The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-12-09
BOB.

Living, dying r
--[Chas. w. Stubs.
| BOB.
Pretty little Mrs. Dick Lawney was in
the pouts. She was alone, and there was
certainly nothing to pout at in the beau
| tiful little room, full of brown, crimson
and gold, where she sat, or in the lovely
! landscape of Dale park, seen through
| the open window brilliant autumn
garden, crystal fountains playing in the
! sunshine, and blue distances seen among
the yellowish trees; but yet little Mrs.
| Dick was decidedly in the pouts.
There was frown on the pretty white
forehead, ard the round, red lips were
| pushed out in an unmistakably angry
way-fortunately becoming one; for
| it must be confessed that this little lady,
from long course of unlimited petting,
was little spoiled, and being quite un-
equal to the crosses and vexations of
| life, from which her husband could not
always shield her, was rather given to
pouting. She was dainty, doll-like
creature, irresistibly pretty when she
smiled, as she usually did, for though the
world did not always go round to sui.
Effie Lawney, she was not obdurate in
| her resentment-the sunshine always
came back presently. A sunny head
run over with eurls," and ivory fore
head, fine black brows, dark blue eyes,
and tiny white teeth, shining from D
| rosebud mouth.
It was beautiful DAY, and company
| would be sure to come to Dale park that
afternoon. Yes, Miss Elinor Paxton
would arrive in half an hour; and Bob
that scamp of Bnb-hadn't come near
to go down with a carriage.
Mrs. Dick actually stamped her slip
pered foot on the crimson roses of the
carpet, as she looked at the clock. After
all her trouble in getting her pet friend
| to come into the country at that season
of the year (for Elinor was passionately
fond of the water, and always fingered
ut the seashore until late in October)
and assuring her that her handsome
brother Bob (no other than the incom-
parable Lieutenant Robert St. Charles)
would meet her at the depot-to have
Bob absent himself in this provoking
way, was actually unbareable; or so Mrs.
Dick found it.
| She rang the bell, A mulatto boy ap-
peared.
''Tip, hasn't Master Bob come yet?"
| Nom
'You can tell Uncle Christie to GO
down to the station with the carriage for
Miss Paxton," despairlngly.
"Tll never forgive Bob as long as
liver" said Mrs. Dick, going TO her cham
ber to dress. "EIinor is so admired by
men only the most remarked attentions
from Bob would win her fayor-nice as
Bob is-and for him to act this way
1 now! And what excuse / can ever make
for him 1 don't knowr'
Then she grew pensive, threading out
the sunny fringe of silky locks about hel
forehead; and when the golden hair was
knotted with blue, and the lovely shoul
ders encased in lace -frilled sacque OF
white opera flannel. the charming appa
rition in the mirror was smiling, in spite
of Mrs. Dicks last dreadful words.
Miss Elinor Paxton was welcomed with
little scream of exultation.
"Oh, you dear. delightful Nelly! Have
you come at last? [ didn't expect il
would come to pass that you would come
down here in September; but you have
This is actually you-in the lovelies
bonpet! Where did you get that charm
ing suit made, Nelly? And, oh. wan
to show you my new dress-it's just Fer
fectr
So the ladies disappeared in the direc
ton of the chambers, where they chat
ted with delight until they came down
dressed for dinner.
A graceful, brown-eyed girl of twenty
whose toilet was always perfect, Eli
nor was quietly charming at the frs
glance.
"And, then, everybody says Nelly i'm
proves so upon acquaintance! said Mrs
Dick to her husband, in an asida, aftel
dinner.
s'Just SO. Where's Bob?"
s.That's Just it. He's off somewhere
and it's too late now for him to make
good impression. Nelly said, .Didn'
your brother know I was coming? Anc
she looked at me-so, you know, had tt
tell the truth; and now she never viii
like himl"
..Come, Efie!' called Elinor, from th.
garden door.
Walking arm-in-arm down the syrings
paths, these young ladies must need,
soon step aside to avoid a young mar
who dashed in at side gate with sucl
impetus as to make collision with him
apprehensible-a handsome young man
with perspiring brow, and a grea
bouquet of greenhouse roses in hi
hand.
i "Efier' he exclaimed, coming to
halt.
"Well, sir?" returned Mrs. Dick
hanghtily.
I'll hope have not inconveniencet
, you by my absence?'
! 1T is of no consequence, replied th.
little lady, icily. Then she turned t.
J Elinor, who was trihing with spray o
red leaves. Miss Paxton, allow me t,
inti oduce to you my brother Robert"
} Elinor's sweet eyes glanced once at th
| handsome head of close cropped curl
, which bent so low before her, and sh
wondered much why Etfie was SO shor
with her very bonny brother, while sh