The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1898-09-30
CHAPTER VI.


stillroom of the Wilderness, busting
delicate china tea-cups with a clean
glass-cloth. She is singing at the top
OF her fresh young voice, as she usual
W does when working alone.
ooh, here you are at last!" cries
Ruby, entering the room with VIC
timized air. 81 have been searching
all over the house for you. Who ever
would dream of finding you down here
at the end of this long passage?"
Anybody with an atom OF sense
answers Shell bluntly. "If you insist
upon asking about fifty people to q
garden party, with only two servants
some one must give them helping
hand" ~
"Absurd- afternoon-tea is no trou-
BILE; but if you choose to encourage
their laziness of course they are Will
ing enough to let you'll"
Shell makes no reply, but placidly
proceeds with her busting.
"Vi and 1 want you upstairs con-
tinues Ruby in different tone. I'VE
have decided to wear those muslins we
had for the fiower-show, only they
want altering little, and some ne"
laces lacking on"
"All right-only 1 can't come just
now" assents Shell readily-"the HOW
ers have to be gathered and arranged
yet; and cook is stepped to her eye
brows in cakes-I promised to help hei
as soon as l had finished these"
ooh, but the dresses must be done
, first! I'll gather the flowers II neces'
sary," says Ruby in the voice of
martyr "even though going out in the
keat always does give me frightfu
headache"
Shell reluctantly complies, and Is
occupied for nearly an hour, then hav'
ing still many household matters or
her mind, she rises to take her de-
parture
Don't go yet; you know how I alb
hor this sort of work." said RUBY
sharply-her only work so far has con
sisted in watching Shells deft needle
darting to and fro.
"But, Ruby, l must-the tennis
courts want marking; and must keel
my promise to cook"
ooh, we can manage now quite
wellr remarks Violet cheerily. by
the way, Shell, what are you going tt
wear?"-looking up with sudden In
terest
4 81? Oh, I don't KNOW haven
thought" returns Shell carelessly
my white serge will do as we'll Al
anything-at any rate it is ready.
Don't wear stuff, it looks so hot
besides, that serge looks horrid sine
it was washed" objects vi, who like
Shell sufficiently to wish that sh'
should appear at her best
my dear vi, don't waste advice OF
Shell-you know how self-opinionatet
she ID. Besides a slight uprais
ing Of her eyebrows" is such
child, it really doesn't matter mucl
what she wears"
Gust So" assents Shell, shutting tn
door behind her; but, all the same, sh'
goes away feeling rather sore at heart
for there is no small amount OF con
tempt in Ruby's tone. Though he
eldest sister has assigned her age a.
a reason for her dress not mattering
she knows full well that the tone als'
insinuates a vast want of personal at
fractions too.
Yet, if she only knew it, she ha
1. ba oh n ~.
genial spirit and a warm impulsiv'
heart. which peeps out Of her clea
gray-green eyes, and fingers amidst tn
dimples OF her crimson lips.
All that long summer afternoon
there is no thought of self in the girl
conduct. She fits about, finding foot
stools and seats for old ladies, getting
pins and fresh flowers for girls VIII
have come imperfectly provided, an
generally making herself useful.
when will you be ready for ten
nis?" asks Robert Champley, who ha
been watching her narrowly, thougl
unseen. for the past ten minutes.
az am not going to play" answer
Shell brightly, as she hurries acros
the lawn with a sunshade for an oil
lady who has left her own at home
and now finds herself incommoded b.
I the ardent gaze of King Sol.
"But everybody says you play s.
we'll and yet l have never seen yo1
touch racket" he urges, with smile
on her return.
"Perhaps that is how keep M
reputation," laughs Shell gaily.
"No-but, really, like to watch goo
play; you might be obliging," plead
her companion. Truth to tell, he
beginning to take deep interest Il
Shell. probably owing to the fact tina
she seems to take no interest whateve
in him.
well, l will be-" responds Shell
with a curious little smile; and ther
walking straight up to an exceedingl
pretty girl dressed in pale pink, sh
says gravely, Mora dear, Mr.. Champ
ley is most anxious to meet with som
one who plays tennis really well, SO
thought l couldn't do better tina
II