Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-04-01
or a. CONAN DOYLE

cara sat opposite to MIN with ner e4-
asperating charts and blue book. The
Doctor glanced at her and his eyes re-
mained fixed in establishment upon the
front Of her skirt.
''My dear Clara" he cried, "you have
torn your skirt"
His daughter laughed and smoothed
out her frock. To his horror he saw
the red plush Of the chair where the
dress ought to have been. ut is all
torn!' he cried. What have you
done?''
"My dear papa" said she. what do
you know about the mysteries of ladies'
dress? This Is a divided skirt"
Then he saw that 1t was indeed so
arranged, and that his daughter was
clad in q sort Of loose, extremely long
knickerbockers.
1T will be so convenient for my sea-
boots" she explained.
Her father shook his head sadly.
''Your dear mother would not have
| liked 1t, Clara" said he.
For moment the conspiracy was on
the point of collapsing. There was
something in the gentleness of his re-
| buke. and in his appeal to her mother.
which brought the tears to her eyes,
and in another instant she would have
/ been kneeling beside him with every
| thing confessed. when the door flew
! open and her sister Ida came bounding
into the room. She wore short. grey
skirt. like that Of Mrs. Westmacott, and
she held it up in each hand and danced
| about among the furniture.
(! Il feel quite the Gaiety girl" she
cried. How delicious 1t must be to be
! upon the stage! You can't think how
| nice this dress is. papa. One feels so
free in it. And isn't Clara charming?"
go to your room this instant and
! take it OFF," Numbered the doctor. II
| call it highly improper, and no daugh-
ter of mine shall wear it,"
Papa! Improper: Why, it Is the
exact model Of Mrs. Westmacott's."
Il say it is improper. And yours also,
Clara! Your conduct is really outra-
geous You drive me out Of the house.
am going to my club in town. I have
no comfort or peace Of mind in my own
house. will stand it no longer. I may
| be late tonight shall go to the Brit
ish Medical meeting. But when I re-
turn I shall hope to find that you have
shaken yourself clear of the
pernicious influences which have re-
Gently made such an alteration in your
conduct" He seized his hat, slammed
the dining-room door, and few min
utes later they heard the crash of the
big front gate.
Victory, Clara, victory!" cried Ida,
still pirouetting around the furniture.
Did you hear what he said? Pernicious
influences! Don't you understand,
Clara? Why do you sit there so pale
and glum? Why don't you get up and
dance?"
"Oh. I shall be so glad when it is
over. Ida. I do hate to give him pain.
Surely he has learned now that it is very
unpleasant to spends ones life with re-
formers"
HE has almost learned it. Clara.
Just one more little lesson. We must
not risk all al this last moment"
What would you do. Ida? Oh. don't
do anything too dreadful. I feel that
we have gone too far already"
"Oh, we can do it very nicely. You
see we are both engaged and that makes
it very easy. Harold will do what you
ask him, especially as you have told
him the reason why, and my Charles
will do it without even wanting to know
the reason. Now you know what Mrs.
Westmacott thinks about the reserve of
young ladies. Mere prudery, affecta-
ton, and relic of the dark ages Of the
Zenana. Those were her words, were
they not?"
What them"
"Well. now we must put it in prac-
tice. We are reducing all her other
views to practice. and we must not
shirk this one"
But what would you do? Oh. don't
look so wicked, Ida! You look like some
evil little fairy, with your golden hair
and dancing, mischevous eyes. 1 know
that you are going to propose some
! thing DREADFUL
1--WE must give a little supper to-
, night
1--WE? A supper"
why not? Young gentlemen give
suppers. Why not young ladies?"
But whom shall we invite?"
"Why, Harold and Charles. of course"
"And the Admiral and Mrs. Hay Den
ver?'
"Oh, no. That would be very old
fashioned. We must keep up with the
times. Clara"
But what can we give them for sup
per?''
"Oh, something with a nice, fast, roll
licking, late-at-night flavor to it. Let
me see! Champagne. of course-and
oysters. Oysters will do. In the novels
all the naughty people take champagne
any oysters. Besides, they won't need
any cooking. How is your pocket-mon.
ey, Clara?"
II have three pounds"
And have one. -Four pounds. have
! no idea how much champagne costs.
Have you?"
mot the slightest
'f1ow many oysters does a man eat?"
II can't imagine"
"I'll write and ask Charles. No,
won't. I'll ask Jane. Ring for her,
Clara. She has been cook, and is
sure to know"
Jane, on being cross-questioned. re-
fused to commit herself beyond the
; statement that it depended upon the
! gentleman, and also upon the oysters.
The united experience of the kitchen.
however testified that three dozen was
fair provision.
'Ti;en we shall have eight dozen al
together" said Ida, jotting down all
her requirements upon sheet of pa
, per- And two pints of champagne.
And some brown bread and vinegar and
pepper. That's all. think. 1t is not
so very difficult to give supper after