The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-03-23
A ROMANCE

0He3tsNAl
the doctor feared otherwise, but there
is no doubt whatever now they are suf-
tering from chicken-pox in its mildest
form; only as Mrs. Pomfret's children
have not had it, we are taking every
precaution."
"And you-have you had it?" asks
Robert Champley anxiously.
Yes, three years ago." laughs Shell;
so you see"-with a satirical little
smile-"1 have been running no great
risk"
"As it has turned out" answers her
companion, regarding her steadily;
but 1 can never forget that you nurssd
them during those twelve doubtful
hours when all others turned and fed. .
That is nothing" returns Shell care
lessly; then, advancing. to the little
cots drawn side by side, she Says to
the children, NOW you have got kind
Mrs. Tolley, am going to run away"
mo, NO, sell-you stop too," Msps
Meg, catching Shells sleeve. in her not
hand. ''Tolley can't tell abo.M the fairy
princess"
"Oh, yes, she CAM" hazards Shen,
With laughing glance at Man. Tollew-
Besides, III find out about msre prinL
cesses to tell you WHEN YOU are WE'LL
again." and she bends down to inn
print q farewell kiss IN the fevered
face.
Suddenly grzy-coated arm is inter-
posed; between Shells sed lips and
little Meg's White brow.
81 can allow no kissing," saNes Rob-
ert Chagnpley decidedly.
She'll draws herself up rigid as a.
grenadier, whilst Meg fights feebly' with
an intervening arm.
"Youl have FUN risk enough without
counting it, ~ explains Mr.. 0hampley al
meet angriES.
Shell merely shFurgs her shoulders:
"Mrs.. Tollsy," she says. turning tot
the housekeeper, 'Sif YOU will GOMEZ
into the otisr room with me I Will
explain about the medicine, et-cetera,|
and the doctor will be here shortly, sol
you will have full directions from hilnss
about the children
Mrs: Tolley does as she is asked, anu
from that '+uther room'' She'll slips
away home without any further inter
course with Robert Chanpaey..
= y .
A fortnight has elapsed. In the rus
tic porch of Gorse Cottage two figures.
are seated-a laughing-eyed merry girl
in spotless white, tall, stalwart man
in gray tweed. The house door is;
closed. and the interview is couss>
quently private one.
ct shall call you PEARL the genr
tleman is saying, with laughing de-
cision.
mo, won't be Pearl; my old name
suits me much better. l am rough and
uneven and hardin fact, thorough
oyster-Shell," pouts the girl gebellious-
ly.
s'You certainly conducted yourself
like Shell when l first knew YOU;
but adversely opened the Shell, and
then I saw the treasure inside, and
bounced upon my PEARL" laughs the
gentleman.
81 hope may really prove treasure
| to you, but sometimes doubt it," says
Shell with comic candor. .sYou know
have good many faults-l am quick
tempered and blunt, and some people
think me eccentric"
: Robert Champley INDUCES in an
amused laugh.
"You will perhaps be surprised to
hear that neither am perfect" he re-
turns. Il can be obstinate, and even
grumpy at times"
"Really?" asks Shell in tone of un-
belief.
"Yes-really and truly" laughs the
| gentleman. "And now, PEARL told
you was obstinate-I want to know
what induced you to be so particularly
uncivil to Ted and me when we first
returned to Champley House."
"Was very horrid?" she asks eyas-
lively, flushing.
"You snubbed poor Ted so unmerci-
fully that I doubt if he will ever re-
cover his normal state of placid con-
ceit."
"Well. you see, it was this way" ex-
plains Shell in -justification-"I
knew that you were rich, and that ev-
erybody would be particularly gracious
and ofacious, so made up my mind
to be an exception to the rule"
(Which you certainly were. Meg
was one of the first to find you out. y
laughs Meg's father. as that little dam
sci, soon tired after her recent illness,
comes creeping into Shells lap. "That
little dress reminds me of the day I
caught you working at the window"
pursues Robert Champley, touching his
daughters pale-blue skirts.
Does it?" says Shell. with shy,
pleased laugh.
Gown the truth, Pearl; you made that