Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1898-09-15
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Widen. ]

for it,"
Shell makes no answer, but, bend
Ing over the table. begins to fit a tissue
paper pattern on her stuff, making a
scornful and expressive grimace of
contempt at her sisters affectation:
Il know you dote on carrying par
GELS; but then you do so many things
purposely to annoy that it Is no use at
tempting to stop you" continued Ruby,
signing gently.
Shell still keeps silent, only smiling
knowingly at her pattern as she twists
1t from side to side.
You were very wise not to go down
into the town this morning." Ruby
goes on after short pause. mot
that there was much sense in the ex-
cuse that you hadn't time, for l see you
have been wasting 1t in the grounds
pointing with her sunshade to a large
vase full of lilac which stands in the
center of the chimney piece. 1T is so
/ ,ibsurd to put flowers in this horrid
old room"
Shell turns her head sharply and
smiles at the mauve and white plumes
behind her.
| Il Just couldn't resist them" she
says softly. 81 took rush round the
grounds before setting to work. and I
felt / must bring bit of sweetness
back with me-"
Ruby is not listening to the explana-
ton: her eyes are gazing absently
through one of the open windows.
I'VE heard some news in the town."
she observes with u deliberate sudden
ness.
| did you?" returns Shell carelessly.
as she continues to adjust her pins.
"Yes-Robert Champley is expected
home next week.
rs he?" says Shell. pausing sudden
ly in her work and opening her green
eyes to their fullest extent. Then she
continues musingly-"Poor fellowv
Your pity seems rather ridiculous"
observes Ruby impatiently. "a man
with over two thousand yearfis not
to he pitied.''
mot even when he has lost the only
person who could make that two thou
sand year worth having?" queries
Shell. with a curl of her lip.
absurd! He must have got over
his wifes death by this time" says
Ruby, tapping her sunshade restlessly
on the carpet: besides. he has his
children"
Poor little thinss," muses. Shell.
with short sigh.
why poor? OF course he will
marry again: and they will be well
looked after"
"Will they?" says Shell obviously.
Il am sure I'hope so; besides. It re-
mains to be proved that Robert Champ
ley will marry again-I think 1t very
doubtful myself"
"As II you. child of nineteen.
could possibly form an opinion!" ex-
claims Ruby. why. you were per-
feet baby when his wife died. WON
der that you can even remember her."
Let me see-I must have been six
teen,' remarks Shell. with provoking
accuracy. because I know It happened
four years since: and shall be twenty
the day after tomorrow"
.Of course you would remember him
i didn't exactly mean that" owns
Ruby-"only at that age you could not
possibly understand much of his char
actcr. Now poor Clara used to say
that l comprehended him so thorough
ly-nearly as well as she did. You
know Clara and l were close friends. 4"
II always thought Mrs. Champley
was Garnet's great friend" observes
Shell, with just n shade of unbelief in
her tone.
AT one time" admits Ruby in some
confusion: only after Garnet married
and went to India I took her place"
mo one person can take another's
place." says Shell decidedly. Il know
Garnet correspondent with Mrs. Champ
ley up to the time of her DEATH have
often heard mamma say so.''
II am very glad that he is coming
home" pursues Ruby. ignoring this
last allusion of her sisters intimacy
with Mrs. Champley. 81 have often
felt 1t weight on my mind that I
have not been able to carry out dear
Clara's wish. and look after her chill
dren."
Shell has Strengthened her back. and
now stands staring full at Ruby with
such Quizzical glance that her sister
says with an impatient flush
"Well-have | said anything so very
extraordinary? You look as IL you
were going to eat me-
well, it certainly sounded odd. to
say the least of it," replies Shell, re-
suming her work." to hear that you
were going to look after Robert
Champley's children. I should mag
inc that he is pretty well able to look
after them himself"
"As II n man could Dossibly know
anything about the training of chill
dren" answers Ruby contemptuously
"Of course he can't. I promised their
poor mother that would do my best
: to look after them. and l shall allow
no conventional scruplcs to prevent
my fulfilling that promise"