Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1898-12-15


| pointing with her sunshade to a large
vase full of lilac which stands in the
center Of the chimney piece. 1T is so
absurd to put flowers in this horrid
old room"
shell turns her head sharply and
smiles at the mauye and white plumes
behind her.
I Just couldn't resist them,' she
says softly. Il took a rush round the
grounds before setting to work, and l
felt | must bring a 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 a deliberate sudden
ness.
Did you?" returns Shell carelessly,
as she continues to adjust her pins.
Robert Champley is expected
home next week. :"
is he?" says Shell, pausing sudden
~ In her work and opening her green
eyes to their fullest extent. Then she
continues musingly-"Poor fellow!"
Your pity seems rather ridiculous. i"
observes Ruby impatiently. "A man
with over two thousand a year is not
to be pitied."
Not even when he has lost the only
person who could make that two thou
sand a year worth haying?" queries
Shell, with curl Of her lip
Absurd! He must have got over
MS Wife's death by this time SAYS
Ruby, tapping her sunshade restlesslv
on the carpet; besides, he has his
children"
Poor little things" muses. Shell.
with short sigh.
why poor? Of course be win
marry again; and they win be we'll
looked after"
VIII they?" says Shell dubious1v.
i am sure | hope so;' besides. II re-
mains to be proved that Robert Champ-
ley will marry again-I think it very
doubtful myself"
AS If you, child of nineteen
could possibly form an opinion!" ex-
claims Ruby. Why you were a per-
feet baby when his wife died-I won
der that you can even remember her. !"
Let me see-I must have been civ
teen" remarks She'll with provoking
accuracy because know it happened
Tour years since; and | shall be twenty
the day after to morrow"
'Of course you would remember him
= didn't exactly mean that" owns
Ruby-"only at that age you could not
possibly understand much of his char
acter. Now poor Clara used to sav
that comprehended him so thorough
ly-nearly as well as she did. You
know Clara and | were close friends y
I always thought Mrs. Champlev
was Garnet's great friend" observes
shell, with just a 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"
No one person can take anotber's
place, says Shell decidedly. II know
Garnet correspondent with Mrs. Cbamnz
ley up to the time of her DEATH have
often heard mamma say So"
1 am very glad that he is coming
home, pursues Ruby, ignoring this
last allusion of her sisters intimacy
with Mrs. Champley. Il have often
felt it weight on my mind thai 7
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 a quizzical glance that her sister
says with an impatient flush
Well-haYe | said anything so very
extraordinary? You look as If Won
were going to eat me.
Well, 1t certainly sounded odd. IN
say the least of It, replies Shell re-.
Stunning her work" to hear that Won
We're going to look after Robert
champleys children. | should imag-
Inc that he is pretty we'll able 10 lool
after them himself
As IL man could possibly know
anything about the training of chill
dreni9 answers Ruby eontemptuously. |
poor mother tbat oa,,I1 - -. -. ' tt
to look after Them ,43 sb. ~ -, ~.
40 conventional seruples to prevent
81 am onite snre ~, 49,. i.
Shell In a low tome 10 5or y,am :, ~, sas
suddenly bannv fbonol.t s4.s,1 =. l'.a
Perhaps he won't have tbo ,s5s9 ne,
3one " sbo sars 80, - z..s e,ttisieh
-.he cant do better tban - - = ' 10, =
- = st4Slh