Show AM y i j 4 CT J hell E A J wilden W iden I 1 MIN I 1 it was waa a glorious spring day the old bak ak IWI hall tn in the spacious hall of the wilderness has just announced slowly to all those whom it may concern that noon to Is past again the house has haa sunk into stillness save eave tor for the tb distant echo of a fresh young voice singing nging el from very gladness of heart at broken intervals ming going down a long passage covered with frayed cocoanut coco anut matting and opening the thick oak door ono one comes upon what seems to be the only inhabited room in the house here again Is 1 space ample space and a lotty lofty cell ing though certainly as regards any modern luxuries in the way of furniture the apartment la Is bare enough A A faded coers coders the center ot of the floor eked out round the edge by oilcloth oil oll cloth which has long since failed to boast more than faint visions of pattern an old square piano ith a short abort yellow keyboard stands open at one end of the room roam littered with music some halt half dozen chairs of no particular pattern and most of them ot of an uncompromising nature mature are hidden bidden under snip pings of dark blue print and mysteriously ab shaped aped pieces of lining the shabby old sofa to Is also plied piled with various articles of 0 feminine attire tire both windows are thrown na as high as aa the sashes bashes will permit so BO admitting the genial sunshine and sweet floN flower ter scented air before one stands a very practical looking sewing machine before the other Is an old wicker table strewed with fashion plates platea and paper patterns bending over the solid table which stands in the middle of the room la Is shell wilden she la Is at present making a determined onslaught with a pair of formidable scissors on a section of the blue print before mentioned she has ha ceased singing for the moment her brows are slightly puckered whilst her keen grey green eyes follow anxiously the line to be taken by her hears there Is a decision and energy tn in every curve of her girlish rounded acure as she leans over the work the right sleeve of her dark dress la in pushed ap nearly to the elbow to allow of tree free play so BO disclosing a plump rounded pt 91 almost snowy whiteness on 04 W ia AT W it W M aal 61 by a w I 1 h 0 wavy merling red hair faintly marked eyebrows and a pair of eyes which are positively pale green in certain strong eghte though they deepen almont to urple under strong emotion or in the tha creamy gloaming of a summer evening ahe Is a little below the middle height a round childish faco face with yoa eyes that speak so often when liar her tongue la Is wisely silent that her sister ruby many a time takes umbrage at her bier expressive looks she has just finished her critical piece of work and Is again breaking into unconscious song when the door opens quickly admitting a tall graceful woman of some borne thirty summers whose light spring costume sets ott off her dark classical beauty to advantage ruby tor for she eho it Is differs from her bar sister as much in temperament and disposition as lif laform form and expression no stranger at first sight would have taken these two young women to be related yet such of their acquaintances w who ho were addicted to the pursuit of psychological inquiry atee ee fond of pointing painting out that behind the Iti itice cJ different manifestations of the pe U HB allty of each there was the tame same original force and insistence did you get it I 1 questions lona shell pausing at her m work ork and looking a 9 little blankly at her sisters empty hands bands I 1 get get what asks ruby clearing a space upon the sofa and sinking down upon it languidly aw why by the tape of coursel course I 1 haven t on an inc In clett left ani and how can I 1 get on with jhb th 0 klinl ki n without tapo tape cries shell with ring in her voice r me your mind never seems beems soar above dress making says R lightly shrugging her shoulders h he e tape all right fortuno fortunately telY e it wo got tt it then asks shell I 1 in affected by her sisters low opinion of her intellect got idill sneers ruby you surely aint imagine child that we are going to burdens ourselves with parcels on such a broiling day as this 1 I surely did not mot imagine that even you would make any poor errand boy tramp a whole mile to bring a few pieces of tape that would have fitted into your pocket it if you were ashamed of carrying them openly responds shell with spirit then there Is a period of silence during which shell looks quite stern and even haughty while ruby does doca not appear to be altogether as aa self satisfied as aa she would wish to be possibly be cauti it irritates her to see shell more at st ease than horsey saws stead lIX e threatens to nation aher glance from f there to ie L ing par in 1 B 12 w Z WIM such 4 nul nuisance sancel I 1 and why should one do errand boy s work they are paid for it shell makes no answer but bending over the table begins toila to tit a tissue paper pattern on her stuff making R scornful and expressive grimace of cOn contempt at her sisters affectation 1 I 1 know ou dote on carrying parcels but then you do so many things purposely to annoy that it Is no use attempting to stop you continued ruby sighing gently shell still keeps silent only smiling knowingly at her pattern as she twists it from side to side you were very wise not to go down into thi the town this morning ruby goes on after a short pause not that there was much sense in the excuse that you time tor for I 1 see aea you have been wasting masting it in the grounds pointing with her sunshade aun shada to a largo large NEWS nse full of lilac iliac which stands in the center of the chimney piece it Is BO 60 absurd to put flowers in this horrid old room shell turns her head sharply and smiles at the mauve and white while plumes behind her 1 I just resist them iho says softly 1 I took a rush round tho the grounds before setting to work and I 1 felt I 1 must bring a bit of sweetness back with me 11 ruby to Is not listening to the explanation her eyes are arc fsr g absently through one on of the 1 windows vel we heard beard some ne feln in the town she observes with a del erate er suddenness