The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-02-02
Isaslric.l glance 1t her nower-deckea

head.
"oh. it 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, if she will only con-
sent to CO." is his ready answer, whilst
he darts an amused glance at the girls
flushed vexed face.
mo, thanks-I hate driving" re-
spends Shell CURLY.
"You seem to have great many de-
testations, Miss She'll" says the gen.
tleman 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
hospitab!e assails Shell.
won't you go up to the house?"
she asks almost eagerly.
mo. thank you-since I 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 a
goodbye kiss.
Papa, is us naughty?" asks Meg
as she trots over to the trap beside her
father.
Il hope not. why?" he demands
abseatly.
Cause Shell didn't kiss u.s. an
swers Meg in wondering tone.
kiss you!" repeats her father,
laughing. "She looked far more likely
to bite"
But, all the same, as he makes the
assertion memory of Shell as he first
came to her, with sparkling eyes and
smiling lips, and the two children
lsneeling 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-
tiers the room.
"Their father has just come for
them" answers Shell shortly.
"Their father-oh where is he?"
cries Ruby, starting from her chair.
II want to consult him about Bob's
writing; and I must speak about the
nurse; I am afraid she is not very
careful-Meg's hands were quite dirty
this morning. Where is he-where did
you leave him?"
Gle is down by the sea; I 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; I 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
tsh way you do. suppose you were
romping like a tom-boy when he
came"
II was telling them stories"
Anyway you were ridiculous OBJ
ject," says Ruby, with such an OBJ
viously scornful sneer that Shell in
stinctively glances across the room at
her reflection in the mirror, then for
the first time becoming aware Of her
profuse decorations. With a sudden
access of wrath she tears the daisies
from her hair, whilst tears Of NORTH
cation rise to her eyes.
81 wouldn't have had him see me so
for a hundred pounds" she says
angrily.
What nonsense! I don't suppose
that he even noticed them" observes
Ruby with cutting scorn.
"Ah, perhaps mott" murmurs Shell
with sigh of relief; and yet, thinking
it over, she remembers clearly that
twice or three times during their short
interview she noticed an amused smile
flicker over his face.
Ito be Continued.)