The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-02-09
CHAPTER vi

0>>AA
Shell is in the now almost .disused
~ttllroom of the Wilderness, busting
delicate china tea-cups with a clean
: 9fass-cloth. She is singing at the top
= ne her fresh young voice, as she usual
~ does when working alone.
ooh, here you are at last!" cries
Ruby. entering the room with a VIC
sinixed air. Il have been searching
al over the house for you. Who ever
would dream of finding you down here
Ut the end Of this long passage?"
Anybody with an atom of sense, y
answers Shell bluntly. "1f you insist
'upon asking about fifty people to a
4arden-party, with only two servants,
some one must give them helping
aantI.''
~Absurd-afternoon- is no trou-
Bile; but il you choose to encourage
their laziness Of course they are will
Eng enough to let you!'
Shell makes no reply, but placdly
proceeds with her busting.
vi and 1 want you upstairs con-
tsnues Ruby in a different tone. I'VE
have decided to wear those muslins we
had for the flower-show, only they
want altering little, and some new
~Iaces lacking on
All right-only l can't come just
now, assents Shell readily-"the flow
ess have TO be gathered and arranged
yet; and cook is stepped to her eye
0rows in cakes-I promised to help her
as soon as I had finished these"
ooh, but the dresses must be done
hrst! I'll gather the flowers if necas-
sary,'' says Ruby in the voice Of a
martyS, <|even though COINS out in the
neat always does give me frightful
headache.
Shell reluctantly complies. and is
occupied for nearly an hour. then hav-
ing still many household matters on
plrtUre.
Don't go yet; you know how l alb
hog this sort of work." said Ruby
ssharply-her only work so far has con-
sisted in watching Shells deft needle
darting to and fro.
L
courts want marking; and l must keep
my promise to COOK
oh, we can manage now quite
well!' remarks Violet cheerily. by
the way, Shell, what are you going to
1e1ree"-looking up with sudden in
terest.
ST? Oh, don't know-I haven't
thought!" returns Shell carelessly.
MY white serge will do as we'll as
.anytting-at any rate it is ready"
Dent wear stuff, it looks so hot;
besides, that serge looks horrid since
tt was washed objects vi. who likes
Ssszell sufficiently to wish that she
should appear at her best.
My dear vi, don't waste advice Oh
5She7S-you know how self-opin;onated
she is. Beside" slight uprais-
Eng CT her eyebrows-"she is such a
child, it really doesn't matter much
what she wears
Just So assents Shell, shutting the
SSoor behind her; but, all the same, she
goes away feeling rather sore at heart,
for there is no small amount OF con-
sesnpt in Ruby's tone. Though her
sLdest sister has assigned her age as
. a reason for her dress not mattering,
size szzluwss tuil well that the tone also
Insznuates vast want of personal at
fractions too.
Yet. if she only knew it, she has
a charm all her own-the charm of
genial spirit and a warm impulsive
heart, which peeps out of her clear
%ray-sreen eyes, and fingers amidst the
dimpies of her crimson lips.
All that long summer afternoon
there is no thought of self in the girls
conduct. She fits about, finding foot
stools and seats for old ladies, getting
pins and fresh flowers for girls who
have come imperfectly provided, and
generally making herself useful.
when will you be ready for ten
Enis?' asks Robert Champley, who has
been watching her narrowly, though
szuseen, for the past ten minutes.
@fI am not going to play" answers
She'll brightly, as she hurries across
the lawn with sunshade for an old
addJ VINO mas le1L Her own at nome,
and now finds herself incommoded by
the ardent gaze of King Sol.
But everybody says you play so
we'll; and yet have never seen you
touch a racket" he urges, with smile,
On her return.
perhaps that is how 1 keep my
reputation" laughs Shell gaily.
No-but, really, 1 like to watch good
play; you might be obliging," pleads
her companion. Truth to tell, he is
beginning to take a deep interest in
Shell, probably owing to the fact that
she seems to take no interest whatever
In him.
Well. will be-" responds Shell,
With curious little smile; and then,
swaIking straight up to an exceedingly
pretty girl dressed in pale pink, she
says gravely, Mora dear, Mr.. Champ
leg is most anxious to meet with some
one who plays tennis really we'll. so I
x1nught ! couldn't do better than
brinE him TO- you. Mr.. Champley-
m.