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Show 1 Wilden. I CHAPTER If, "Now, VI," says Ruby n few evenings later, scoklng hor cousin's room, nnd speaking to her In a tono of confidence, "I want you to do mo a favor thU evening." even-ing." "All right, dear," answers Violet, colling up tho long plaits of her flaxen hair with artistic precision. "How can I oblige you?" "Wl'f as you know, the Chomploys aro coining In this evening for somo music, and I want you to prevent Shell from putting herself forward In any way and talking to them, 'Sho has such a Btrango blunt way with strangers stran-gers that I am always afraid of her doing or saying eomethlnn outrageous." "I'm suro you needn't bo," responds VI, looking rather astonished. "Sho was well named 'Pearl,' for sho hides herself In her shell as persistently ns hor namesake. Ho who finds out her true value will have to bo a very por-slstent por-slstent man," "Oh, she la a good deal sharper than you think," says Ruby, with n little sneer; "and at the snmo tlmo sho is so extremely odd that I never fcol enfo as to what sho might sayt I actually heard hor confiding to tho rector's wife the othor day that our stalr-carpct had boon turned four tlmefl." "Well, ond If sho did, thoro was no harm In It," declares Violet, who Is far more attached to Shell than to tho brilliant Ruby. "Of courso you don't caro, becauto It Is not your own homo you aro only staying hero," retorts Ruby bitterly "but for my own part I think thero is no need that our novertv should bo exposed to strangers. It sho gets Into In-to conversation with cither of tho Champlcy's, I shouldnlt In tho least wondor at her telling them that our 'dinner Is always badly cooked because we can't afford a new kitchen range." "I don't think she would," laughed Violet. "Sho Is qulto capablo of It sho is so eccentric What other girl would Insist In-sist upon being called 'Shall,' when sho has such a pretty namo? Nothing could bo sweeter than Pearl; and yet If ono dares to call her by her right namo sho fllcfl Into ono of hor tantrums." "Sho Is of n practical turn of mind," laughs VI; "sho thinks Pearl too fanciful fanci-ful a namo for a workaday mortal. I wonder what Induced aunt to namo you throo girls after precious stones?" "I really can't say," returns Ruby rather coldly; "perhaps tho samo reason rea-son that Induced your mother to name you Violet" "Oh, I was called Violet becauso my surnamo Is Flower!" explains i'l, a shadow stealing over hor faco.as her thoughts fly back to her lost mother. "It used to be a Joko of papa's that oven when I married I should not ccaso to be a flower." "You aro a flower of which I should bo uncommonly afraid It you wero not engaged," laughs Ruby. , "Afraid why?" asks Violet, opening wldo her bluo eyes. "Becauso you aro bo torrlbly protty," answers nuby truthfully. Vlolot knows full well that sho Is pretty her mirror tells her so, morn-Ing, morn-Ing, noon and night yet she likes to hear It again, oven If only from nuby. So sho waxes amiable, and given her cousin a faithful promlso that any show of forwardnoss on Shell's part shall bo Instantly suppressed. An Violet foresaw, howovcr, there Is little causr a -ir any attempt nt familiarity fa-miliarity on ShoU'B part. Tho girl has gleaned from Ruby's constant allusions to tho Chnmplcys slnco their return homo tKat her elder sister contemplates with hopeful confidence tho possibility of becoming mistress of Champley House So disgusted docs Shell feol at her sister's scarcely concealed schema that sho firmly resolves to adopt a lino of conduct so totally at variance to that of Ruby that oven tho most obtuse man on earth must seo at least that sho has no dcslro to steal from him his freedom. free-dom. Even when sho hears that Ted Champloy, the boy with whom sho used to go blackborrylng and nutting, Is coming down with Robert, she makes up her sensible little mind to bo civil to him RrsVxlnif moro. So, as the evening wears away, both brothers, after Ineffectual attempts to hit on n congenial topic of conversation, conversa-tion, come to tho conclusion that the younger daughter of the houso Is etthor somewhat deficient In Intollect or has devolopcd such an alarming spirit of contradiction that she la decidedly de-cidedly a young woman to bo avoided. avoid-ed. Ruby's amiable manner and social sympathy stand out In startling contrast con-trast to Shell's almost rough brusque-ness.ot brusque-ness.ot manner. Violet too docs hor utmost to render tho evening a pleasant pleas-ant ono for tho