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Show J Z- w fji fm - - -- ajia ju M IIPbI A ROMANCE 8 1 Wilden. CHAPTER, VIII. (Continued.) Shell flushes crlmon; tbo ono wish ot her girlhood has been to possess a volumo of Tennyson all her own. Yet, now that she stands with tho trcasufo In her hand, a strange perversity makes her feel moro than half Inclined to thrust it back upon tho donor. "It Is very kind of you. Dob nnd Meg," sho says, In a tono of angry im-patlenco; im-patlenco; "but I cannot think of accepting ac-cepting your present. Tako It homo and keep It until you are grown up-then up-then you will bo ablo to understand It!" "Don't you llko It, thcn7" qucrlos Dob, looking anxious nnd distressed. "Pa thought you would rather have a book; but I'll tell him to send you a watch Instead." This threatened nltcrnatlvo sounds o very alarming that Shell hastens to explain to tho children her detestation of watches In general and hor unbounded un-bounded admiration ot pocbt. "What aro you making such a chatter chat-ter and fuss about, Shellt" interposes Ruby, crossing to her sister's side nnd taking up the volumo In dispute. "Oh, only a copy of Tcnnysonl" with a contemptuous con-temptuous curl of her lip at tho plain though handsome binding. "I wondor what Induced Itobcrt Champley to send you that? You have not been devoting devot-ing yourself to his children." "No, I should hope not," answers Bholl, with emphasis. "Neither do I want any present I shall return IL" "Return ItT What conceited nonsense!" non-sense!" scoffs Ruby. "I suppose he thought somo slight acknowledgment was duo to you for playing with the children occasionally. It you want to mnko yourBclf absurd and conspicuous, of courso you will return It" On the next morning tho Champley household tako tholr departuro for the moor. Ituby chances to be near tho deserted lodge of tho Wilderness whon the wagonette containing the two brothers, the children nnd the nurse drives by. She makos a dainty picture, standing stand-ing In tho shade ot tho chestnut treo In her pale-bluo morning dress, and waving her handkerchief In token of adieu. The gentlemen raise their hats and smllo, the children shout, tho nurse gives a defiant snort, and the next moment they aro out ot sight "Two months ot frecdoml" thinks Robert Champley to himself. "On my return home I must make, other arrangements." CHAPTER. IX. "Mamma, there Is a most enticing cottage to be lot at Oakford," cries Ruby, glancing up excitedly from the papor In ber hand. "Listen! 'Oakford. To be lot, furnished, charming cottage residence Ave rooms, largo garden, every convenience, rent moderate, air bracing, closo to moor.' " "Yes, my dear," responds Mrs. Wilden Wil-den In mild surprise. "Well, what about ItT Do you know of any one wanting a cottage?" "I thought It might suit us," replies Ruby, a llttlo crestfallen. "It certainly might It we wanted to go there," asserts Mrs. Wilden with a good-tempered laugh; "but, as you know, Ruby, I have a great dislike to leaving homo." "But, mamma, I think you require change of air," porslsts Ruby with unwonted un-wonted affection. "You havo been Buffering Buf-fering so frightfully from neuralgia all spring. I am sure your nerves want bracing. Why not tako this cottage for a month or boT Change Is good for everybody." Mrs Wilden shakes hor head, but not after a very determined fashion. "What do you say, VI t" sho asks, turning to her niece. "Well, I really don't think I care two straws olther way," answers MIsa Flower lazily. "If somebody will pack my things I am willing to go, but I couldn't undertake to pack them my self." "Now that JUBt dhows how much you need chango," cries Iluby eagerly. "Your wbolo system wants stirring up beforo we had been a week on the moor you would be as brisk as a boo." "Should It" Bays Violet, with a dubious laugh. "I very much doubt It; but I am willing to try tho experiment." experi-ment." Truth to tell, It Violet Flower consulted con-sulted her own feelings, sho would far rather remain In her present comfortable comfort-able quarters; but Ruby having confided con-fided to hor a sohemo for visiting the moor if possible, she has promised not to oppose tho plan. Thero Is a fair amount ot resistance on Mrs. Wllden's part, but her energetic ener-getic daughter overrules each and every obstacle as It Is proscntod to hor. Her eloquenco Is so great In advocating advocat-ing a change