Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1899-02-23

hours when ali others turned and fed"
THAT is nothing" returns Shell care
lessly; then, advancing to the little
cots drawn side by side, she says to
the children. Now you have got kind
Mrs. Tolley, | am going to run away"
mo. no, Sell-you stop too" lisps
Meg, catching Shells sleeve in her hot
hand. "Tolley can't tell about the fairy
princess"
ooh, yes, she cant" hazards Shell,
with laughing glance at Mrs. Tolley.
Besides, I'll find out about more prin-
cesses to tell you when you are well
again." and she bends down to i'm
print a farewell kiss on the fevered
face.
Suddenly a gray-coated arm is inter-
posed between Shells red lips and
little Meg's white brow.
Il can allow no kissing!" says Rob
ert Champley decidedly.
Shell draws herself up rigid as
grenadier, whilst Meg fights feebly with
an intervening arm.
you have run risk enough without
counting it" explains Mr.. Champley al
most angrily.
Shell merely shrugs her shoulders.
Mrs. Tolley," she says. turning to
the housekeeper eff you will come
into the other room with me / VIII
explain about the medicine, et-cetera,
and the doctor will be here shortly, SO
you will have full directions from him
about the children"
Mrs. Tolley does as she is asked, and
from that "other room" Shell slips
away home without any further inter-
course with Robert Champley.
|
A fortnight has elapsed. In the rus
tic porch of Gorse Cottage two figures
are seated-a laughing eyed merry girl
in spotless white, a TALL stalwart man
in gray tweed The house door is
quently a private one.
Il shall call you PEARL" the gem
tleman is saying, with laughing de-
cison.
mo, | won't be Pearl; my old name
suits me much better. l am rough and
uneven and hardin fact, thorough
oyster-Shell," pouts the girl rebellious-
ly.
you certainly conducted yourself
like Shell when l hrst knew you;
but adversely opened the Shell, and
then | saw the treasure inside, and
bounced upon my Pearl" laughs the
gentleman.
Il hope / may really prove treasure
to you. but sometimes doubt It," says
Shell with comic candor. you know
| have a good many faults-I am quick
tempered and blunt, and some people
think me eccentric"
Robert Champley INDUCES in an
amused laugh.
you will perhaps be surprised to
hear that neither am l perfect he re-
turns. Il can be obstinate, and even
grumpy at times"
"Really?" asks Shell In a tone of I'M
belief.
"Yes-really and truly" laughs the
gentleman. And now, PEARL told
you | was obstinate-I want to know
what induced you to be so particularly
unciyil to Ted and me when we first
returned to Champley House."
'tWas | very horrid?" she asks eyas-
lively, flushing.
You snubbed poor Ted SO unmerci-
fully that | doubt IL he will ever re-
cover his normal state of placid con-
ceit."
We'll, you see, it was this way" ex-
plains Shell In self justification-"I
knew that you were rich, and that ev-
erybody would be particularly gracious
and officious, SO l made up my mind
to be an exception to the rule"
(which you certainly were. Meg
was one of the first to find you out"
laughs Meg's father. as that little dam
sci, soon tired after her recent Illness,
comes creeping into Shells lap. THAT
little dress reminds me of the day
caught you working at the window"
pursues Robert Champley, touching his
daughters pale-blue skirts.
Does it?' says Shell, with a shy,
pleased laugh.
Own the truth, Pearl; you made that
| dress?"
4 certainly had a finger in the pie,"
answers Pearl demnrely.
DO you remember | told you then
that the turquoise was your stone?"
touching her left hand, on which
flashes a circlet of diamonds surround
ing turquoise, almost unique In col
or and size.
I remember" assents Shell dream
lily.
Tell me tale, Sell" at this moment
interposes Meg, laying her tired head
with a restful sigh upon the girls
plump shoulder.
'I'll tell you a tale, Meg" says her
father, bending down to kiss the child's
white brow. Shell has promised to
come to Champley House and live with
US always-what do you say to that?"
Il say she's brick" remarks Bob,
who has Joined the circle.
Robert Champley gave an amused
glance at his promised wife, and then
they both break into a hearty peal of