The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-10-11
But what could the boys be screaming

stranger call twice: That he should
come once was not surprising
twice.
I'VE showed him your photograph"
said Popsey, ''and he said you didn't
look like an old maid Bit"
"And he said" went on the other ter
rible infant, without pause, "'wasn't
we glad to have such o nice sister he
wished he had and he had such lot of
bugs. He puts them to sleep with med
icine and sticks pins through 'em, and he
has gold watch and he let us wind it
up; and we told him to come again some
more. and here he is"
Charlotte was speechless, but in some
way she found herself rising to her feet
to greet a gentleman who was taking off
his hat to her and bowling with grace
which even Grandfather Brantome would
have approved.
"Miss Brantcme, believe"
She acquiesced in silence.
81 am gathering material for histori-
cal work, and was directed to you for in
formation concerning the antiquities of
this region. And l might as we'll say
now that have references and all that
sort of thing"
"Then you are not" She stopped;
be smiled.
"No, am not exactly bug-man, as
these little fellows have called me, nl
though I must plead guilt to slight
learning in that direction. Yet just now
I would joyfully part with the biggest
bugs of my collection if in exchange 1
might examine your grandfather pa
pers."
He was so gracefully genial that one
could no more be absurdly dignified with
him than with the golden robin singing
on the Indian cross.
"Will you walk IMP"
81 will sit out here instead, if you will
permit me-"
So Popsey and Wopsey dragged a
chair and then stood motionless and
wonder eyed, listening to the talk of dis
covery and adventure. They did not
understand it very we'll until the CONVEX.
sation turned to Indian lore. Indians
and bears they could comprehend.
Then the mother, attracted by strange
voice, drew near the door in her melan-
choly, wavering way.
"The postnaster's wife thought that
La Sale was an Indian nhtef," Charlotte
was saying, "snd she heard OF Father
Marquette, but supposed him the priest
down at La Pa. Her opinion of him
would not have made him vain. She
does not believe in 'poppery, as she
calls it"
81 met woman the other day who
thought herbarium was a bug" re-
marked Mr.. Duncan. Then of course
they laughed.
But everything comes to an end. The
boys began dumb show behind the
strangers back to indicate to their sister
that they we're perishing OF hunger; 80
she let the conversation lag in order to
end the call.
Come tomorrow and see the papers,
if you like" she said. "It will be Sat
urday, and shall be at hoAe to answer
questions.
He thanked her and withdrew, jump
ing over the rail fence which skirted the
field Of rye in order to get near view OF
the cross, on which not one, but doz-
en-, golden robbins were now holding q
vesper conclave. And the teakettle was
soon singing in the Brantome kitchen q
song as gay as that of the robins, and
Charlotte was not her usual careful self
as she picked the straw berries for tea.
Half of them green" said the dis
gusted Wopsey. aspect she's thinking
of the .bugman."
It certainly was astonishing how much
consulting the Brantome manuscripts
needed. And, too. Mr.. Duncan required
so much assistance. It was miss Bran
tome, will you kindly read this list
while I copy it?" or MISS Charlotte,
really cant make out whether is an 9
or an j." all the while. Grandfather
Brantome would have begun to inquire
as to marriage settlements and Scotch
pedigrees had he been alive to see those
chestnut locks, innocent of bangs, and
that dark msstache in such dangerous
proximity. It was the old story-two
young heads bending over the same
page. No word OF love had passed. All
was on strictly business basis. the cor.
rectness Of the History of the Missions Of
the North west the objective aim.
But ct last there was no excuse for lin
gering longer. The hills across the
prairie were red and gold, and robins
had fed, and the grain around the little
burying ground cut and slowed away.
Charlotte was walking home as usaal.
Far away in the road two moving dots
appeared. which developed into the twins
briny burrows down their not very clean
cheeks. Hysterical sobs alone came
from their mouths Is they tried to speak,
but finally sister intuition eliminated
these words from the chaos: