The New Dominion

TEMPERANCE COLUMN.
Edited by Redemption Lodge I. O. G. T.
The Expressman's Foe.
A TEMPERANCE STORY.
(Continued from last week.)

"It's all snow! I can't see pa or papa's horses," said the younger pressing her bright, rosy face against the frosty pane.

"I can, Lila! Here's a bit of a place where I can look out. And I can just see a great big thing going past-yes, it's papa's wagon."

"Lift me up, Edna! Let me see papa!" urged little Lila who was her father's favorite.

"O you can't see papa" answered Edna. "He's all covered up in the wagon where it is warm. We'll get his chair and his slippers ready, and mamma'll get his supper.'"

Lila ran for the slippers. and Edna wheeled the easy chair to the warmest corner. After Lila had placed the slippers to her satisfaction she followed Edna to the dining room.

"Now everything is ready, and we will go into the sitting room and wait till papa comes," said Mrs. Wallace, a delicate little woman her own cheeks flushed with gladness like the little daughters' happy faces.

Edna, with her fair complexion and pale brown hair, closely resembled her mother; but Lila Wallace with hair and eyes and mouth clustering and sparkling and dimpling, and all apparently blending in the tinkling. musical little laughs so frequently issuing from the rosy mouth seemed like some merry sprite sent, as an embodied sunbeam, to light up life's pathway for the quiet mother and equally quiet elder sister. She resembled her father somewhat in appearance, although quite different in character.

The father's black hair had caught a golden glint, ere it clustered about his baby's soft round face; eyes, that were usually grave in the main, rippled o'er with fun and laughter whenever they looked out from under the long brown lashes; and the man's small set firm mouth had developed into the sweetest rose bud imaginable in the child. She flitted restlessly about while mother and sister sat down to wait.

"Isn't papa most here by this time? she asked, turning the slippers for the fourth time.

It's so very cold and stormy may be they can't unload so quickly," answered the mother glancing anxiously at the clock. "Go and see if the coffee is boiling, Edna." she added pleasantly. "Papa will want it hot to night."

Soon a stamping was heard at the door, and Lila cried out joyfully:

"Papa's come! papa's come!'

Edna opened the door. She saw not papa, but Mr. Morse. "Your father here?" he asked.

"No: I thought papa was over to your shop. He went by. He hasn't come back yet.'"

"The horses are standing there. I thought he must have stopped a minute here and let them come on alone. Sure he isn't here? Where's your mother?"

Here Mrs. Wallace appeared.

"Wasn't Ferd with the team? asked she her small delicate face paling.

"I haven't seen him. Very likely he stopped at the store for some thing. I'll go and see. It's only a step. Don't worry," he said quite carelessly; yet Mrs. Wallace imagined there was plenty of worry in his manner.

Edna was thoughtful and womanly beyond her years, and her face instantly reflected every shade of her mother's; but Lila spoke brightly:

"I know where my papa is-he's stopping at the store to buy something nice for me. And I'll kiss him ever and ever so many times; for I love my papa I do."

Thus the joyous child chattered on after Mr. Morse left, regardless of the two pale faces. Edna, ever careful of her mother, hovered about her, doing little things for her comfort, yet saying nothing. Lila was constantly asking, "when will papa come mamma? I'm sleepy, and I want to kiss my papa!"

"Don't!" said Edna at last seeing that every question sent the flickering color back from the dear face she was watching. "Lay your head in my lap, and you can sleep while mamma and I wait for papa-yes so."

Soon the prattle ceased-the bright eyes closed-the waiting kisses were shut in between the sweet lips-the merry one slept;but the two anxious faces grew more worried as the minutes passed into hours and still no familiar step was heard.

Clay Morse came home with the horses by and by. But he could tell them nothing of Mr. Wallace; he only knew that men were out searching for him.

Mrs. Wallace laid Lila upon the lounge-she had not the heart to undress and put her to bed-then she sat by the fire holding Edna's hand and waited-for what she dared not think.

Hour after hour passed, and still the storm raged. Every fresh blast seemed to congeal the blood in the veins of the delicate mother and child. They shiveringly drew nearer each other and the fire and waited still.

Near midnight voices and steps were heard approaching; then the loud barking of Mr. Morse's Newfoundland dog. This roused Lila and she sat up rubbing her eyes.

The door opened; there was the sound of hushed, confused voices— of heavy, unsteady steps as though men were bearing some heavy burden; yet Mrs. Wallace still sat holding Edna's hand incapable of speech or action.

Presently Mr. Rockwood entered the sitting room and came to her side. The white faces and frightened eyes made him hesitate; but the men were waiting, and the truth dreadful though it was, must be made known. He spoke at last huskily:

"I'm very sorry for you, Mrs. Wallace." Then holding Lila's hand- she had slipped to the floor and came over to him-he added gently.

"They want to lay him on the lounge.

(Concluded next week.)