight.
:ss ~ soon - the doctor allows You. n