The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-05-11


ing shake OF her heal; ..niy one object
in life at present is TO get sunburnt:
Besides, my hat is st present other
wise engaged
turn my head in the direction to
which she points, and family discern
the straw brim of her inverted hat
peeping fJrtl, tpam beneath a heavy
load of blossoms.
'.I'll ask aunt Louise to hunt you up
an old market basket" | say, with a
touch of satire. "You never seem
ahic ~ End anything big enough to
hold your flo@eis:
Robin only laughs softly:
Aren't they just lovely?" she cries,
burying her little white nose for
moment amidst the fragrant heap on
hey iat,. "Hut I must set about put
ting them. I'll Tatet; peer dears,o or they
viii begin to droop::"
So saying, she rises from her seat,
gathering up her apron in one hand,
her hat AID basket with the other.
1T won't take me ten minutes and
then / will collie out again." she says,
looking ii me doubttuliy, 70 see
whether have iny intention OIL. NOV
ing; but | shake my head, i&ighfhg:
'.No, no, my Robin" remark, as l
produce the second volume of novel,
dreamy enough to suit even my con-
stitutt6n: II came ont of doors to
please you, and an going ts stop to
please myself-come back Which, fta
have finished the flowers"
So Robin trips off towards The house,
and settling myself comfortably on the
low stone scat, | p1tingo into my, ficti-
tious fairyland. For some time read
in peace, then l am interrupted by
tickling sensation on one of my hands;
glancing DIP I become aware that q
precocious earwig is taking his morn
ing constitutional on my second finger.
To fling the insect from NE, vigorously
rice and shake my skirts, lest any of
his kindred should be lurking thereon,
is the work of few moments: Then
l pick up my book, dropped in the
skirmish, heave rather impatient
sigh, and make my way to the house.
R6bih is hot in the hall, whore | ex-
peoted to find her: The big marble
table is strcwn with leaves, stems and
twigs, big pair of scissors, and two
watcr-jugs, but my friend is nowhere
visible,
s'Robin, RobinI" ] cry, sending my
voice first in the direction OF the din
ing room and then upstairs. "Where
are you?"
The RESPONSE came from a totally
unexpected quarter:
"Here!" answered Robin, in her low
clear tones.
Can it be that the sound emanatas
from Johns study? Surely not! And
yet the voice certainly comes from be-
hind me.
turn and move toward the door;
it stands ajar | can distinguish the
flutter of white robe amidst the
darkness beyond. For a moment l
stand aghast. John must have for
gotten to lock his sanctum, suppose,
yet the audacity of Robin takes away
my breath.
l push open the door and enter, JUS
as my friend noisily sends up the lower
half of the heavy windows sash.
"Musty, fusty, ard no mistake"
she says, greeting with sniff OF relish
the rush of fresh outer air.
"Oh, Robin, shut it down again. i
cry in a hushed whisper, AID .vainly
putting all my strength into struggle
with the stiff framework. Help me
to close it at once, and take away these
flowers in the direction of
the table--"and come away"
"And why, pray? Give me a rca-
son, demands Robin, CHANGING round
the dusty room with an air o. dispar-
agement.
''Oh, John never allows any one
not even men-with emphasis-.'to
come in here! The room is always
cleaned out once month; but we give
him warning, so that he may lock up
all his precious things.
sDear me! / don see anything very
precious" observes Robin, still gazing
around; NOR is there mystery so far
as / can make out''-lifting the table
cover and pcering underneath.
"Of course there is no mystery l
answer impatiently. bat as rule
mcn-clever men particularly
to have their pet books and things
handled
"Oh, and is your brother supposed
to be clever?" asks Robin, with -
slight elevation of her eyebrows; and
she begins prying into the titles of tho
volumes scattered about on the table.
Supposed to be?" l echo a little
scornfully. ..Ho is clever-awfully
clover"
Il have no wish to argue the point"
returns Robin ind fferently. ''Now |
am not clever, not in the least; but l
do know this much, that fresh air is
good for everybody, and | shall make
"a point of telling him so.
HE will never forgive you if he
hears that you have been in his room. y
"How very alarming-for l shall
certainly tell him!"
She has actually seated herself in
his round-backed writing chair, and
with profane. fingers is turning over
the yellow leaves of book which lies
open before he". l still stand by the
window, half amused, half angered,
and wonder how in the wide world /
| am to induce her to move.
(TO BE CONTINUED.