brothers, whilst Mrs. Wilden backs them both up, as far as her natural want of energy will allow. "Do you remember those Jolly times we used to have out blackberrylng, and what particularly delicious blackberry-Jam blackberry-Jam your cook used to make?" asks tho younger brothor, taking a seat bosido Blioll toward the end of the evening. . Edward Champley Is a true' Englishman, English-man, and, although three times already he has abandoned that seat in despair, he Is nUU unwilling to acknowledge himself beaten. She does not reply for a moment; she is In the art of picking out a knot In tho silk she Is using, and till Aio has fully accomplished that Intrlcato feat she Ignores the fact even thnt she has been spoken to; then, turning upon him with keen eyes, which look almost piercingly dark In the lamp-light, she Bays quietly "I beg your pardon." Ted Champley feels taken back; his remark which savors In his own mind slightly of the sentimental, and-lndeed was made In somewhat sentimental tone cannot bo repeated In face of that stolid air oMndlfferencq on Shell's port; so be changes his former conversation conver-sation for another. 4 "You soom to have becomo wonder- . ... ... . ,. . fully,lndU8lr!ous"s!nco I saw you last," ho says, c'ancing anything but admiringly admir-ingly nt tho pretty garland of flowers that Is growing under her whlto Angora. An-gora. ' "Yes; ,1 nm very f6nd of work. When you saw me last -I was a child; and children aro so stupid they novsr think of anything, but play," rcturni Shell scornfully, pursuing her occupation occupa-tion as though hor living depended upon up-on It. "Upon my word," laughs T'd, "It Is my belief that a good many children aro wiser than tho'r elders to pbser-vnnt, pbser-vnnt, you know, and all that kind of thing. I really don't think you would class all children together again ns being be-ing "stupid," If you only knew those little kids of nobcrt'a; they aro awful little sharpers." "I suppose their father takes qulto an Interest In them?" remarks Sholl In a bored tone. Her companion stares at her for somo moments In amazement, then breaks Into a rather mocking laugh. "Well, yes nobcrtidoes tnko n decided de-cided Interest In Bob and Meg. Beoing that they aro his on chlldron, perhaps per-haps It Is not to bo wondered at." "No, of course that 'would account for It,' responds Shell quietly, and Ignoring Ig-noring tho rlns of sarcasm In Ted's voice. "I don't see how nny one could help liking them poor little beggars!" continues con-tinues tho young man bluntly, nnd In 'a voice that speaks volumes of wonder athia companion's heartlessness. Sholl breaks Into rnthor an affected little laugh. "Dear mo,' sho says wonderlngly "havo I shockod you? If so, you must plonso forgive mo; for I don't like children." chil-dren." Tod makes no romark for a few moments, mo-ments, but sits watching her with keen scrutinizing oyos, expecting every In-stnnt In-stnnt that, some relenting dlmplo round hor lips would belle her words; but no Shell works on In sercno unconsciousness, un-consciousness, with her wcll-polsod head a little on ono sldo, and all her attention apparently fixed upon her work. "Is there anything under tho sun that you do llko?" asks Ted at last, In a tono of desperation. "Oh, yes, sevoral things,' nnswers Shell briskly. "Let mo see" reflectively reflec-tively "I llko work, nnd reading, and I am awfully fond of goosoberry-tart." Ted bursts into such a hearty peal of laughter that Ruby who Is engaged In singing n trio with VI and Robert Champley give utterance to a false note. Shell, after a futile effort to control con-trol her trembling lips, 'joins In his merriment "No; but, seriously," ho says, when thoy havo both douo laughing, "you must havo, I know, a few artistic tastes. I remember you used 'to play somo very Jolly pieces, 6o you must bo fond of music." Shell shakos her head In a despondent despon-dent manner. "No," she nnBwers carelessly,' "I havo no talent for anything-In particular. Of courso I play a little and I sketch a little; but I do nothing woll enough for It to bo pleasing to anybody but myself." "How do you know that If you never glvo your friends; tho chanco of Judging?" Judg-ing?" asks Ted, still; trying to strike somo spark of em'otlon out of, this stolid maiden. . ' "Ob, they nro qulto at llborly to Judge for themselves If they like, only nobody wnnts'to hear mo play twice!" answers Shell, in n tono of friondly warning. "Will you let me hear you play once?" asks Ted eagerly, "Oh, certainly, if you wish; only