El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-06
CHAPTER VII.

more bursts in upon her solltude
81 have brought over one of Meg's
dresses as a guide; and l think this
merino ought to make up prettily,
she says. unfolding parcel which she
carries, and displaying with some
triumph a 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 about she
a~;ls, with bewildered stress on the
word "are."
why, l am going to make dress
for poor little Meg" explains Ruby in
a rather impatient and injured tone
You must have noticed how badly the
poor childs things fit her?'
Shell turns perfectly crimson.
you can't mean what you say,
Ruby?" she cries in a voice of horror
you have surely not been offering to
make clothes for Robert Champley's
children"
why not?" demands Ruby, with
faint flush. Il consider it 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
ito" queries Shell. looking relieved.
We'll. not exactly. We were talk
ing about the children, and I remark
ed that 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 l could see
that he was distressed by what l told
him. So this morning / went over
and caught the nurse just about to cut
out another monstrOsity, so l just
marched off her stuff. and one OF Meg's
dresses for a pattern"
Wasn't the nurse a trille sur
prised?" asks Shell, in dry sarcastic
tone.
''She did seem a little put out" adj
mits Ruby, with a quick flush. Il
shall warn Robert Champley against
that woman. l think he must be mis-
taken in her-she has most shocking
manners"
do you set up as being a judge OF
manners?" asks Shell, still sneering.
II set up for knowing when people
are rude and disagreeable," answers
Ruby shortly.
her last spoon, is turningly silently
from the room, when Ruby calls her
back.
Where are you going?" she asks
GROSSLY.
Il am going to lock up the silver
replies Shell, without retracing her
steps.
when you have done that 1 wish
you would help me to cut out Meg's
dress-you are so much more used to
that kind of thing than l am" says
Ruby, gazing despondently at the little
dress, which she has been turning in
side out to see how it is fashioned.
'I am really very sorry" answers
Shell coldly; "but 1 can't possibly help
YOU I never cut out a child's dress in
my life"
"Nonsense-don't be so cross-you
must do it for mel" cries Ruby, be-
ginning to look alarmed. "Of course
I quite reckoned on you, or 1 should
never have undertaken such a task"
81 am very sorry" repeats Shell. in
a hard. unfeeling voice; "but I don't
in the least understand children's
things. I should advise you to send
for patterns or put it out-you will get
no help from me-" And then she
hurries from the room, nearly upset
ting Violet, whom she meets in the
passage.
would you believe it, Vi?-that
wretch of a Shell has turned sulky,"
grumbles Ruby, as her cousin enters
the room. She VOWS she won't help
me with Meg's dress, or even cut it
out Isn't it disagreeable of herr"
what on earth will you do? 1
know you can't manage it yourself"
laughs Violet-instead of sympathiz-
ing she seems only amused at her
cousins dilemma.
81 am sure I don't know Do you
think you could cut one out?" asks
Ruby hopelessly.
Violet turns the little dress all round
about, then holds it out at arms
length by both sleeves.
mot if hanging were the alterna-
tive" she laughs; lit is quite beyond
me-"
But for Ruby it is no laughing mat
ter-tears of modification and vexa-
ton force themselves into her eyes.
BAH Don't take it to heart"
cries Violet Iightly-''we'u send for
some patterns, and then make an os-
tentatious show of cutting it out in
Shells presence. She won't be able
to withstand that, I know, for she
hates to see good stuff wasted"
And Violet's ruse proves successful.
For when, a few days later, having
obtained some patterns from London,
Ruby deliberately begins to arrange
them the wrong way of the stuff,
Shell impatiently comes to the rescue,
and, having once taken possession of