did you 7 returns b by 11 carelessly as she continues to adjust her pins pine yes robert Clinin ply Is expected home next 1 week eek ok Is he says bays shell shelf patre pairing ing suddenly in her work and opening her green eyes to their fullest extent then she continues musingly poor fellow fell owl I 1 your pity seems rather ridiculous observes ruby impatiently A man with over two thousand a year to la not to be pitied 11 not even when he has 9 1 person who could make th ehlt W 01 sand a year worth having havin r shell with a curl of her I 1 lj absurd I 1 lie must hay h his wife a death by this time I 1 says y p ing her ler bunsha de restlessly restle salk 00 et besides ho he has his bis tp k I 1 tile tie thing sl muses shell a am art rt sigh why poor of course he wl will 11 marry again and they vill it III be well looked after will they says bays shell dubiously 1 I am sure I 1 hope so besides it remains to be proved that robert champ loy icy will marry again I 1 think it very doubtful masolf A As in if you a child of nineteen could possibly form an opinion I 1 exclaims ruby why you were a perfect baby when bla wife died I 1 wonder that you can even remember her let me see I 1 must have been sixteen remarks shell with provoking accuracy because I 1 know it happened four years since and I 1 shall bo be twenty the day after to morrow of course you would remember him bina 1 I dian didn t exactly mean that owns owna ruby rub only at that ago age you could not possibly understand much of his char abar act altnow now now poor clata clara used to say tha him so eo thorough lyk ly k all itil as she did you H I 1 were CIO celoso so friends ys thought thoi ight mrs champley Champ lcy barnets Kar barnets nets great friend observes mill with lust just a shade of unbelief in her tone at one time admits ruby in son biome 10 contusion confusion only after bainet married and went to india I 1 took her place no one olle person can take others ano an therB place says shell decidedly I 1 I 1 know garnet corresponded with mrs champley up to the time of her death often beard mam lamny 1 I am very gla home pursues last allusion of with mrs cham felt it a weight i havo have not been a al claras wish anda and di dien en 1 I shell has haa now stands stai such euch a quizzical says bays with an ir in well have bave extraordinary were going to C well it ceil say the least 1 l suming burning her vir via were wera going 4 Cli Charn ampleys pleys clil ch ine that he Is p after them hemf blasi As AB it if a mar man anything about drent answers I 1 of course lie be cal caa poor mother thal that to look after them no conventional f ah but she Is going botn abroad tor lot iff ar health aind nd it to Is solely because its h must now take charge ot tho children himself that he ta is coming homey rejoins ruby with a triumphant slow in hor her fine brown eyes eyel well I 1 suppose IC it la Is easy enough to get competent nurses when OV one has plenty ot of money says flays shell and then dismissing the subject wita an impatient shrug pt her shoulders dern an blie asks holding up a long narrow piece ot of tissue paper will you have your back cut in four our parts or bit rubyt ruby mind soon eoon descends sends de to the practical advancing to the table the she at once enters into the most minute instructions tor for the cutting out ot of her dress 1 I think this pale sateen such euch a sweet shade she ehe saya pays holding up a bit ot of the material admiringly 1 I have halt a mind to get a pale pink tw too it so BO please look sharp remarks shell in a tone ot of anything but keen delight 1 I like to get all the summer dresses over in one batch and not keep on at it for or months but my dear shell ex postulates ruby 1 I thought you liked cutting out ont and fitting I 1 am sure cure you always tell mamma so BO besides you are so 10 clever at it 00 ob I 1 dont mindl mind I 1 admits shell rather crossly cro eBly ot of course one of 0 us ua must play at being fond of it since we cant afford a mald maid only it does rather annoy me for any one to be so BO insane as really to imagine that I 1 prefer working on a morning like this to being out ot of doors and she ahe heaves a sharp lit tle tie sigh as she ghe glances out a at t the war dav ing tender green boughs ot of the newly budded trees why that heartrending heart rending agh sigh my sweet seashell sea bea shell asks aska a tall willowy girl with blue eyes who has ban just entered the room As she speaks the eh lays her arm caressingly caress ingli around the girls firm shoulders shou she to la quite overcome at the prospect of cutting me out a second W washing as h dress answers ruby in a tons ton which implies she an unfortunate temper oh ob dear and I 1 was just going to i ask her to fix my buff print because she la Is so BO clever at that sort ot of says violet in a tone ot of consternation all right VI dear 1 adore cutting out laughs shell bring your bull buff print by all means meana and any other material that you can lay your hands on in for a penny in for a pound it Is a pity that we are not all three the same flaire ln in that case came I 1 could cut cat out half a dozen at the same came time do do you seriously mean you would to do more than one any new flannel tennise 4 asks violet coax x a J frit ia answers shell aar shortly only it I 1 do all the cutt and fixing and trimming I 1 mi must 12 IJ gain that you and ruby help with t the machine work 0 yes yea dear ot of course only that bill pid old machine will never work for roe me responds ruby with a vicious look at that useful but inartistic piece of furniture ill 1111 malte make it work tor for roe me or ill know the reason chyl laughs VI seating boating herself before the machine and commencing to arrange her cottons now shell toss toes me over your ekert child 1 illow how can you be so BO energetic VI after our long walk says ruby on ing from the sofa with a slight blight yawn q 1 I have quite a headache with the ill heat ell and must reat till lunch or I 1 shall bt b fit at for nothing during the remainder er ot ol the day and then she leaves the room with a languid step and the click click of the old sowing sewing machino echoing pleasantly in her ears cara to be continued |