OCR Text |
Show I 1 Shell riA.N.ci I I 1 Wilden. I is ? sb vimswBnw"anM MTWH I , CHAPTER VII. H One the following morning, as Shell , la carefully folding In tls3iip paper the H superfluous tea-poons brought Into H use on tho previous evening, Ruby onca j H more bursts In upon her solitude, H "I havo brought over ono ot Meg's H dresses aa a guldo; and I think this H merino ought to mako up prettily," H iho soys, unfolding a parcol which sho carries, and dtaplaylng with somo H triumph a tiny cotton frock and n H ' piece of aomo light bluo material. Bholl pauses In the act of rubbing an H Imaginary spot from ono of, the spoons and stares at tho articles produced H with wondering cyea. "What are you talking about?" she '- asks, with bewildered stress on the H word "are." "Why, I am going to mako n drcra for poor llttlo Meg," cxplalna lluby In a rather Impatient and Injured tone. "You must havo noticed how badly tho H poor child's things fit hor7" H Blicll turns perfectly crlmaon, H "You can't mean what you ay, Ruby?" aho cries In a volco of horror. "You have auroly not been offering to make clothes for Itobort Champley's children!" "Why not?" demands nuby, with a r faint flush. "I consider It only a cora- mon act of charity to help tho poor man when ho Is In such dlro noes' of bolp." "Oh, then, ho asked you to sco about It?" queries Shell, looking relieved. "Well, not exactly. We were talk-H talk-H ing about the children, and I remark-H remark-H ed that tho nurso eccmed to havo no H Idea how to dress them properly. Ot H course ho objected to my taking any trouble In the matter, but 1 could see that ho was distressed by what I told him. So this morning I wont over H and caught the nurao Just about to cut H out another monstrosity, so I Just H marched off her stuff, and one ot Meg's H dreaaea for a pattern." "Wasn't the nurso a trifle eur- ' prtsod?" asks Shell, In dry sarcastic H tone. "Sho did seem a little put out," ad- r mlts Huby, with a quick flush. "I t shall warn Robert Cbamploy against H Jt that woman. I think he must be mis-H-t taken In her 6ho has most shocking H ft manners." H ?- "Do you act up aa bolng a Judge ot mannera?" asks Shell, still sneering. H ' "I set up for knowing when people H are rude and disagreeable," answers Bp nuby shortly. H Shell, having carefully disposed ot Hk her last spoon, Is turnlngly Bllently H from the room, when Kuby calls her HJ back. H "Wboro aro you going?" sho asks H crossly. H "I am going to lock up tho silver," H replies Shell, without retracing her Hj ' steps. HJ "When you have dono that I wish H you would help me to cut out Meg's HJ dross you aro bo much more uacd to HJ that kind ot thing than I am," says HJ nuby, gazing despondently at tho little H dress, which sho has been turning In- HJ Bide out to see how It Is fashioned. HJr "I am really very sorry," answers Hj! Shell coldly; "but I can't possibly help 2 you. I never cut out a child's dress In ! my llfo." "Nonsense don't be so cross you must do It for me!" cries nuby, beginning be-ginning to look alarmed. "Ot course I quite reckoned on you, or I should Br never have undertaken such a task." Hi" "I am very sorry," repeats -Shell, In B a liard, unfeeling voice; "but I don't HJ, In the least understand children's K 'things. I should advlso you to send B for patterns or put It out you will got HJ no help from me." And then she M hurries from tho room, nearly upset- H ting Violet, whom Bho meets In the HJ passage. HJ "Would you bellovo It, VI? that H wretch ot a Shell has turned sulky," H grumbles nuby, as her cousin enters Hj the room. "She vows sho won't help HJ me with Meg's dress, or oven cut It HJ out Isn't It disagreeable of her?" HJ "What on earth will you do? I HJ know you can't manage It yoursfclf," H lauglui Violet Instead ot sympatblz- M ing she seems only amused at bar HJ cousin's dilemma, Hj "I am sure I don't know. Do you H think you could cut one out?" asks Hj nuby hopelessly. Hj Violet turns the llttlo dress all round H about, then holds It out at arm's HJ length by both alcoves. HJ "Not If hanging were the alterna- HL tlve," ehe laughs; "It Is quite beyond H me." HJ Hut for nuby It la no laughing mat- H? ter tears ot mortification and voxa- HJ tton force themselves Into her oyos. H "Bah I Don't tako It to heart," HJ cries Violet lightly "we'll send for B some patterns, and then make an os- Hj tentatlous show ot cutting It out In H Shell's presence. She won't bo able HJ to