Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-11-10

with lasy shrug OF his shoulders. IN
you have . fancy for stinging-nsttles.
II may be q weakness on my part, but
! have particular sion to prickly
young women, and Maaemolsells Shell
IL 4 perfect hedgehog"
"Then you won't Gomez"
mot II know 1t: and you can hint
to the young lady that she has lost the
pleasure OF my company entirely
through her waspishness Of disposi.
tion-perhaps then she will mend hei
ways"
Eyes. that would be likely to make
strong impression on hcr. / should
think" says the elder brother deris.
lively. as he clears the ashes from his
pipe and prepares for departure. "The
fact is." he continues In explanation,
II think Shell ought to Join her mother
at Oakford, 1 Is really not safe fol
her to remain here all alone"
"Oh. she Is safe enough! Nobody who
has had one interview with her 10
likely to molest her a second time."
SCOTS Ted. However. II she is weigh.
Ing on your mind you had certainly
better get rid of her before we start:
30 go and give her the benefit of your
opinion. II you dare-you always were
of somewhat Quixotic nature"
- mot in the least" returns Robert
seriously. '"Only where duty SO plain.
ly lcada one must needs follow"
Capital sentiment. no doubt. for the
head of q family" drawls Ted. ''If
ever marry, I hope sense Of my
responsibility will fall upon me at the
same time. At present my duty plain
ly leads me to pack. and not to moral
ize with Shell on the impropriety OF
her conduct"
'.You are . lazy dog. Ted. and no
mistake!" laughs Robert Champley,
looking down with an indulgent smile
at his younger brother. who. instead
Of bestirrinS himself for the talked-of
packing. has sunk down upon the
close e-shaven green slope leading to the
veranda. and is almost lost to view
under the widespread sheet OF the
Times.
II am thankful for small mercies."
responds Ted. in tone of unmeritsd
persecution. "Your speech would have
been more annihIlating had you sub.
stituted the word puppy for dog
Now speed you on your way-I have
no earthly wish to detain you-and tell
Miss Shell. with my best respects. that
she is quite welcome to the moor. now
we have done with IT,"
"All right" laughs Robert: and the
next moment he is walking briskly
down the avenue. .E
As he nears the Wilderness. however.
his pace slackens. After all, what
business OF his Is It that Shell chooses
to remain at home instead Of Joining
her mother and sister? May she not
feel justly annoyed at his interference.
and resent It AZ sheer impertinencef
And yet he cannot somehow feel JUS
tificd in going away and leaving her
unprotected. She has been kind to his
children-their little hearts seem full
Of her-her name trips from their
tongues twenty times day: and yet
girl that sire is
she never seems to care one jot about
them; and. II she speaks of them at all.
deems them by her tone little nui-
sances."
Well, duty Is duty-she can miscon-
strue him if she will. laugh at him II It
SO pleases her. but he will have his
say. and Just tell her plainly and Sc
riously that she ought to go to Oak
ford.
With this resolution uppermost In
his mind he mounts the large. fiat
doorstep and pulls the bell. As rule.
when the whole family are at home.
the hall door stands open to admit the
summer sunshine-now 1t is closed.
and Robert Champley notes with q
sigh that 1t badly wants q coat Of
paint.