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

with lazy shrug of his shoulders. ''Tf
you have fancy for stinging-nettlos.
1t may be weakness on my part. but
have particular aversion to prickiy
young women, and Mademoiselle Shell
is a perfect hedgehog"
Then you won't come?'
Not 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 her
ways"
''Yes, that would be likely to make a
strong impression on her, l should
think" says the elder brother deris-
lively. as he clears tie ashes from his
pipe and prepares for departure. THE
fact is" he continues in explanation.
Il think Shell ought to join her mother
at Oakford; it is really not safe for
her to remain here all alone"
"Oh, she is safe enough! Nobody who
has had one interview with her Is
likely to molest her a second time"
SCOTS Ted. However. il she is weigh
ing on your mind you had certainly
better get rid of her before we start;
so go and give her the benefit of your
opinion. il you dare-you always were
of somewhat Quixotic nature"
Not in the least" returns Robert
seriously. "Only where duty so plain
ly leads one must needs follow
Capital sentiment, no doubt. for the
head of a family" drawls Ted. IF
ever l marry, | hope a 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 bestrrng himself for the talked-o
packing, has sunk down upon the
close-shaven green slope leading to the
veranda, and is almost lost to view
under the widespread sheet of the
Times.
Il am thankful for small mercies." !"
responds Ted, in a tone of unmerited
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 i'll"
"All right" laughs Robert; and the
next moment he is walking brlskly
down the avenue.
AS he nears the Wilderness, however
his pace slackens After all, what
business of his Is It that Shell choose!
to remain at home instead of joining
her mother and sister? May she no
feel justly annoyed at his interference
and resent it as sheer impertinence
And yet he cannot somehow feel jus
tilted in going away and leaving he
unprotected. She has been kind to hi
children-their little hearts seem full
of her-her name trips from thei
tongues twenty times a day; and ye
-incomprehensible girl that she is
she never seems to care one jot abou
them; and, if she speaks Of them at all
deems them by her tone little nui
sances"
Well, duty is duty-she can miscon
strue him IL she will. laugh at him IL 1
SO pleases her, but he will have hi
say, and just tell her plainly and Sc
riously that she ought to go to Oak
ford
With this resolution uppermost 1
, his mind he mounts the large, fla
doorstep and pulls the bell. AS a rule
when the whole family are at hom,
. the hall door stands open to admit tn
summer sunshine-now 1t is CLOSED
! and Robert Champley notes with
sigh that 1t badly wants a coat
paint.
> Ito be Continued.l