Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1899-01-05

She'll I;.i!5;!.15!:l /. zo5;1!z.1z5!a:zl !
Widen. !
A ROMANCEE
fSsSfAkkS Akk Ii M a Y M y lsakEss4f
CHAPTER Y.

This threat from his usually indulg-
ent father has such a depressing effect
on Bob's spirits that he makes up his
mind to eschew temptation for the fu-
ture
Miss Widen won't love you II you
don't behave like gentleman" con
tinues the father severely. as an appro-
pirate ending to his reprimand.
us don't love Miss Widen" here
interrupts Meg with great dignity
she is a nasty cross old ting"
Nonsense, Meg" says her father,
placing his hand under her chin and
smiling down into her eyes. "If you
don't love Miss Widen, | am afraid you
must be a hardened little wretch, for
with a dreary sigh--"alas, she is only
teo devoted to yoni'
Meg shakes her head in an uncom-
pretending way, and repeats, with a
determined little pout-
Us don't like her-us loves Sell"
''Yes, us loves dear She'll" chimes
in Bob eagerly. "She tells us lovely
| storles.'
My dear misguided children your
affection for Miss Shell is decidedly
misplaced" here interrupts their uncle,
returning from his post at the win
dow "She doesn't like boys and girls
at all"
Not like little boys and derls?" re-
peats Meg quite taken aback by such
an extraordinary statement.
mo indeed in fact she gave me to
understand that she almost hated
them" repeats Ted, much amused at
the childrens look of horror. $50
strongly advise you not TO waste your
young affections on such an unrespons-
i've object"
The warning, being clothed in words
beyond their understanding makes no
impression on the chlldren's minds,
but their strong preference for the
younger sister strikes their father fore
IDLY, and he catches himself murmur-
ing more than once in n wondering
tone-"Us loves Shell; us loves dear
SheTH"
After that 1t often happens that Ru-
by. under some triiling pretext or other,
shifts - burden of her self-imposed
task on % Shells young shoulders
she has a headache, or is busy, or has
letters to write; and then Shell, taking
pity on the poor children-who are
sure to have a rough time of it If Ruby
Is disinclined for them-devotes her
morning to their instruction and
amusement
She bribes them to be good at their
lessons by the promise of a romp in
the grounds when their task is com
pleted; and SO it happens that Robert
Champley, CHANGING to drive over him
self to fetch them enc late June morn
ing, comes uron an unexpected and tc
him a charming sight.
On a moss-Erown mound at the front
of copper-beech sits Shell in a darl
print gown with her bright hair coileC
around and around with daisy-chains
which the ehildren's busy fingers have
been weaving, whilst she tells them
wonderful tale from Fairyland.
So engrossed are all three that the,
do not become aware of the intruder
approach until he has descended from
the trap and walked quietly to within
a few PAGES of their resting place; theI
shout of Papa, papa!" from Mel
rouses them all from their ideal worlC
to a realistic one.
Shell starts from her lowly seat
crimsons to the very roots of her hail
and puts on as forbidding look as sh
can we'll assume.
"Oh, pa, it is so jolly; you come an
listen, too!" cries Bob, eager that hi
father should participate in their en-
, joyment "The princess is shut up /
a dark room, because her wicked god
mother won't allow her ever to Sc
the sunshine, and the prince is keepin
guard outside her tower with a carriag
and six, to carry her away to an islam
blazing with light if he gets tn
! chance"
Rather trying for her eyes. won
! it be? l should be inclined to recon
: mend her a pair of spectacles till sh
: gets used to the glare" laughs Robel
. Champley as he shakes hands wit
She'll
But Shell has become fossilized. Sh
shakes hands Imply, puts on a stoIi
conventional expression, and, drawn
F. her small figure up to its fullest heigh
tries to look exceedingly dignified. H
efforts are somewhat marred by Il
g daisies so profusely twisted around h
head but, as she is happily forgetf
h of their presence, they do not troub
her
Sell, dear, she didn't have blue spe
4 tacles, did she?" cries Meg, shocked
!; such very unromantic suggestion.
81 don't know, | am sure" respon
b. Shell in a tone of cold indifference.
a "But 90 does know" cries Meg. wa
IS ing impatient, and shaking Shell
lr skirts in her anxiety to have the dou
settled.
= 81 am afraid my children are veal
ing you, Miss Shell" says their fatt
D. rather stiffly. But | have just CO.
m over to carry then away"
st 81 find the easiest way to keep tn
ps quiet is to tell them stories" SO
st Shell bluntly and ungraciously.
re 81 am very sorry that you should
ly put TO so much trouble, particularly
you dislike children" remarks
of Champley, with a curious and ratf