that ono would wondof, to hear hor talk, how they have managed man-aged to exist bo many summers through at tbo Wilderness without acquiring ac-quiring all tho maladies to which flesh Is heir. Bhel! la not present whan the discussion dis-cussion takes placo, but her Indignation Indigna-tion when tho plan Is unfolded to hor Is unbounded. "You don't moan to Bay, Ituby, that you are actually thinking, of following tho Champleys to the moorT" she says. In a yoIco of such Infinite scorn that Ruhy flushes uneasily. "What nonsense you talk, Shell!" sho returns angrily. "You scorn to have the Champleys on the brain. We are going to the moor becauso mamma la In need ot bracing air. Is there anything any-thing eo very extraordinary In that?" "There Is something extraordinary In your having selected tho Bame village," vil-lage," answers Shell decidodly. "It mamma wants bracing air why not tako her to the North ot Devon T" "Because rooms there would bo frightfully expensive; whereas the cottage cot-tage on tho moor Is a mere trlflo," responds re-sponds Iluby loftily. This argument Is unanswerable, for no one knows better than Shell that their Income la not equal to any great additional strain. Feeling that any resistance sho enn offer will bo futile. Shell shrugs her shoulders and leaves the room. Nothing remains to her now but to strlko out a scparato lino ot action for herself. She Is fully determined de-termined about one thing wild horses shall not drag her to Oakford. When ovorything Is fully arranged and packing Is at Its height, Shell stnrtlCB tho household. "It will bo very awknrd having only threo bed-rooms," VI remarks In a grumbling tone, for the moro she contemplates con-templates six weeks spent away from civilization tho Ices sho likes the prospect. pros-pect. "Of courso the servants must havo one; nnd then wo must nil cram Into tho i,wo others." "Not at all, dear," Ruby hastens to explain, "Mamma and Sholl can have tho big room, nnd you and I a llttlo one ench; as for Mary, sho can do quite well with a cbalr-bedstcad In the kitchen." "How delightful for Mary!" laughs Shell. "It Is to bo hoped sho has a strong liking for cockroaohos and crlckota," "Now, ploaso, Shell, don't go setting Mary against the arrangement," says Ruby Imploringly. "Mamma, do ask hor not!" "Don't bo alarmed," answers Sholl, with a curious little laugh. "I havo not the slightest Intention ot Interfering Interfer-ing with any ot tho arrangements at the cottngo. They don't concern mo In tho least, since I sha'n't bo thero." "Not bo thero what do you mean 7 Of courso you will bo therel" declares Ruby, looking ery much astonished. "Not unless mamma Insists upon It; and I am suro sho won't," laughs Shell. "As you know, I havo been set against tho Idea from tho commencement commence-ment so I mean to remain hero 'monarch of all I survoy' and havo a right down Jolly time of It all to myself." "What rubbish I" cries Ituby Impatiently. Impa-tiently. "Susan Is going to bo put on board-wages; and sho Is to glvo tho house a thorough cleaning during our absonce." "Well, I can bo put on board-wages too; and I certainly won't prevent Susan from cleaning tho house. I shall bo out all day long." responds Shell. "Mamma, plcaso make her go. It would seem so odd her not going," urges Iluby. , uui Airs, wiiaen la too cisy-golng to oppose actively nny of her 'children. Truth to tell, she rathor enVles Sholl her coming solttudo, nnd even expresses ex-presses It as her opinion that.lt Is a pity that dreadful cottage was ever taken. This rebellion on her Indulgent mother's part Is quickly talked down by Ruby, whoso constant fear from tho boglnnlng has been that her scheme will ultimately fall through. She knowa that har mothor would rathor stay at home; sho Is fully aware that Vlolot Is groaning In spirit over what she Is pleased to term hor "coming "com-ing oxlle;" bo sho thinks It wiser on tho whole to leave Shall to her own devices, lest enlarging on the theme should stir up revolt In other and moro Important quarters. Then there come a triumphant morning when, backed up by a vast amount ot unnecessary luggage, Ituby carries off her throo victims for Mary can truthfully b reckoned In that category cate-gory to enjoy the bracing air and scant accommodation ot Oakmoor. Shell, as she stands on the doorstep and waves them a smiling adieu, looks the impersonation ot mischievous contentment con-tentment "Bo suro