won't It bo rather cruel Infliction for overybody elso?" says Shell naively. "No, I am suro ltjvon't," answers her companion, in a volco of meh utter confldenco that puckers of amusement gather around Shell's lips after the most wicked fashion. Great Is Ruby's consternation and annoyanco when she leaves the piano to see Shell down'on her knees besldo tho music-stand, turning over the looso music In tho drawer. "Surely you aro not going to play?'' sho exclaims, in a.tono of mingled disapproval dis-approval and annoyance, for Ruby's muslo Is her ono strongolnt, and she hates to bo cast into the Bhado by her younger sister. As a rulo, Shell Is wont to hide her light under a bushel, and it Is provoking, to say the least, that she should depart from her usual course on tho present occasion. "Oh, yes, I nm going to play I havo been asked!" responds. Shell Innocon With a shrug of hor Bhouiders'ltuby passes oti, whilst Shell, selecting from tho long disused contents of the drawer a dreary sing-song jilr, sltsdownnt tho piano and commences to wndo 'laboriously 'la-boriously and in a very mechanical way through its twelvo Variations. It Is a piece that requires practlca nndi very quick tplayJn toyrendoivlt oven bearable as Shell had-novej-had patience pa-tience to read1 it" qulto through 'until this evening her performance is anything any-thing bat a brilliant ono. CHAPTER,"!". Edward CbampleyTVhb lias taken' up his stand beside tho piano In expectation ex-pectation of n musical treat, doea his best to look cheerful under tho Infliction; Inflic-tion; but his most 'determined pfforts at politeness cannot prevent a faint gleam of hopo Vtcdllng into his oyes at the , ond of qach. variation. , Even once ho ventures," jon n rapturous "Thanksl" it Is'wh'en,'' to his horror, fho sees "a minor key arrangement of the air .looming up before htm;' but Shell only glances up tor a moment, and says quietly , "Oh, I havon't. half -finished yetl' Whereupon herrlcthn offers ah apology, apol-ogy, and sralle3 aslckly smile, as ho vainly tries to count, bow many more "pages there are'to.gettbrougb. And, whilst Edward, Is e'ndurlng his, lelf-lnfltcted martyrdom at ont tn& cd the room, his brother-Robert Is befog flattered, petted and a little bit lectured lec-tured at the other ond by Ruby, "It wss really too bad of you to stop away from Champley House so longl" sho says reproachfully. Robert Champloy looks at her for a' fow moments beforo making any answer. an-swer. Unfortunately for Ruby's echemo, he Is a man who generally stops to think before ho speaks, oven on trivial subjects. "I shouldn't have como back now If It hadn't been for tho children," he says at length, with a sigh. Ruby catches the echo of that sigh and Is all sympathy. "No ono knows better than I how very painful your return home must hnvo been to you," sho remarks, In a low and almost faltering tono, whilst hor whlto cyollds veil her eyes In seemingly sad retrospect. Again ho looks nt hor; then somewhat some-what coldly gives utterance to tho ono word, "Thanksl" as if sho had made him a speech which, though distasteful, distaste-ful, must bo responded to In some way or other. "I hopo you found tho d r children all that you pictured them?" pursuss Ruby softly. "Yes oh, yes; thoy are merry little crickets, and Beam Just about as happy as the day la longl" answers Mr. Champley, whilst a softening smile ro-laxcs ro-laxcs his somewhat stern mouth. "It Is a terrlblo charge for you," observes Ruby, her tono and looks full of tho most profound pity. "How so?" asks her companion, In evident surprise. Ruby feels eomowhnt taken aback. "Oh, It always seems to me such an Impossible thing for n man to know about children's wants or ways!" sho replies, with n llttlo head-shake. Robert Champley gives a slight laugh. "I assuro you, both Bob and Meg havo neither of them any scruples about expressing thqlr wants," he says gaily; "and, as you know, I am very fortunate In my old housekeeper, Mrs. Tolley Bho Is a perfect mother to the whole lot of us. The babies havo a treasuro of a nurse, too a sensible middle-aged woman; so on tho wholo I daro say wo shall-Tub along very woll." "I don't bcllovo In any sorvants being be-ing treasures," remarks Ruby skeptically; skepti-cally; "and, besides, your children must be too old now to be left entirely entire-ly to tho charge of servants." "Do you think so?" asks Mr. Champley In n pondering tone. "That Is what I havo been rather afraid of myself. Bob Is Just soven, nnd poor llttlo Meg five." (To bo Continued.) |