Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-06-10
WHAT TOM THOUGHT.

tylal lOh 4hOSohls
\ Don't be cross, Tom. OF course
Bella would not have invited her if
she had known you were to be at
home; but how could weknow that all
oar plans would change so suddenly?
We thought, ofcourse, thetyou would
/ co to Norway with mother and father.
II is unfortunate, but do make the
best of it. And, really, lido not think
yo,, will dislike her when you know
her-do you, Bella!"
II cannot say" said Bella, with
lofty discretion; II do not pretend to
understand Toms likes and dis
likes. Shelda is a woman, not doll
land a woman of intellect. On the
whole. am inclined to think that Tom
will dislike her."
Il agree with you," said Tom, with
vicious kick az ragged dictionary
that lay OH the ground; al never met
a blue stocking yet who was anything
but the intensest of bores and the
most insufferable of prigs. 1 hate
ssarned women. No girl who is worth
anything wants to fling up all her du-
ties at home, and rush away to college
10 mud9le her brains with classics
and mathematics. and glcry In doing
tand doing badly what her brothers
are doing land doing Welt. Awoman
should be content with the work Ma
tnre meant her for--that is what I
hold
Your holding the opinion proves it
true, no doubt, said Bella. "Nancy,
It is FIVE o'clock; Shelda will be here
directly. must 90 TO the station TO
meet her; viii you see that everything
is ready in he- room?"
Bella hustled away to prepare for
her walk. while Nancy sat smiling to
herself at her sisters parting order.
She was far too good a housekeeper
10 have left the preparation of the
euest-chamber until the arrival OF the
guest, and she sat still, with an easy
eeaseIenee, and devoted herselfto pac-
flying Tom. 1t was not an easy task,
Tor Toms pet aversion was learned
woman. and Shelda Clarke was uu-
doubtedly learned.
Nancy was sitting by the window,
and, as she talked to Tom, shelooked
out every now and then to see il the
carriage was in sight. No carriage
came, but presently she caught sight
| Of the two girls, who were trudging
briskly along the road.
Here they are, she said, "and they
4 arewalkiHg. How breezy Shelda looks
-tbe wind is blowing her hair about;
Shelda's hair would never keep neat
like other peoples. Bella is talking;
Bella was always the one to talk,
remember. and Shelda the listener"
Bella was talking. as Nancy said;
che was preparing her friend for Toms
presence and apologizing beforehand
Tor his manners.
81 thought we should have had such a
quiet pleasant month together" she
was saying regretfully. II thought we
should have got through so much
reading. / want you to read the
Ajax with me, and there is another
new Political Economy Just come.
Tom IS not intellectual, you know,
and mans presence IN the house is,
at the best OF times, disturbing ele-
nent. You must be prepared to find
Ton pitIfully narrow in his ideas. He
thinks that all women should be con-
tented il they have the bliss of broth
ers with stockings to darn"
Shelda laughed. But they were
close TO the house then, and Nancy
was smiling welcome, and there was
no time TO answer.
Nancy opened the window at which
Fhe was standing, and knelt down be-
lore it with her elbows on the sill, and
hhelda leaned across the mignonette-
bed TO kiss her. Tom came sullenly
forward from the background to be
introduced.
My brotiIer-Miss Clark, said Bel
la. freezingly polite. Nancy, you
have tea ready, hope. Now, Shelda,
yon must be tired; come indoors and
take of your things"
Tom had just time to catch hur-
red glance OF a slight, pretty girl, in a
dark brown frock made quantity, and
little round hat with soft velvet at
the brim, and the pretty girl had
looked up at him with pair of earn
est, frank brown eyes. Then she was
gone-Bella was hurrying her into the
hoiise IN a brisk, business-like way,
and eai rying her off to her room. 1t
was half an hour before she appeared
down stairs again; in the meantime,
Toms cloud of ill-humor gradually
/ MED. He even deigned, TO Nancy's
sarprise, to pretend to feel some inter
est m their visitor. 1t was very good
OF Tom.
She is not as bad looking as most
OF them, he said.
NO, she is pretty" said Nancy, let
ting the side-censure pass. as was wise.
then.
She looks very young" said Tom,
tentatively.
she is twenty-one."
Gen.
$50 she does said Nancy, willing
to agree on all points.
What do you call herr" continued
ION; "shelda-why Shelda?--what an
outlandish name,"
Perhaps it is a little outlandish,"
.sa Nancy, still bent on pleasing. Il
mink Its pretty, though"
Then there was another interval OF
silence. Tom moved restlessly from
rom window to fireplace, and from
fireplace to window.
Why in the world is Bella keeping
ner upstairs all this timer" he said at
aast "She must be tired to death
with her journey"
There were no signs, however, OF ex-
sessiye fatigue about Shelda, when at
iength she and Bella appeared. Her
aark eyes were bright and observaDt,
ana there was pretty, fresh color in
her cheeks. Her hair had been
brushed and gathered up into a shape
!. knos behind, but already few
stray carls around her brow had es-
saped, and were giving her face what
Nancy callrd its breezy look" She
nad a quiet, decided, self-possessed
way OF speaking, and Tom had always
oeclared that girl who was decided
ana sell possessed was an abomina-
slon m his eyes; but yet he seemed TO
s'na q certain pleasure watching her
Sns and Bella were talking eagerly,
ana presently he joined in the CONVEX
sasion. They were talking OF women's
work, and Tom disagreed with them,