The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-01-04
clara,s wish. and look after her chill


Clara's wish, and look after her chill
dren."
Shell has Strengthened her back, and
now stands staring full at Ruby with
such a quizzical glance that her sister
says with an impatient flush
"Well-have l said anything SO very
extraordinary? You look as II you
We're going to eat me-
We'll, 1t certainly sounded odd, 10
say the least of it," replies Shell, re-
Stunning her work." to hear that you
were going to look after ROBERT
Champley's children. should mag
Inc that he is pretty well able to look
after them himself"
"As IL a man could possibly know
anything about the training OF chill
dren!' answers Ruby contemptuousiy.
"Of course he can't. / promised their
poor mother that would do my best
to look after them. and shall allow
no conventional scruples to prevent
my fulfilling that promise.
II am quite sure you won't says
Shell in low tone to her work. Then
suddenly a happy thought strikes her.
Perhaps he won't have the children
home" she says, with hopeful laugh
The can't do better than leave them
where they are, at his sisters
"Ah, but she is going abroad for her
health; and it is solely because he
must now take charge Of the children
himself that. he is coming home! re-
joins Ruby, with triumphant CLEAN
in her fine brown eyes.
well, suppose it is easy enough
to get competent nurses when one mas
plenty of money" says She'll; and then,
dismissing the subject with an impa-
tient shrug of her shoulders, she asks,
holding up a long narrow piece OF It's
sue paper, "Will you have your back
cut in four parts or six?"
Ruby's mind soon descends to the
practical, advancing to the table, she
ut once enters into the most minute
Instructions for the cutting out of her
dress
II think this pale sateen such
sweet shade" she says, holding up a
bit Of the material admiringly. Il
have half a mind to get pale pink,
too
"If SO, please look sharp!' remarks
Shell, In tone of anything but keen
delight. IL like to get all the summer
dresses over in one batch and not keep
on at it for months"
'But, my dear She'll" expostulates
Ruby, "I thought you liked cutting out
and fitting. | am sure you always tell
mamma SO; besides, you are so clever
at it."
ooh, I don't mind" admits Shell.
rather Grossly. "Of course one of US
must play at being fond of it, since we
can't afford a maid. Only it does rath-
er annoy me for any one to be so insane
as really to imagine that prefer work
ing on morning like this to being out
of DOORS" and she heaves sharp lit
tie sigh as she glances out at the way
ing tender-green boughs of the newly
budded trees.
why that heart-rending sigh, my
sweet sea-Shell?" asks tall, willowy
girl with blue eyes, who has just en-
tered the room. AS she speaks she
lays her arm caressingly around the
girls firm shoulders.
"She is quite overcome at the pros
pect Of cutting me out second wash
ing Dress" answers Ruby, in tone
b;,b pIioc ssuoc,'t he ar for-
tunate temper?"
ooh, dear-and I was just going to
ask her to fix my buff print, because
she is so clever at that sort Of thing!"
says Violet, in tone of CONSERVATION.
"All right, vi dear-I adore cutting
out" laughs Shell. Bring your buff
print by all means-and any other ma
terial that you can lay your hands on.
In for penny, in for pound" II
is a pity that we, are not all three tne
same figure-in that case I could cut
out half-a-dozen at the same time"
"Do you seriously mean you wculd
be kind enough to do more than one
because there Is my new flannel tennis
frock to arrange?" asks Violet coax
ingly.
"Ill do it." answers Shell rather
shortly-"on1y, IL do all the cutting
and fixing and trimming, I must bar
gain that you and Ruby help with the
machine work"
eyes, dear, of course-only that stu
pid old machine will never work for
Il.
look at that useful but inartistic piece
Of furniture.
''I'll make 1t work for me, or I'll
know the reason why!" laughs vi,
seating herself before the machine and
commencing to arrange her cottors.
tsNn.u Chn1l T..