The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-02-01
Shell 4 K!o!!1!!4:!z!szl
Widen.

WITH curious llllle Slillic, dhu tnSh'
walking straight up to an exceedingly
pretty girl dressed in pale pink, she
says gravely, Mora dear, Mr.. Champ
| ley is most anxious to meet with some
one who plays tennis really well, so |
! thought / couldn't do better than
bring him to you. Mr.. Champley-
Miss Nora Fretwell;" and with little
| nod she proceeds placidly on her way,
having so disposed of her cavalier.
Five minutes later she Is accosted by
Ted.
Isn't it jolly afternoon" he be-
gins.
Yes, only rather warm" agrees
Shell, pushing her sailor hat little
farther off her brow.
Come into the shade and let me
fan you," suggests Ted coaxingly.
How very kind" SCOTS Shell. "But
| think l won't accept-it sounds so
much nicer than it really is. Tanning
only makes one hotter; and the midges
are swarming in the shade"
1T seems impossible ever to say or
suggest the right thing to you," says
Ted with boyish impotence.
IF / have been rude | am very
sorry" Shell returns thoughtfully;
''but all the same it is true, you know.
Tanning only cools one for the mo-
ment, and one is ten times hotter af-
forwards" AS she speaks she saunters
on few steps by his side, that she
may not appear too pointedly unso-
ciable.
"By-the-way, l had almost forgot
ten," remarks Ted, laughing-"Bob
and Meg charged me with a commits
sion. / am entrusted with a mysteri-
Gus packet, which I faithfully prom
Used to deliver into your own hands,"
and from his pocket he produces
small and remarkably clumsy paper
parcel tied up with bit OF colored
wool.
II think there must be some mis-
take" says Shell, looking at the prof
fered offering superciliously; they
probably meant it for Ruby"
ION the contrary, was particularly
cautioned not to entrust 1t to your
sister," laughs Ted. 81 believe 1t is
of an edible nature, and they feared
the temptation might be too great"
Shell takes the packet reluctantly,
and, standing still for a moment in
the pathway, cautiously opens it, dis
playing to view some half-dozen choco-
late creams Of decidedly crushed and
| not very tempting appearance.
For a moment beautiful and gentle
smile lights UP her every feature; then
she remembers with a start the part
she Is acting, and asks scornfully-
What on earth induced them to
send me these things?"
They probably thought you would
| appreciate them-poor children!" an
swers Ted, rather holly. "They got
| box as present this morning, and
wouldn't give me any peace until
| consented to bring you over some. l
wish" indignantly-"that / had
thrown them away on the road"
1T certainly would have been
wiser" retorts Shell, as she ruthlessly
losses the small bundle away amidst
clump OF shrubs. Children have
such odd fancies."
II don't call that an odd fancy-I
call 1t generous impulse" corrects
Ted, stolidly. by the way"-looking
at her keenly-"shall / tell them the
fate of their poor little present"
AS you please" answers Shell care
lessly; and then, knowing the pain
that would be inflicted by such a reve-
lation, she adds quickly-"No, I think
perhaps you had better not Some peo-
pie imagine that children are sensi-
tive, and | have no wish to wound
their feelings, in case they possess
any"
In case they possess any?" repeats
Ted, positively flushing with mingled
anger and contempt. "You must be
very dense 10 you have not yet dis
covered that those children are of a
keenly nervous temperament"
Il know / am Dense" admits She'll
with not the faintest show of annoy
ance or resentment. "As for children,
l don't profess to understand them.
probably because I.have no sympathy
with them"
Ted walks on beside her in thought
full silence. 1t seems to him a sad
pity that Shell, who used to be such
a genial, sunny little creature, should
have changed into the hard callous be-
ing now talking to him. He would
like to account for the phenomenon
in some way, and is contemplating the
possibility Of asking her II she has
been crossed in love, when their tete-
a-tete is cut short by Mrs. Widen.
Shell DEAR" says that lady, in