Show rm shell A ROMANCE V 1 aden CHAPTER VIII continued shell flushes crimson crl maon the one wish of her has been to a volume of tennyson all tier her own yet now that she stands with the trea treasure sulO in her land hand a strange perier perversity sitY makes her feel more than halt half inclined to thrust it back upon the donor it la is very kind ol of you bob and meg she bho says saya in a tone ot of angry impatience but I 1 cannot think ot of accepting your present take it homo home and keep it until you are grown up then you will lie be able to understand idill itt dont you like it then I 1 queries dob bob looking anxious and distressed pa thought you would rather have bao a book but III tell him to send you a watch instead 11 this threatened altermat alt alternative ernat ive sounds bounds so BO very alarming that shell hastens to explain to the children her detestation ot of watches in general and her unbounded admiration ot of poets what are ou making such a chatter and bams auns about shell interposes ruby crossing to her slater sister a side and taking up the iho volume in dispute oh only a copy ot of tennyson with a contemptuous curl ot of her up lip at the plain though handsome binding 1 I wonder what induced robert champley to send you that you have not been devoting yourself to his children no I 1 should hope not answers abell with emphasis neither do I 1 want any present I 1 shall return it return it what conceited nonsense scoffs rub 1 I suppose pose he be thought wine some slight acknowledgment was waa due dua to you tor for playing with tile the children occasionally it if you want to make yourself absurd and conspicuous ot of course you will ledurn it on the next morning the champley household take their departure foi the moor ruby chances to be near the deserted lodge ot of the wilderness when the ag onette containing the two brothers the ebil dien and the nurse drives driven by she makes a dainty picture standing in the shade of 0 the chestnut tree in her pale blue morning dress drees an I 1 waving her handkerchief in token ot of adieu the gentlemen raise their hats and smile the children shout about the nurse gives a defiant snort and the next moment they are out of sight eight two months of free freedom doral thinks robert champley to himself on my return home I 1 must make other arrangements range ments CHAPTER IX alif mimma imma there it Is a most enticing cottage to be lot let at Oa oak ford liford cries ruby glancing up excitedly from the paper in her hand Lla listen tent oakford Oak tord to be let furnished eb charming arming cottage residence five eve rooms large garden every convenience rent moderate air bracing close to moor yes yea my der dear responds rea ponds mrs mra wildon wilden in mild surprise well what about it do you know ol of any ono one wanting a cottage I 1 1 I thought it might suit us replies ruby a little crestfallen it certainly might it we wanted to go there asserts al mrs wilden with a good tempered laugh but as you know ruby I 1 have a great dislike to leaving home dut but mamma I 1 think you require change of air pei slats ruby with unwonted affect affection lon you have beba suffering so BO frightfully from all spring I 1 dm ni sure bure our nerves want bracing why not take this cottage tor for a month or eo BO chingo Is good for every everybody bod mrs wilden shakes her head bead but not after a very determined mahlon 1 what do you say VI sho she asks turning to lier her niece well I 1 really dont think I 1 care two either cither way answers miss ilon flower er lazily it somebody will pack my things I 1 am willing to go BO but I 1 could u t andel take to pack them myself now that just shows how much you need change cries ruby eagerly lour kour whole system wants mants stirring up before we had haa been a on the moor you would bo be as blink as a bee should W I 1 bais violet with a dubious laugh 1 I nery cry much doubt it lut I 1 am willing milling to try the experiment truth to tell it if violet I 1 low loa or consulted 8 her own feelings too lings sho she would tar far ra rather ther remain in present comfortable it ble quarters but ruby confided to her it a sezieme for or vi biting the moor it possible she ehe has d not to oppose tile the plin pi in there la is a fair amount ot oc im ical stance istance on mrs Nil dens pirt but her energetic daughter overrules each and eiery obstacle na as it la Is presented to her iler her eloquence Is so eo great in advocating a change that one wonder to bear her talk how they hive managed to exist so si min man suin aut mera umerS through at the wilderness without acquiring all the ni mil idles to which flesh to Is heir beir shell Is not present when nhon the dig dl slon t tikes 1109 but her ber indignation when the plan pi in Is unfolded to her la Is unbounded you don t mean to sty s ty ruby that ou oil are actually thinking of 0 following the Ch ampleys to the moor I 1 she says in III it a voice of such infinite scorn that stuby lauby flushes uneasily what nonsense ou talk shelli shell I 1 she returns angrily I 1 you seem to have tile the ChIm pleys on the biala we are arc going to the moot because mamma la 18 in need of bracing a air I 1 r la Is there anything so very extraordinary in that there Is something extraordinary la in your having selected the same name vil lage inge answers shell decidedly it mamma wants aunts bil biacina icing air why not take her to the north ot of devon because Ile rause rooms there would be frightfully expensive whereas the cottage on tile the moor Is a mere trifle responds ruby loftily this agu argument ment Is unanswerable for no one knows better belter than shell that their income la Is not equal to any great additional attain peeling that any resistance she can offer will mill bo be futile chell hell shrugs her shoulders and leaves ical the room nothing i emmins to her now but to strike out a separate line of action lor for heisele she Is fully determined ter mined about one thing wild ild horsa shall not drag her to oakford when Is fully arranged and packing Is at its height shell startles the household it will he be very awkard having only three bed rooms I 1 VI remarks in a grumbling tone for the more she contemplates six elx weeks spent away from civilization the less ipsa she likes the pros hect of course the servants must have one and then we e must all emm cram into the two others not at all dear ruby hastens to explain mamma and shell can haat the big room and you and I 1 a little one each as for mary diary she can do quite well with a chair bedstead in the kitchen how delightful for mary I 1 I 1 laughs shell it Is to be hoped she has haa a strong liking tor for cockroaches and crickets now please shell don t go setting mary against the arrangement 11 says ruby huby