Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1899-01-19
CHAPTER VII.

out Iue lOllON llS Iiloi nlhb, uS DhNi
is carefully folding in tissue paper the
superfuous teaspoons brought into
use on the previous evening, Ruby once
more bursts in upon her solitude,
Il have brought over one of Meg's
dresses as a guide; and | think this
merino ought to make up prettily,
she says, unfolding a parcel which she
carries, and displaying with some
triumph tiny cotton frock and
piece of some light blue material.
Shell pauses in the act OF rubbing an
imaginary spot from one of the spoons
and stares at the articles produced
with wondering eyes.
What are you talking aboutY' she
asks, with bewildered stress on the
word "are."
why, / am going to make a dress
for poor little Meg" explains Ruby In
rather impatient and injured tone.
You must have noticed how badly the
poor child's things fit herr"
Shell turns perfectly crimson.
You can't mean what you say,
Ruby?" she cries in voice OF horror.
You have surely not been Offering TO
make clothes for Robert Champley's
children?"
why not?" demands Ruby, with a
faint flush. 81 consider 1t only com
mon act of charity to help the poor
man when he Is in such dire need OF
help"
"Oh, then, he asked you to see about
it," queries Shell, looking relieved.
We'll, not exactly. We were talk
ing about the children, and l remark
ed tSat the nurse seemed to have no
idea how to dress them properly. Or
course he objected to my taking any
trouble In the matter, but / could see
that he was distressed by what told
him. So this morning l went over
and caught the nurse just about to cut
out another monstrosity, so l just
marched off her stuff, and one OF Meg
dresses for a pattern"
Wasn't the nurse a trifie sur
prised?" asks Shell, in dry sarcastic
tone.
"She did seem a little put out" ad-
mits Ruby, with a quick flush. u
shall warn Robert Champley against
that woman. | think he must be mis-
taken in her-she has most shocking
manners"
do you set up as being Judge O
manners ?" asks Shell, still sneering.
Il set up for knowing when people
are rude and disagreeable," answers
Ruby shortly.
Shell, having carefully disposed o
her last spoon, is turningly silentl!
from the room, when Ruby calls he
back.
Where are you going?" she ask
GROSSLY.
81 am going to lock up the silver,
replies Shell, without retracing he
steps.
When you have done that l wis
you would help me to cut out Meg
dress-you are SO much more used t
that kind of thing than | am" say
Ruby, gazing despondently at the littl
dress, which she has been turning In
side out to see how 1t Is fashioned
II am really very sorry" answer
Shell coldly; "but l can't possibly hel
you. never cut out child's dress
my life"
"Nonsense-don't be so cross-yo
must do 1t for mel cries Ruby, b
ginning to look alarmed. "Of couri
quite reckoned on you, or l shou
never have undertaken such a task
n II am very sorry" repeats Shell,
d a hard, unfeeling voice; but l don
: In the least understand children
o things. l should advise you to ser
s for patterns or put 1t out-you will g
n no help from me-" And then 81
a hurries from the room, nearly upse
ting Violet, whom she meets In Z
passage.
Would you believe 1t, With
wretch Of Shell has turned sulky
. grumbles Ruby, as her cousin ente
IS the room. "She VOWS she won't he
u me with Meg's dress, or even cut
'r out. Isn't 1t disagreeable of herr"
Il What on earth will you do?
h know you cant manage 1t yoursel
a. laughs Violet-instead Of sympath
Ing she seems only amused at
= cousins dilemma.
II am sure | don't know. Do y
= think you could cut one out?" a.
% Ruby hopelessly.
" Violet turns the little dress all rou
about, then holds 1t out at arr
length by both sleeves.
Of Not II hanging we're the alter
ID tive" she laughs; at is quite beyc
or me-"
Ia. But for Ruby 1t is no laughing m
,n ter-tears of modification and We
- tion force themselves into her ey
~ BAH Don't take 1t to heal
- cries Violet lightly-"we'll send
some patterns, and then make an
tentatious show of cutting 1t out
Shells presence. She won't be g
to withstand that, l know. for
=" hates to see good stuff wasted"
And Violet's ruse proves success
ng For when, few days later, hay
TO obtained some patterns from LonC
In Ruby deliberately begins to ARA
he them the wrong way of the s.
or Shell impatiently comes to the res
le- and, having once taken possession
al the scissors, wields them to the
Having cut out the dress. she soon