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Show 1 Wilden. 1 OIIAPTKIl XII. (Continued.) Shell's llfo has been bo very uneventful un-eventful during tho nhsenco that It does not tako long to recount tho few small Incidents which have broken Its monotony. "It was so stupid of you to como," remarks Huby, during a brief, pauso In tho dlaloguo going on between Mrs. Wilden nnd Shell. "I don't supposo wo shall any ot ua bo stopping here moro than a few days longer." Mrs. Wilden looks surprised. "How sot I have no Intention of going homo Just yet, Huby," sho says a Ilttlo tartly. "Tho cottage Is taken for two months, nnd slnco tho rent must bo paid, wo may as well make tho best of our bargain." "Thoro Is no beat about It," grumbles grum-bles Violet. "No, Indeed It Is a downright annro nnd delusion," ngrccs ltuby. "Slnco even tho Chnmploy brothers couldn't stand It thoro can bo no wonder If wo run away." "1 don't think they grew tired of the moor," says Shell honestly. "If not, why did thoy leavo It?" demands de-mands her sister defiantly. "Cnn't say," rcsponda Sholl; then, after n pause, she continues "I supposo sup-poso you know that they aro going abroad In a few days." "Going abroadl" ropeats Ruby, In a tone of positive consternation. "No, I had no Idea ot If, I understood that they wcro merely going back to Champlcy House." "Thoy aro starting for Switzerland In two or thrco days," says Shtll qulot-ly; qulot-ly; "nnd I rather fancy thoy won't bo back till autumn." "In thnt caso we may n well stop whero wo are," observes Huby, without her UBUsal caution. "My dear Uuby, their movements cannot In nny way affect ours," says Mrs. Wilden, looking puzzled nnd a trifle shocked. "No, of courso not," stammers Huby, Hu-by, with a momentary flush; "only I promised Itobert Champlcy In a way to look after tho chlldrcnl nnd, slnco ho Is going nbroad, I should not llko to leavo them alono on tho moor. That nurso Is a very llllterato person I doubt If Bhe can wrlto nnd of courso ho will wnnt to hear how they are getting on." "Ahcml" ejaculates Violet suggestively, suggest-ively, and then Indulges In an htnuscd laugh. Shell does not laugh, but turns with Impatient step from tho room. CHAPTER XIII. "Whoro are you going. Shell?" aak ltuby, glancing up from an olaborato band of crowd-work, destined to trim n morning-gown. "I nm going over to Mcndowcroft to superintend Bob's donkey-ride. I promised prom-ised him yestorday I would come." "What folly I You know ho Is novcr allowed a donkoy-rldo unless he has been particularly good; nnd whon I nsk Piper It ho has been good enough to havo one, sho Invariably answers Shell gives one of thoso low rippling; laughs ot hers, which has In It n mocking mock-ing ring. "Plpor docs not enro for running after donkeys doubtless sho considers It Infra dig. As sho knows that I always al-ways do tho running business and leave her freo, I Invariably hear that tho children aro deserving ot a rldo." "Well, It's a boro any wny," grum-bios grum-bios ltuby. "I wanted you to cut out my collar and cuffs, as I feel Incltnod lor a good day's work." "That won't take flvo minutes," laughs Sholl, Btrlpplng off her wanh-lentucr wanh-lentucr gloves and good tomperedly sotting to tho task. When, some twenty minutes later, Bhe arrives at Mendowcrou Farm, sho finds tho chtldron established In a hay-field hay-field near tho house, and Piper no- wlinrn visible. "Where Is Piper?" asks Sholl, sink Ing down in tho fragrant hay. "Ilusy," answers, Hob, lacoulcilly. "Havo you been good children good enough for a donkcy-rlde?" pursues Sholl, smiling. "Don't know," responds Hob, with placid lndltToronco "s'poso not. Piper boxed my oars this morning." "Well, never mind," laughs Shell "since Piper Isn't horo we can't ok her- you shall hnvo your donkcy-rlde today, and then you'll bo a good boy tomorrow." "Don't want a donkcy-rlde," responds re-sponds Hob stolidly; "tell us a atory Instoad." "Not waut a donkey-rldo? Why, what sort ot a boy do you call yourself?" your-self?" demands Shell, turning tho child round to laugh him out of what sho imagines to be a fit ot tho sulks; then sho becomes awaro that Ilob'a generally rosy face Is pale and languid looking that his bright merry oyes are dim nnd misty "Do you feel 111?" asks Shell, thinking think-ing that tho child must have been allowed al-lowed to eat something unwholesome, "No-no," falters Hob, with all a boy's reluctance to give In to physical Buttering; But-tering; "only my head aches rather." With a strango thrill nt her heart Shell turns to Meg. Tho Uttlo girl is sound asle-tp on a soft bed ot hay, her attitude betokening thorough lassitude one fat little arm shields her eyes from tho light. Jlemovlng It gently, Sholl notes that poor Meg Is wan as a white may-blossom oven the slight movement sends a convulsive shiver through her Ilttlo frame. Shell la not ono to waste time over speculations. Stooping down, sho raises rais-es the sleeping child In her arms, and, telling Dob to follow, proceeds to the farm. At the door