The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1897-08-06
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the distant walls Of the buRle showed
tnat she was upstairs in her boudoir.
cara sat opposite to him with her ex-
asperating charts and blue book. The
Doctor glanced ct her and his ewes rc-
manned fixed In astonishment upon the
front of her skirt. -.
MY dear Clara" he cried. s.you have
torn your skirt!'
His daughter laughed and smoothed
out her frock. To his horror he raw
.he req plush Of the chair where the
aress ought. to have been. 'It is all
done?" 80
my dear papa" said she, what do
you know about the mysteries Of ladies'
oress! This is divided skirt
ihen he saw that it was indeed 30
arranged, and that his daughter was
clad IN sort Of loose, extremely. long
knickerbockers.
VIII be so convenient for my sea-
ooots." 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-
Duke. and in his appeal to her mother,
which brought the tears to her eyes.
ana IN another instant she would have
peen 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 1t 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 1t orr thundered the doctor. ST
call 1t highly improper, and no daugh-
ter Of mine snail wear It,"
Papa! Improper! Why, It is the
exact model Of Mrs. westmacott's."
II say 1t 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 1t no longer may
be late Tonight shall go to the Brit
tsh Medical meeting. But when 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,
stilf pirouetting around the furniture.
ibid 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
dancer"
"oh. I shall be so glad when It is
over. Ida. 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. I feel that
we have gone too far already"
"Oh, we can do 1t very nicely. You
see we are both engaged and that makes
1t very easy. Harold will do what you
ask him, especially as you have told
him the reason why, and my Charles
will do 1t 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 a relic of the dark ages of the
Zenana. Those were her words, We're
they not?"
what them"
"Well. now we must put 1t 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. 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 Dem
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 nice, fast. roll
licking. 1ate-at-night flavor to 1t. 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?"
1T have three pounds
"And / have one. Four pounds. have
no idea how much champagne costs.
Have you?"
"Not the slightest"
"aow many oysters does msn. eat?"
can't imagine" - KS
"rn write and ask Charles. No. I
won't. I'll ask Jane. Ring for her.
Clara. She has been q cook. and is
sure to know" lls
Jane. on being cross-questioned. re-
fused to commit herself beyond the
statement that 1t depended upon the
gentleman, and also upon the oysters.