The Red Cloud chief., 1892-09-09

40 nir. EEerclt, OF the south African
Review" waited to hear no more.
! lcapcd 10 my feet, %ovcrturning the
footstool and the dog with a dreadful
racket: the smile and the chocolate
froze on my lips; my heart jumped into
mp throat. and thumpcd there SO ia st 1
could scarcely breathe.
| had contributed regularly for some
time To the South African Review
and my correspondence with the editor
had grown very friendly, indeed. but
never. never, in my widest imaginings
had forescen such n catastrophe, Nell
suggested afterward. as this.
cast a glance Of frcnzicd, but speech
less, appeal ut Nell. She nodded, pale
as Il ghost. She had heard, too.
'Ci'ar up" she whispered, briefly.
and then she began to laugh. noisclcss-
ly and hysterlcally. | thought this
downright mean of her, but | didn't
have time to demonstrate. | heard
Tom tell our guest in II very loud tone
for Our bcncft-that he would show
him In just as soon as he had finished 70
little matter then claiming his attention
in the shop. This was to give us time,
God bless him! And we improved it.
The way we did set chairs to their
right-abouts and jam things into those
bureau drawers! Nell got hold of the
muslin and struggled to get II into the
trunk, but there was too much of il.
Put IL behind the trunk" ! gasped.
and, us she obeyed, | added: "Therc's
one consolation. lie can't hear us, be-
cause he's us deaf rs anything; he told
me himself"
well, that is bliss" responded Nell,
lapsing into slang in her agitation.
We had barely begun to get things to
rights. it seemed, however, when We
heard them coming, and with hopeless
g~lances into the mirror we sank into
our chairs.
Tom pushed aside the porticre and
walked In, followed by n tall and fine
looking gentleman. With Il terrible
"Boo-woo-woo." in the voice Of a lion,
jeff leaped from his own individual
corner and made "a rush Mt our guest,
and rs the latter was just in the act of
taking a step, the dog, more astonished
than any of us, went straight between
the South African ankles and found
cred against the wall. AS the gentle
man recovered his equilibrium and his
self-possession, Tom lamcly introduced
him.
"Spcak louder, Tom" said !, conceal
ing the motion Of my lips behind my
kerchief. ''lIc is awfully deaf: he told
me himself"
as that SOP" said Tom: and then he
fairly shouted the introduction.
Nell came forward looking as cool
and sweet US a lily and gave him her
hand, telling him how really glad she
was TO welcome him.
20 fudge!' said Tom. making u wry
face at her over Mr.. Evcrett's shoulder;
iii he's deaf that's all Greek to him.
Speak up, my little man"
For one dreadful moment I thought
| Nell was going into one Of her convul-
sions of laughter, but she pulled her.
self together and presented me.
80 tins Is our little contributor"
said he, taking my hand and looking Mt
me with kind but amused eyes.
shouted out Eyes," but as hat sounded
rather fiat, and hearing Tom gigglc in
the background, l Imply subsidized.
Have a cbair?' cried Nell, her voice
rising 10 u little squeak as she preferred
the best and really safest chair in the
house. To CONSERVATION, however.
he showed n preference for ~ guilelcss
looking chair that was at heart one OF
base deception.
Great guns" calculated Tom, in n
tone of exaggerated emotion, while We
all stood shivering in ngonized sus-
pense. Its the chair with the broken
lcg!"
Before II guest could seat himself,
however, Nell had IL happy inspiration.
"Do, do take off your overcoatr she
cried. and then in n rapid aside to me:
'Aud Kate, do substitute another chair
while I'm talking sweet 10 him! Tom,
take his coat"
For I'M instant l thought a flash OF
uncomfortable mirth swept across cir,
Everctt's face, almost as IL he had
heard. But q second glance assured
me Of my mistake, for his expression
was sphinx-like.
"Now, that / have his coat" put in
Tom, with cold irony, while ! deity
changed the chairs, "what shall ! do
with it? Toss it or the trunk?"
Heaven! No!' said !, stcrnly. "Put
it ont in thc-in the"
"Cubby-hole," suggested Nell, giving
us a brief, innocent glance, and then
adroitly continued her conversation
with Mr.. Everett.
"Sure enough" said Tom, giggling as
he went out. ''T1l put IL on the bag OF
potatoes. He'll think we have q hun
drcd-dollar hat rack concealed in the
darkness"
Tom, | may say right here, was in
his element. A guest who was deaf,
and two sisters who had been canght
in q dreadful plight! What more could
the imp ask? lie took the tide at the
food, too. He came back and seated
! himself in the shadow SO he could fire
funny remarks at us without the motion
Of his lips being observed by Mr.. Ever
EFT.
Nell behaved like an angel. She sat
quite close TO our guest, and c~arricd@on
| 18th 1;,. o, op;pnato1 rnpxnrpatin, q,