El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-04-29
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Shell, pushing her sailor hat a little
farther off her brow.
Come into the shade and let me
fan YOU" suggests Ted coaxingly-
How very kind" SCOTS Shell. But
1 think 1 won't accept sounds so
much nicer than it really is. Tanning
only makes one hotter; and the midges
are swarming in the shade
1T seems impossible ever to say or
suggest the right thing to you" says
Ted with boyish impatience.
If 1 have been rude 1 am very
sorry" Shell returns thoughtfully;
but all the same it is true. you know
Tanning only cools one for the mo-
ment, and one is ten times hotter af-
forwards" AS she speaks she saunters
on few steps by his side, that she
may not appear too pointedly unso-
ciable.
"By-the-way, 1 had almost forgot
ten," remarks Ted, laughing Boo
and Meg charged me with commits
sion. 1 am entrusted with a mysteri-
Gus packet, which 1 faithfully prom
ised to deliver into your own hands;
and from his pocket he produces
small and remarkably clumsy paper
parcel tied up with a bit Of colored
wool.
81 think there must be some mis-
take" says Shell, looking at the prof
fered offering superciliously; "they
probably meant it for Ruby"
"On the contrary, 1 was particularly
cautioned not to entrust it to your
sister," laughs Ted. & believe it is
of an edible nature, and they feared
the temptation might be too great"
Shell takes the packet reluctantly,
and, standing still for a moment in
the pathway, cautiously opens it, dis
playing to view some half-dozen choco-
late creams of a decidedly crushed and
not very tempting appearance.
For a moment beautiful and gentle
smile lights up her every feature; then
she remembers with a start the part
she is acting, and asks scornfully-
What on earth induced them to
send me these things?"
They probably thought you would
appreciate them-poor children!" an
swers Ted, rather hotly. 'They got a
box as a present this morning, and
wouldn't give me any peace until 1
consented to bring You over some. l
wish dignantly-"that had
thrown them away on the road
1T certainly would have been
WISER retorts Shell, as she ruthlessly
losses the small bundle away amidst
clump Of shrubs. Children have
such odd fancies.'
81 don't call that an odd fancy-I
call it a generous impulse" corrects
Ted, stolidly. by the way''-looking
at her keenly-"shall i tell them the
fate of their poor little present"
"As you please" answers She'll care
lessly; and then. knowing the pain
that would be inflicted by such a reve-
lation, she adds quckly-"No. 1 think
perhaps you had better not. Some peo-
pie imagine that children are sensi-
tive, and 1 have no wish to wound
their feelings, in case they possess
any"
In case they possess any," repeats
Ted, positively flushing with mingled
anger and contempt. You must be
very dense if you have not yet dis
covered that those children are of a
keenly nervous temperament"
Il know I am Dense" admits Shell,
with not the faintest show of annoy
ance or resentment. LAS for children,
don't profess to understand them
probably because L have no sympathy
with them
Ted walks on beside her in thought
full silence. It seems to him sad
pity that Shell, who used to be such
a genial, sunny little creature, should
have changed into the hard callous be-
ing now talking to him. He would
like to account for the phenomenon
in some way, and is contemplating the
possibility of asking her if she has
been crossed IN love, when their tete-
a-tete is cut short by Mrs Widen.
Shell dear" says that lady, in
troubled tone, 81 wish you would run
in and see to the making of the coffee
it is sure not to be properly cleared
if you are not there. Mr.. Champley
will excuse you, 1 am sure-he knows
that we cannot afford efficient SER
wants.
81 am only too delighted to find that
England still possesses young ladies
who are not above making themselves
useful" answers Ted, in a bantering,
teasing tone. There is nothing l ad-
mire SO much as domesticity in a
woman. Most of our girls are getting
so blue that it will be a blue look out
for their husbands"
yes, indeed" murmurs Mrs. Will
den, as Shell, with little toss of her
head, walks away. Dear Shell is most
useful-not very ornamental, but very
dOmeSticated and
such gentle, kind creature. l often