imploringly mamma do ask her not dont don t be alarmed answers shell with it a curious little laugh I 1 have not the slightest t intention of interfere ring with any of the arrangements at the cottage they don t concern me in the least since I 1 sha eha n t be there not bo be there what do you mean of course cauree you will be there declares ruby looking very much astonished not net unless mamma insists upon it and I 1 am sure she wont won t laughs shell As you know I 1 have been set against the idea from the commencement so I 1 mean to remain here monarch of all I 1 survey and have a right down jolly time of it all to myself 11 what rub bleh blehl I 1 cries ruby impatiently susan Is ie going to be put on board wages and she Is to give the house a thorough cleaning during our absence well I 1 can be put on board wages too and I 1 certainly wont prevent susan from cleaning the house I 1 shaft toe be out all day long responds shell mamma please make her go it would seem so BO odd her not going urges ruby but mrs wilden to Is too easy going to oppose actively ana an of her children truth to tell she rather envies shell her ber coming solitude and even expresses it as her opinion that it Is a pity that dreadful cottage was as ever taken this rebellion on an tier her indulgent mothers othera rn part la Is quickly talked down by ruby whose constant tear fear from the beginning has been that her scheme will ultimately tall fall through she sha knows knovs that her mother would rather stay at home she Is fully aware that violet Is groaning in spirit over what she Is pleased to term her I 1 coming exile so she thinks it wiser on the whole to leave shell to her own devices lest enlarging on the theme should stir up revolt in other and more important quarters then there comes a triumphant morning when backed up lip by a vast amount of 0 unnecessary luggage ruby carries off her three victims tor for mary can truthfully be reckoned in that category to enjoy the bracing air and scant accommodation of shell as she stands on the booi step and waves them a smiling adieu looks the impersonation of mischievous contentment tent ment be sure sura to cringe the library books the moment you get them and don t delay a single post in sending them off I 1 entre entreats itts violet earnestly and any gio groceries ceries we cant got get there lou auit send by parcels post 11 adds adda ruby how illora the postman will bless youl you laughs blell as she bhe nods nodi assent and then springing on to the step of the cab she imprints a dozen hasty kisses on her mother a troubled cheek why doos does she heave a sigh elgh notwithstanding the brightness of the morning as aa she turns to re enter the house CHAPTER X A week eek has passed shell has grown tired of her self imposed solitude the big bare echoing rooms hive lii li i e become hateful to her even the grounds seeni changed and unfamiliar the cert certainty that there Is no chance of interruption to her lonely musings nga at first so BO delightful now D seems beem to t all her usually spirit with a sense ot of depression until robbed ol of BU all com coal hills ehe never guessed what a sociable creature she was waal happy would she eho be it if even the most moat inane and commonplace common place caller would come to break the monotony of her endless days dayal I 1 but it la Is understood in the neighborhood that the family camill at the wilderness are away so BO from morn till night shell wanders alm aimlessly lessly about with only the gray cat to bear her company it Is ei owning aning shell Is even more desolate than tier her wont susan has asked pot pei mission to fo 10 into mudford to make a few bases and already she lins been absent oer thice hours it Is now noa so seven en 0 clock and theena tho empty lity bowe seems to shell a excited imago nat on like a haunted lince she fancies mie klie heals hurrying g through the passages A door slims clims and her heart stands still with tear shell however hO Never la Is not one to give way to morbid feelings and rousing herself fiam her book she starts on a tour of inspection through tho the house shutting all window 8 anti and securely burring barring all doors on her way aay then with a renewed sense of sevility she returns to the drawing loom and determines to while away amay the time with MUSIC shell Is one of those sensitive folk who aho never play ho bo well moll as when alone site she call cannot not pour hei whole it ole hen heair I 1 t into her musk when bho has haa listeners now with tho the house to herself she soon becomes lost to her and the room echoes to such heart strains as it 11 kniely falls to one ones s lot to heir suddenly however her music cornea comes to an end and hot hoi heart thimba with tenor for through the empty hall echoes the sonorous sono ious icus thunder of the big iron knocker shell a first impulse ii to take no notice to hide herself or to make her escape by some rome bide bick window then her natural good sense returns and she laughs in a nenon no loui minner at her fears and with fat fast beating be heart advances into the hall Is that you susan Si iran she asks but without unfastening fastening un the heavy chain there comes no answer save a vigorous ring at the bell who ly Is therea deman la Is shell this time in a firmer tone find and one more likely to tho the thick oak panels A messenger from mrs wilden answers a voice oice which Is somehow camill ir to shell 8 oais with trembling hands bands she shoots back the beav bolts bolt and taking down the chain opens the door there she sha stands pale big oed eed and seared scared looking before robert chippley Cham Chim ploy pley oil 01 what hat a fright you gave me I 1 to la her alist involuntary exclamation A fright ilow how so soa 11 what hat have I 1 done queries tier her visitor looking much surprised oh nothing an answers era shell whilst hilet the ghost of a smile fl ickers lound her still colorless lips it was as my own foolishness but I 1 was not expecting any one excepting susan and your knock frightened me I 1 suppose I 1 must be getting anerd nerd nenora ous with a self depreciating little laugh nervous I 1 should think sol so cries robert lie ile has taken her hand band in greeting gie giec eting ting and feels it cold and trembling in lilb aarm grasp but surely you are not alone in the house only tor for a short tinie time I 1 am expecting susan back every enery Ini nute explains shell wro vito feels heartily ashamed of her late ue weakness cliness her visitor 1001 a gran grave e you ought not to be left alone in ahouse a house like this he saas very decidedly wh you are trembling still I 1 ills his words remind shell that ho he still has possession of her hand hind with a little impatient ino movement she bho with draws it to be continued |