The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-06-08

| ter says she would give him more'n he
| brought" He smiled affably at the two
| little stiff black figures, and departed
in search of his mistress.
'What-What did he Say? gasped
Bertha.
Something about "a Oh, goodness
gracious! Oh, help, help, help, help
helpv' The two sisters had bounded on
! to the settee, and stood there with star
| ing eyes and skirts gathered in, While
| they filled the whole house with their
| yells. Out of a high wicker work basket
which stood by the fire there had risen
| fiat, diamond-shaped head with
| wicked green eyes which came flicker
| ing upwards, waving gently from SIDE
to side, until foot or more OF glossy,
| scaly neck was visible. Slowly the VI
cious head came floating up, While at
every oscillation a fresh burst of shr1eks
came from the settee.
"What in the name of mischief!'
| cried a voice, and there was the mis-
| tress of the house standing in the door
| way. Her gaze at first had merely TAX
| en- in the fact that two strangers were
standing screaming upon her RED pluSn
| sofa glance at the fireplace, now
ever, showed her the cause of the ter
| ror. and she burst into a hearty mt OF
| laughter.
Charley" she shouted, there's Eliza
| misbehaving again"
It'll settle her. answered a masculine
| voice, and the young man dashed into
| the room. He had brown horSe-cloth
| in his hand, which he threw over the
| basket, making it fast with piece OF
Irvine so as to effectually imprison its
| inbate, while his aunt ran across to re-
assure her visitors.
cit is only rock snake" she ex-
| lained.
ooh, Berthav ooh, Monica!' gasped
the poor exhausted gentlewomen.
"She's Matching out some eggs. That
| is why we have the fire. Eliza always
| does better when she is warm. She is a
| sweet, gentle creature, but no doubt she
| thought that you had designs upon her
| eggs. I suppose that you did not touch
any of them?'
"Oh, let us get away, Bertha!' cried
Monica, with her thin, black-gloVed
hands thrown forward in adherence.
Not away, but into the next room,
| said Mrs Westmacott, with the air OF
| one whose word was law. '"Th1S way, II
| you please! 1t is less warm here" She
led the way into a very handsomely ap-
pointed library, with three great cases
Of books, and upon the fourth side
long, yellow table Uttered over with
papers and scientific instruments. "Sit
here, and you there" she continued.
THAT is right. Now let me see, which
of you is Miss Williams and which Miss
Bertha Williams?'
81 am Miss Williams" said Monica,
| still palpitating, and glancing furtive-
| ly about in dread of some new horror.
'And you live, as I understand, over
at the pretty little cottage. It is very
| nice of you to call so early. don't sup
pose that we shall get on, but still the
| intention is equally good She crossed
| her legs and leaned her back against
| the marble mantelpiece.
1--WE thought that perhaps we might
be Of some assistance" said Bertha,
| timidly. IF there is anything which we
could do to make you feel more at
| home
ooh, thank you, I am too old trav-
| eler to feel anything but at home where
ever [ go. I've just come back from
| few months in the Marquesas Islands,
where 1 had very pleasant visit. That
was where I got Eliza. In many respects
1 the MdrQueSoS ASle1IAoo ~" ACo'A 'AAO
| world"
Dear me!' calculated Miss Williams.
| I'm what respect?'
I'm the relation of the sexes. They
| have worked out the great problem
upon their own lines, and their iso-
| lated geographical position has helped
| them to come to a conclusion of their
| own. The woman there is, as she
should be, in every way the absolute
equal of the male. Come in, Charles,
and sit down. Is Eliza all right?"
'All right, aunt"
These are our neighbors, the Misses
Williams Perhaps they will have some
stout. You might bring in couple of
| bottles, Charles"
mo, no, thank you! None for us!'
cried her two visitors, earnestly.
mo? 1 am sorry that I have no tea
| to offer you. I look upon the subservi-
ency of woman as largely due to her
| abandoning nutritious drinks and invig-
Grating exercises to the male. I do
neither" She picked up a pair of fif
| teen-pound dumb-bells from beside the
fireplace and swung them lightly about
| her head You see what may be done
on stout" said she.
"But don't you think" the elder Miss
Williams suggested timidly, don't you
think, Mrs Westmacott, that woman
| has mission of her own?"
| The lady Of the house dropped her