Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-06-04
CHAPTER, 1.


".And. indced" says Nurse CDtty from
her seat by the fire. Though I'm not one
Of those as holds with cossettin' and fuss
in yet l do say, Miss Joan. as you
oughtn't TO be cNcitin of your mother so
much. She's that flushed and feverish.
and not n wink has she slept these two
nights. and this blessed infant a-wantin'
all the attention it can get"
"Oh. for goodness sake. nurse, shut up.
and don't bother!
1t was ] who said tllat-I, Joan. the eld-
est of tina, family of six of whom Nurse
Crotty had been discoursing. lay there
OH the bed beside that quiet figure with
the flushed face and fevcrish eyes--lay
there with an aching heart and passion
ate resentful thoughts. for hated the
interoper whose fretful cries sounded
ever and anon in the quiet of the firc-lit
room-hated her with jealous, resentful
pain for breaking in upon the complete
ness of the circlc-for disturbing its u.s.
ages and arrangements. for being of the
same sex as myself, the eldest and the
spoilt darling of this gentle, fragile moth
er, whom had at once loved. and idol
ized and tyrannizcd over for fourteen
years.
II don't disturb you. do II" 1 asked
my mother softly, laying my'check beside
the dear changed face. that for months
and months had been growing so pale
and wan.
mo. my darling" she answered tender
ly "But am so sorry you are not pleas
ed about it. .joan," she went on presently.
III thought YOU would have liked little
sistcr-something to pet, and protect. and
play with
81 had the boys. and I had you,' an
swercd reheliously. "Tllat was quite
enough"
ut was Gods will, my chid-you should
try and remember that"
But was silent. l could not and would
not remember anything except that the
lnterlopcr was an interloper; that none of
us had wanted her; that none of us cared
for her: that my mother was ill. my father
more stern and aggressive than his wont;
that Nurse Crotty was Il nuisance; that
the whole arrangements of the house were
upset and disorganized: that was in IL
vile temper, and altogether an ill-used and
suffering individual.
Don't talk about it, said Mt length.
Nurse says you are feverisll. and ought
to resi- and Sleep DO try and get we'll
soon. mother! III you only knew how we
all miss you!'
With swelling heart and cloudcd brow
l descended the stairs from my mothers
room and proceeding along the hall. o..
encd swing door at the end of it. and
in another moment found myself in me
midst of the noise and hubbuh which y.p-
orally associated itself in my mind, and
every one elses. as part and parcel of ".he
boys"
Hnre they We're. the whole four. making
noise enough for eight.
Teddy and Teddy were playing lc:,p-
frog. HusEie WAS jumping over the forms
those notchet. and linked. and bong .suf-
fcring pieces of furniture that we had
dubbed seats of learning" Alfred,
the eldest of the -four. was incri:ly on The
rug, hook in one hand and !: .uu sting
fork in the other.
ENTER the tra@i" muse cried Ted.
pauslns in the nc, of accepting l'oddy's
''back. and wavin. his hand towards me
as ! entered. "Doesn' she look likr it?
What's the news. .lo. and how's the kid:"
Jos nose is oul of joint" cried llug!lic.
vaulting on 10 tho table instead of the
forms. AMI facing IN" with IL broad grin.
which i,y no means hcantiiird IL naturally
wide mo"tll. "or she's had tusslr with
the nurse. Did you get the hest of it,
Jo! Have You seen the matcr?"
les. answered curlly: I've just
left her. Is the tea ready: Its five
o'clock
"Kins Alfred is doin;. his hes, to burn
the toast as per usual. said Tod. "And
Trotter brought i'll the teapot some time
ago. so suppose it's ready. know I'm
jolly hungry. and quite ready for it,
walked to the fireplace.
Here. III help with the to:isi." said.
fHISiOr III, .lutt l,cr fnrl. ,u.J .,,;.,,l, ~,
lodging the book from the students hand.
"Alfy. do wish you'd give mp trying to do
two things at once.
Does nurse say it's the bcau!ifulcst
child ais ever she nlisscd!'" asked Hing
Alfred: "you know she's told each of MS
that in turn"
II don't know said, rising from my
knees and carrying the huge pile of toast
to the table, land don't care" added. ill
temperedly.
"Our sweet sisters usually placid ma
ture is rutiled," remarked King Alfred,
following me and taking his seat ut the
Widespread board. Don't you mind" he
added, patting me on the back. process
hated; "we'll stand by you to Il man. The
intruder shall be relcgated to the nursery,
her musical voice will not penetrate these
sacred regions, and we'll promise you to
forget we ever had another sister,"
at doesn't matter to me-" l said: II
shall be grown up while she's still baby
in the nursery"
"And married and settled Who
knows?" chimed in King Alfred.
'Pass the toast to Toddy," | said with
dignity, waving aside these kindly sug-
gestions. "Thc child hasn't had half
enough. How greedy you and Hughie
arew
"He's younger and smaller: he ought not
to eat as much as we do," said Teddy
loftily. Were only acting for his diges-
tive welfare"
"Hushw cried King Alfred warningly.
II hear the tramp of feet. Listen! They
come nearer It is-it is"
abe quietr' cried, raising a white,
scared face from the tea tray, and spring
ing involuntarily p my feet as the door
opened.