The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1889-03-22
I. Yes, believe t vas Robins n.

Hy. Yes, 7 believe It vas Robins III
dividuaiity that rendered her such
favorite at school. She was not in the
least like other girls, but always 81
CHEEKY and full of spirits that she got
the name Of Robin--I suppose because
a robin is the bestowed and mos
spirited of our English out-of-dooi
pets"
81 am afraid she will and it very
dull" muses. aunt Louisa doubtfully:
"we have 80 little to offer her in the
shape of gaiety."
.sWell, / have not succeeded IN max.
ing you understand her character in
the very least / say, with a despair.
! ing shake of my head. robin de-
lights in country life. / don't think
she cares a pin for society"
''Still she will want some amuse-
ment."
robin in want of amusement" |
answer, raising my eyebrows. mo,
l can't fancy that. 1 think she is too
| light-hearted to feel dull, even if she
were stranded, like Kobinsoss Crusoe,
on q desert island. She used to be
first ard foremost in all the fun at
school. / think | never knew such q
hand at practical jokes"
Practical jokes!" repeats, aunt
Louisa uneasily. THAT is most unfor-
tunate., l kaew ~ poor boy who had
his spine injured for life by having his
chair pulled away when he WAS going
to sit down, and another ~who,caught
rheumatic fever by finding q wet
sponge in his bed"
/ burst into % long and merrt ft of
laughter.
"Oh, auntie;;" . cry, when my U
she would not play such tricks as
those-why,. you must picture her'W
regular monkey!. Pwfl guarantee she
shall leavethe bedssan chairs alone"
Aunt looks relieved, though She
seems scarcely to~'appreciate my laugh.
ter. / am anticipating something in
the shape 05 al repr:mand, when the
door opens and my brother John ena-
tiers the rooz1I
He is q young mani If stx-and-twenty
tall, and slightly built, with a high
thoughtful forehead and big unfathom-
able gray eyes He issny only brother
and l love him1With a. Sind of enthusi-
astic worshina Il look up 10 him also
with q species Of reverence, as being
the impersonation of clbwerness. Most
of his timeis spent in hisistudy, a dark
little DEM surrounded! by heavy book
shelves. Whensnot occupied in read
ing or writing, heis- g. greater dream
er even than / aInamyself.. Occasion
ally / have had!to shout'quEte into his
meals are waiting. Hbr ear his
hair rather long, and is inclined to be
~neglectful of his. appearance.
Entering the room now, lie %saunters
idly about, lingering the ornaments on
the various tables in an absent man.
ner; finally he works ROUND to where
we are sitting, andl sakingup my bun
die of woods, begins to play with them,
idly twisting them i'll andioUt between
his strong brown fingers
sis it anywhereea about tiIs hour for
tea?" he questions in, 4 voice which is
deep, s%onorous, and a.trffle'sad.
/ answer inthe affirmative; and, fold
ing up my work, begin to cRat. 1t is
so very seldom that john is to be
caught in q conversational mood that
l never neglect to- avail'myself of the
occasion when such istfe case.
Presently the tea arrives, brought in
by our one m~an-servant, Robert. After
setting the tray On the small wicker
tea-table to his satisfaction. he is about
to withdraw, when L remember my
letter, and tell Hmm 10, see that it is
placed in the bag.
ga truly feminine budget" remarks
John sarcastically, as his eye lights on
q well-filled envelope.
EYES," answers auna Louisa, with
more than usual alacrity. Il have
just been giving Blanche. 81 lecture on
her waste of paper, but L doubt if she
will benefit by it,"
Ills good f~orrtrada,"- I interpose
oracularly. ssBesides, auRtie, if we
both set about keeping tn account OF
our stationery, l think yours would
make mine look very small at the end
of the year. You write three or four
letters every day. and, as a rule, /
don't get throughout 81 week."
Aunt Louisa laughs. She is so gen.
timely good-natured, Notwithstanding
her pet crotchets, that she Eve minds
being worsted imam argument.
eff my invitation is accepted" 1
pursue, nodding in auntie's direction,
Il probably. shain3t wri1s another let
ter this month";
John looks up auick1yfrOmthe strong
cup of tea he. is stirring
ssYour invitation" he says inter-
negatively.
Eyes; donlh you remember 1 asked.
you about it a few days ~since?"
al cannot say that I have any clear
recolleetionaf your telling me anything
of the. sort" he answers, slowly, a
slight frewn puckerizg his forehead.
s'What a wretched memory you
havein / exclaim, with some pity. 81
certainly told YOU that l was going to
ask my dearest ssAool-friend, Robin,
down to. stay for q month"
81 don't doubt that you told me-; but
[ could not have been listening at the
time" replied John.
This, explanation is so very probable
that L do not argue the point any fur
Their.
blanche, are you determined TO-
poison me?" asks aunt Louisa at this
moment in pathetic tones, and handing
me back her cup of tea untouched.
l have been so frequently asked the
same question that l merely shake my
head in mild dissent, pour out two
thirds of the cup in theslop-basi1, and
fill up the void with water.
ssThat ia better" remarked nv aunt,