The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-07-27
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Then you refuse 2"
II am afraid that I cannot interfere"
The Doctor was very angry. Very
well, madam" said he. In that case
I can only say that I have the honor
to wish you very good morning.
He raised his broad straw hat and
strobe away up the gravel path, while
the widow looked after him with twink
ling eyes. She was surprised herself
to find that she liked the Doctor better
the more masculine and aggressive he
became. 1t was unreasonable and
against all principle, and yet SO it was
and no argument could mend the mat
ter.
Very hot and very angry, the Doctor
retired into his room and sat down to
read his paper Ida had retired and
the distant walls of the bugle showed
that she was upstairs in her boudoir.
Clara sat opposite to him with her ex-
asperating charts and blue book. The
Doctor glanced at her and his eyes re-
manned 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. cit 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 it was indeed SO
arranged, and that his daughter was
clad in a 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 it, 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 a short, grey
skirt, like that of Mrs. Westmacott, and
she held it up in each hand and danced
about among the furniture.
II feel quite the Gaiety girl" she
cried. How delicious it 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. 1T
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'
II 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. I will stand it no longer. I may
be late tonight shall go to the Brit
ish Medical meeting. But when I re-
turn [ 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 a 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? Pernfcious
influences! Don't you understand,
Clara? Why do you sit there so pale
and glum? Why don't you get up and
dance?"
ooh, 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 at this last moment
what would you do. Ida? Oh, don't
do anything too dreadful / 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, mischeyous eyes. I know
that you are going to propose some
thing dreadful
1--WE must give little supper to-
night,
eve? A support"
s.Why not? Young gentlemen give
suppers. Why not young ladies?''
zz-l,1,..,- 81. tut TO-