withstand that, I know, for she HJ hates to see good stuff wasted." Hw And Violet's ruso provos successful, HB' For when, a few days later, having Hf obtained some patterns from London, HJ lluby deliberately begins to arrange HJ them the wrong way ot the stuff, HJ Shell Impatiently coajes to the rescue, HJ and, having onco taken poasoralon of HF the scissors, wields them to the end. H) Having cut out tho Cress, she soon de- HJ cldes to make It; sVo Is a good work- B woman, and nover beforo has such a HV dainty, enticing bit of work come In HJr her way. Bhe feeli perfectly safe In HJ her undertaking. lluby Is scarcely Hr likely to blazon forth her own lncotn- HJ petenco. HJ One afternoon, as she sits at tfio HI open window smiling over her work, HJ Robert Champley comes sauntering HJ thoughtfully up the short avenue ot HJ tho Wildornesa. Suddenly Bholl, all HJ unconscious of his close proximity, HJ breaks Into song. It Is a bright, HJ cheery llttlo ditty that bursts from her HJ llpe, and her unseen listener pauses HL amidst tho shrubs and waits for the HJV end. Leaning Idly against a strong HJf young lllao, h not only listens to tho LkL A words with an amused amllo, but watches tho busy nccdlo flashing In and out of her work. Sho makes a vivid picture seen between tho breaks of greenery, with her brilliant hair, anow-whlto skin, nnd the patch ot blue on her lap. This la tha eocond tlmo ho has romo upon Shell unawares, and somehow he takca keen delight In ao durprlaltig her hor quick change of manner when she Is discovered, although al-though he cannot understand It, amuses him. "A very good song, and very well sung I Ilravo, Miss Shell and pleaso forglvo mo for llatcnlngl" ho says, stepping up to tho window hat In hand, when tho last note has died nwoy. . t "Ohl" eric Sholl, becoming furiously furious-ly red; and then alio throws her work upon tho floor and conceals It with her dress. The sudden disappearance ot tho patch ot bluo attracta his attention tar moro than If she had left It on her kneo, and n somewhat contemptuous look steals Into his eyes as ho comes to tho conclusion that Shell Is ashamed of being caught dressmaking. It sets him Into a toaslng mood. "Miss Shell, It you ever get on offer of Jewelry, I advlso you to choose tur-quols," tur-quols," ho says, with hla keen eyes fixed steadily upon tho girl's burning checks. "Turquols why? I am not going to get any Jewolryl" etammors Sholl, too confused and surprised to find a ready answer. "Dccauso palo bluo suits you to perfection," per-fection," answers Mr. Champley with a meaning nod; and then, Intensely amused at her bewildered look, he proceeds on his way. "Could ho have scon my work?" muses Shell, aa aho withdraws it from Its hiding place and carefully shakes out the delicate lace trimming, which has become n little crushed from hor summary treatment. "I don't Imaglno he could and yet what mado him talk about palo bluo?" In tho meantime Mr. Champley has proceeded round to tho hall door, and been ahown by tho trim housemaid Into the cool and airy drawing-room, whero he finds Violet Flower burled In the depths of a low, cozy chair and cngroaacd with a novel. "Tell Miss Wilden that Mr. Champ-loy Champ-loy la here," aho aaya to tho maid, aa sho halt rises from her chair and stretches out a lazy white hand In greeting. "Pray don't trouble to rlao," laughs Itobort, as he hastens to her side. "You looked so exquisitely happy whon I camo In that I should bo sorry to disturb you." "I am always happy when I am doing do-ing nothing," answers Vlolot naively. "This hot weathor Is so frightfully enervating that no ono In the house has a Bpark of energy left excepting Sholl." "You are not altogether lazy you wore reading," sayu Mr. Cbamploy politely. po-litely. "Yes I have Just life enough left to take In Mean as they are put before mo," responds VI, with a lazy llttlo yawn, "though I find It a great exertion ex-ertion holding up a book." "You should get ono of those wonderful won-derful literary machines which ono sees advertised," laughs Robert Champley, turning to greet nuby, who has Just entered the room. "I came over, Miss Wilden, expressly to thank you for all your kindness to my children," chil-dren," ho begins In a formal tone as bo reseats himself. "Oh, plcaso don't mention It!" answers an-swers Ruby, casting down her eyes. "I nssuro you their coming over so frequently fre-quently has been a great pleasure to me." "It Is very good of