Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1899-01-05
NO. 80.

satirlcal glance at her fower-decked
head
"oh, 1t doesn't matter!" answers
Shell condescendingly.
Now then, young monkeys-if you
are ready we may as well start" he
says pointing to the trap which is wait
ing in the avenue. II am going to take
you for drive right around by the
sea-"
Take Sell too, pa" pleads Meg.
catching her fathers hand and fairly
jumping with delight.
with pleasure, IL she will only con-
sent to co." Is his ready answer, whilst
he darts an amused glance at the girls
flushed vexed face.
"No, thanks-I hate driving" re-
spends Smell curtly.
you seem to have a great many de-
testations, Miss She'll" says the gem
tieman sarcastically
Il have" is Shells laconic answer.
well, then, since we can't persuade
you to accompany us, we may as well
start Come children!' and, making
no effort to shake hands, he raises his
hat politely.
A latent fear that she has been in
hospitable assails Shell.
Wont you go up to the house?"
she asks almost eagerly
mo, thank you-slnce | have been
fortunate enough to meet with the
children here, Good morning"
Good morning" answers Shell stiff
| ly, and quite ignoring the two little
faces that are turned UP to her for
| goodbye kiss.
Papa is us naughty?" asks Meg
rs she trots over to the trap beside her
father.
Il hope not. why?" he demands
absently.
cause Shell didn't kiss u.s." an
swers Meg in a wondering tone.
kiss you!" repeats her father.
laughing. "She looked far more likely
to bite"
But, all the same, as he makes the
assertion a memory of Shell as he first
came to her, with sparkling eyes and
smiling lips, and the two children
kneellng beside her, rises before his
|
mental vision.
well have you got rid OF those
little torments?" asks Ruby languidly,
looking up from her book as Shell en-
ters the room.
'"Their father has just come for
them," answers Shell shortly.
Their father-oh, where is he?"
cries Ruby, starting from her chair.
Il want to consult him about Bob's
writing; and / must speak about the
nurse; | am afraid she Is not very
careful-Meg's hands were quite dirty
this morning. Where is he-where did
you leave him?"
He is down by the sea; l didn't
leave him-he left me-" answers Shell
drily.
"Why did no one tell me he was
here?" asks Ruby angrily.
He didn't come to the house; l was
in the drive with the children, and
he picked them up there"
How very strange! But it is all
your fault, taking them out the fool
lsh way you do l suppose you were
rompng like a tom-boy when he
came"
81 was telling them stories"
Anyway you were ridiculous OBJ
jcct," says Ruby, with such an OBJ
viously scornful sneer that Shell in
stinctiyely glances across the room at
her reflection in the mirror, then for
the first time becoming aware of her
profuse decorations. With sudden
access of wrath she tears the daisies
from her hair. whilst tears of NORTH
cation rise to her eyes.
Il wouldn't have had him see me SO
for a hundred pounds" she says
angrily.
what nonsensei | don't suppose
that he even noticed them," observes
Ruby with cutting scorn.
"Ah, perhaps not!" murmurs Shell
with sigh of relief; and yet, thinking
it over, she remembers clearly thai
twice or three times during their shor
interview she noticed an amused smil,
flicker over his face.
(To be Continued.)