to change the library books the moment you get them, and don't delay a single post In sending them off," entreats Violet earnestly. "And any groceries wo can't got thero you rauat send by Parcels Post," adds Ruby. "How tho Oakmoor postman will bless you!" laughs Shell as sho nods assont; and then, springing on to tho step ot the cab, uhe imprints a dozen hasty kisses on her mother's troubled cheek. Why does she heavo a sigh, notwithstanding not-withstanding the brightness of the rooming, aa she turns to re-enter tho bouse? CHAPTER X. A week has passed. Shell ban grown tired of her self-imposed solitude; the big, bare, ocholng rooms have become be-come hateful to her. Even the grounds eoem changed nnd unfamiliar. The certainty that thera Is no chanco of Interruption to her lonely musings, nt first so delightful, now seems to All her usually cheerful spirit with a sense of depression. Until robbed ot all companionship com-panionship she never guessed what a ttocldble creature sho was. Happy would she bo It even tho most Inane nnd common-place caller would como to break the monotony of her endless days! But It Is understood In the neighborhood that tho family at the Wilderness aro away; so from morn till night Shell wanders aimlessly about,' with only the gray cat to bear her company. It Is evening. Shell Is even moro desolnto than hor wont. Susan has asked permission to go Into Mudtord to make a few purchases, and already oho haa been absent ovor three hours. It Is now seven o'clock, and tho empty house sooms to Shell's excited Imagination Imagi-nation llko a haunted place. She fancies she hears hurrying through the passagos. A door slams, and her hea.rt stands still with tear. Shell however Is not one to glvo way to morbid toolings, tool-ings, and, rousing hornelf from ber book, the starts on a tour ot Inspection Inspec-tion through tho house, shutting all windows and securely barring all doors on hor way; then, with a re-nowod re-nowod cun-o of security, alia returns to the drawing-room and determines to while away the time with mufttc. B Shell Is ono of thoso sensitive folk who never play so well as when alone she cannot pour her whole heart Into Bj her music when sho has listeners. Now, with tho house to herself, she soon becomes lost to her surroundings, and the room echoes to such heart- stirring strains as It rarely falls to ono's lot to hear. Suddenly however her music comes to an end, and her heart throbs with BJ terror, for through tho empty hall echoes tho sonorous thunder ot the big Iron knocker. H Shcll'B first tmpulso Is to tako no BJ notice to hide herself or to make her I escape by somo back window; then H her natural good sense returns, and I she laughs In n nervous manner at her I fenrs and with fast-beating heart ad- I vances Into tho hall. "Is that you, Susan?" sho asks, but without unfastening tho heavy chain. Thero comes no answer savo a vigorous vig-orous ring nt tho be!!. "Who is thcro7" domanda Shell, this time In a firmer tono and ono moro likely to penctrato tho thick oak panels. "A messenger from Mrs. Wilden," answers a volco which Is somehow familiar to Shell's ears. With trembling hands oho shoots back the heavy bolts, and, taking down tho chain, opens the door. Thoro sho stands palo, blg-cycd, and scarod-looking, scarod-looking, beforo Ilobort Champley. "Oh, what a fright you gavo mot" Is her first Involuntary exclamation. "A fright! How so? What havo I done?" queries hor visitor, looking much surprised. "Oh, nothing!" answers Shell, whltst tbo ghost ot a smllo flickers round her still colorless lips. "It was my own foolishness; but I was not expecting any ono excepting Susan, nnd your knock frightened me. I suppose I must bo getting norvous" with a solf-dopreclatlng solf-dopreclatlng llttlo laugh. "Norvous? I should think so!" cries Robert wonderlngly. He has taken her hand In greeting, and feels It cold nnd trembling In his warm grasp. "But surely you aro not nlono In tho hou3o?" "Only for n short tlmo; I am expecting expect-ing Susan back ovory mlnuto," explains ex-plains Shell, who feels heartily ashamed of hor late weakness. Her visitor looks grave. "You oufeht not to be left alone In a hoiiBo llko this," ho says very decidedly. de-cidedly. "Why, you aro trembling still!" His words remind Shell that ho still has possession ot ber hand with a llttlo Impatient movement sho withdraws with-draws It (To bo Continued.) ' ( |
