The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-01-18

| Om1nOuS QulVeT Vi HcI iiPS, 10 oees"~
ing with her hands behind her In irons
of Ruby, vainly seeking in her passive
| little brain for the answer to the Oft
repeated question
Nov. Meg-wake up, and tell me,
like a good little child, what is three
times four"
Tree times four-tree times four,
repeats Meg drearily--so often has the
same question been put in the same
words that it conveys no meaning to
her childish reason. Ruby has way
of scanning the morning news whilst
she carries on her monotonous string
OF questions, so that her face Is COM
pletely hidden from her poor little VIC
tim.
| "Ycc-three times four. You Will
stand there until you tell me, you know
very WE'LL" persists Ruby In tones OF
stern reproach.
This seems such an exceedingly
dreary prospect to poor Meg that her
| two little fat fists are thrust suddenly
| into her eyes, and she breaks into a
dismal howl.
II say-you Miss Wilden-you just
stop bullying our Meg" cries Bob, sud
denly turning round on his high perch,
from which he cannot descend unaided,
and regarding Ruby with angry eyes
and very red face.
"You rude little boy" says Ruby.
throwing down her paper in surprise.
| nd he
| naughty stare; ''go to your copy at
once, or will put you in the corner!
| Meg is a naughty, naughty girl, and
| If she does not tell me at once what
| three times four is will make her a
| ounces cap"
Meg throws herself upon the carpet
in paroxysm of fright; the disgrace
to her mind sounds so terrible that her
howl changes into convulsive sobs, on
| ly stopped when Bob shouts at the top
! Of his voica-
Three times four are twelve, Meg"
Tree times four are twelve" sobs
Meg from her crouching position: and
then she goes on with her crying more
TRANQUILITY.
This open rebellion on Bob's part
causes Ruby to rise from her chair
and advance ominously towards the
| culprit.
81 don't care-I DON'T" cries Bob In
a frightened voice. You can put me
on three ounces caps II you like"
Ruby makes no answer, but, having
| reached his side, administers a sharp
| box on each ear.
II don't care" repeats Bob, whose
poor little face is crimson at the indig-
nifty.
Then you are wicked little boy
says Ruby angrily; land as punish
ment you shall do another whole copy
of pot-hooks."
4 don't care" reiterates Bob dog
gedly. as Ruby roughly drags him
from his perch.
Now watch me whilst I set your
copy, and IL you make blot on this
page l shall punish you, remember"
81 wouldn't be as cross as you for de,
whole world" remarks Meg's chirping
voice at this moment with great decis-
ion. She has risen from the carpet,
and is regarding Ruby with a mixture
of dislike and fear.
Then there was silence in the apart
ment whilst Ruby labors through
whole line Of stately pot-hooks-she is
always very careful about setting the
copy we'll, because the copy is occasion
ally shown to Mr. Champley.
| She makes graceful picture, seated
on a low chair, and with her well
poised head bent eagerly over her task;
unfortunately, Bob and Meg are not
Of an age to appreciate beauty as a
mere study. Yet, notwithstanding this
| fact, Bob's keen eyes are fixed upon
her closely. though with no friendly
look. Presently his keen gaze lights
upon hair-pin standing loosely out
from Ruby's heavy plaits. Cautiously
very cautiously he first touches 1t.
then draws 1t out and holds 1t up for
Meg's approval. That little damsel
smiles and dimples with delight.
Much pleased with his success, he
quietly withdraws another pin and
then another; but suddenly his exul-
tation changes into fright, for with
slow movement the big shining plat
comes gliding down, and falls at his
| feet.
ooh, didn't mean It," he says in
tone of apology. "but your hair has
come of"
Even now he does not understand
the enormity Of his offense nor can he
comprehend why Ruby becomes SO
alarmingly red as she stoops to pick
up her lost property.
did you cut it Off, Bob?" asks Meg
innocently.
mo, / only took out the pins, and It