you to say so," returns Robert, In a tone which does not convey any great amount ot bollet In her statement; "and I Intend to send over the llttlo ones tomorrow morning to thank you themselves." "I am sure I feci thanked more than enough already," murmurs Ruby, "I have bocn fortunate enough to securo very comfortable rooms In a farm bouse on Oakruoor," pursues Robert Champley, with his eyes fixed persistently upon the carpet. "Tho air seems pure and bracing, and I hopo that a couplo ot months spent thero will benefit them wondortully." CHAPTER VIII. "Are you going with them?" aaks Ruby sweetly, "Yesoh, yosl" assents the gentleman gentle-man with gusto. Ho cannot coacoal hla feeling ot, delight at tho coming chango; Indeed, ot late Ruby's Interference Inter-ference respecting his children has become be-come almost unbearable and chango which takes him from hor Immediate neighborhood cannot fall to bo groetod with enthusiasm, "It scorns such a pity to leave Champley House Just when the flowers flow-ers aro so beautiful," sighs Ruby sentimentally, senti-mentally, "I will toll the gardener to send ovor a basketful twice a week," returns Robort qulakly, "Thanks; you are too too kind," gushes nuby; whilst VI, leaning back In her chair, smiles lastly at tho little comedy bolng enacted before hor. "Oakmoor," mtuea Ruby aloud, aVpr a short pause. "It sounds so rural and nice, only Just a little vaguo. What part ot Oakmoor are you going to?" "Our farm houso la about a quarter ot a mllo from the village ot Oakford." "Oakford-Oakford?" repeat Ruby, "I suppose it is a very healthy spot?" "I should think so. Oakford stands ntarly eight hundred feet above tho sea, and thero U remarkably good fishing fish-ing In tho neighborhood." "Ob, bow I wish I could Induce mamma to go there for a time I am sure the chango would do hr goodl" sighs Ruby. "I am really afrnld you wouldn't like It," cries Uobort, looking alarmed. "Thero Is only tho moot primitive aa-commodattocfl aa-commodattocfl to bo had, and en4l ladles aro not used to roughing IV "That Is Juat like you always en thoughtful," says Ruby In rrther an. absent tone; "but I don't think w should mind roughing It a little, since the air Is ao Invigorating." "I know I ahould mind I" Interposes Violet quickly. "I hato InvlgornUmr nit It gives one tw excuse for being lazy; as for out-o-the-way placos, I abominate them no society, no library, li-brary, perhaps even no planol" "I don't Ijiaglno that thero is any hopo of our going," says Ruby, looking look-ing blankly at hor cousin. "Thero is no need to regret that fact you would be tired of the place In less than a week," laughs Robert confidentially; "as for Ted nnd me, It Is othcrwlso wo shall havo our fishing." fish-ing." "Yes, of course. Well, I am suro I wish you may enjoy It," says Ruby, trying to look In earnest; and then, when tholr vlslttor has taken his departure, de-parture, she falls Into a meditative mood, from which Vl's bantering remarks re-marks are powerless to rouse her. On tho following morning Dob and Meg arrive with the nurso In their llttlo donkey-trap, looking very Important Im-portant and woll pleased with them-selvofl. them-selvofl. "Please, Miss Wilden, we have come to wish you good-by; and pleaso tako this with our love," aays Hob, striding first Into tho room and repeating the words that havo been drilled Into him with a slight frown. "How handeomo how lovely! Oh, how kind!" aho crlea; then, unfolding n email acrap ot paper contained in tho case, uho reada the somewhat atlflty-worded noto enclosed; "Door MIbs Wilden. Please accept tho watch from Rob and Meg as a small token of their regard and gratitude. grati-tude. Yours truly, "ROlinitT CHAMPLEY." Whilst Mrs. Wlldon and Violet are admiring tho watch, and Ruby is perusing tho noto with a feeling of disappointment, notwithstanding the costliness of her present, Meg makes her way to Shell, and, thrusting a parcol Into her lap, cries triumphant-ly- "Dat is for oo, dear Sell!" "Dear Sell" looks anything but do-llEhtcd do-llEhtcd at tho Information. "Nonsense, Meg you havo mndo a mlatakel" aho aaya, so coldly that Meg begins to pout her under lip preparatory prepara-tory to a cry. "Mo haven't!" aho aaya stoutly, Dat la for oo pa said ao." Hearing that hor parcel la of no Intrinsic In-trinsic value, Shell oondeacenda to open it. Having done ao, a handsomely handsome-ly bound copy of Tonnyaon's poems Ilea exposed to view. (To be Continued.) |