she Is met by tho fanner's wife, a kind, motherly creature, crea-ture, who takes In at a glance Shell's sign to be silent. Mounting to tho children's room, which Is deserted, she undresses Meg and lays her In her Ilttlo cot. A few minutes' persuasion and the promise of n fairy tnlo soon Induco Dob to follow fol-low his sister's example Hut Shell has no need to cudgel her brains for tho promised legend. No sooner does Hob's head touch the pillow than ho, too, sinks Into a troubled sleep. Descending to the big flagged kitchen, kitch-en, Shell holds a hurried consultation with the farmer's wife, tho result ot which Is thnt a boy Is despatched for tho nearest doctor. Whilst sho Is waiting his arrival, riper ri-per turns up explaining that sho has only Just been down to tho village tor a few stnmps; sho looks much taken aback when sho hears of tho children's Illness nnd finds that sho cannot pooh-pooh pooh-pooh It. After two hours' waiting tho doctor comes. Ho Is an elderly man, genial, rollnblo and fatherly. Sholl and tho mistress ot tho houso accompany him to tho sick-room. When tho three roturn to tho big kitchen there Is a scared look on two at least of tho faces. "All connection with that part of tho houso must be cut off, Mrs. Pom-frot, Pom-frot, and a sheet with Condy's fluid hung at tho end ot tho passage. I will telegraph at once to Mr. Champley, If you can furnish mo with his nddrcss." Piper, looking scared and pale, produces pro-duces the address, nnd tho doctor taken his departure. "Tho doctor Is not cortaln," answers Shell In her low sweet volco "but he fears small-pox; It seems there aro Borne cases In tho neighborhood." "Small-pox!" shrieks Piper. "And am I expected to stop hero and loao my life through nursing children with smnlI-pox7 I won't do It no, not tor Queen Victoria herself!" "Shame upon you, woman!" cries Mrs. Pomfret wrathfully. "Do you mean to tell me you would havo tho heart to go away and leavo them poor Uttlo babies, with their father away goodness knows where, nnd their poor mother lying burled? I'd nurse 'em myself, nnd welcome, only" I'vo got my own children to think of, nnd I caift be running to and tro to tho sick-room with small-pox hanging nbout my clothes." "Let who will nurso 'em I won't," remarks Plpor doggedly. "Do you think I would allow you?" flashcA Shell, her bosom heaving with supprested bcom and nnger. "Do yoa Imagine tor ono moment that you are fit to bo trusted to nurso them?" "You aro right thoro, ralBS," agrees Mrs. Pomfret: "for sho neglects thorn poor dears, shameful. As for nursing, I wouldn't trust hor with a sick cat;" then, turning to tho nurse, sho continues con-tinues loftily "Tako your precious por-son por-son out of this qb soon na may be-though be-though who's to attend to them children, chil-dren, I don't know." "Don't trouble yourself about that, Mrs. Psmfret. I will take caro ot them till a proper nurse Ib found," says Sholl gently. "You mustn't miss It's catching-dreadful catching-dreadful catching," remonstrates Mrs. .Pomfret. "Only when people are afraid," laughs Sholl. "I don't feel In tho least norvous about Illness." '"Cnuso you haven't seen much," opines Mrs. Pomfret, with a sage head-shake. head-shake. Thcro Ib genorni consternation at Oorno Cottago when Sholl nrrlvcs with her news. "Small-pox I Aro you qulto sure Uo said small-pox?" cries Ruby, with a shudder. "How terrible Hut surely It can't ho small-pox tho children must hnvo been vaccinated." "That Is tho Btrange point," answers an-swers Shell. "There Is no mark whatever what-ever on Meg's arm a very faint ono on Hob's. The doctor enys he can't bo sure for nnother twenty-four hours. They ought to havo been In bed two days ago they do nothing but shiver nmt ohlvnr nnd uhlvnr "What Is to bo done?" asks Ruby blankly; and then, a bright Idea suggesting sug-gesting Itself "We must telegraph at once to London for an experienced nurse." "And who Is to nurse them till she arrlvcH?" "Piper, of courso." "Piper has flown by this time. I left her packing her box." "How disgraceful of her! However, Mrs. Pomtrot muBt get so mo ono to bco to them." "Robert Champloy told me that you had promised to see to thom during his absence." "How utterly absurd and unpractical you arc, Shell! Ot course I am vory sorry for tho darling children; but 1 1 can't possibly risk such a catastrophe as small-pox no one could expect It. Had It been anything else" grandiloquently grandilo-quently "anything less repulsive, I would havo gone to thom mysolf." "And thoy are to bo left entirely (o strangers, with no familiar faco bo-side bo-side thom?" queries Shell In her oven volco. "I don't see any other possible arrangement, ar-rangement, since you havo been foollah enough to lot Piper forsako her pOBt," answors Ruby, with a sigh. "Hut I see that some other arrangement arrange-ment Is imperative," says Shell docld-1 edly. "It would ho too cruel and cow- j ardly to loavo them to strangers, If you won't go and remain with them ttW tho nurse arrives I shall." (To bo Continued.) |