The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-11
His Little Sweetheart.
Copyright by a. X. Nc Clure Company

rack.
"Oh, out" he returned. with what
vaudeville artist would call a good imi-
tation of a person wishing to appear
blamelessly forgetful of something he
remembered quite distinctly
well, see that you don't stay long
Remember that it is this afternoon
He turned like stag at bay.
What is it this afternoon he-de-
manded viciously.
"You know very WELL
what"
See that you're here, that's all
You've got to get dressed"
Il will not go to that old dancing
school again, and l tell you that / won't
and / won't. And l WON'T"
Now, Dick, don't begin that all over
again. It's so silly of you. You've got
to 60"
"Why?"
Because it's the thing to do"
"Why?"
Because you must learn to dance"
"Why?"
EVERY nice boy learns"
"Why?"
THAT will do, Richard Go and find
your pumps. Now, get right up from the
floor, and if you scratch the Morris chair
I shall speak to your father. Aren't you
ashamed of yourself? Get right up. You
must expect to be hurt if you pull so.
Come Richard Now, stop crying-a
great boy like you! l am sorry hurt
YOUR elbow, but you know very well you
aren't crying for that at all. Come
along!"
His sister fitted by the door in an
engaging deshabille, her accordion plat
ed skirt held carefully from the floor, her
hair in two glistening blue-knotted pig
tails. A train of rose scented soap fit
ted through the hall.
Hurry up, Dick, or you'll be late she
called back sweetly.
"Oh. you shut up, will you." he
snarled.
She looked meek and listened to his
deprivation OF dessert for the rest of the
week with an air of love for the sinner
and hatred for the sin that deceived even
her older sister, who was dressing her.
A desperately patient monologue from
the next room indicated the course of
events there.
Your necktie is on the bed. No, don't
know where the blue one is 1t doesn't
No. you cannot. You will have to wear
one Because TO one ever goes without.
l don't know why.
"Many a boy would be thankful and
glad to have silk stockings. Nonsense
your legs are warm enough / don't be-
lieve you. Now, Richard how perfectly
ridiculous! There is nc left and right
stockings. You have no time to change.
up, then. Because they are made so,
suppose / don't know why.
BRUSH it more on that side--no, you
can't go to the BARRIERS. You went last
week. 1t looks perfectly well. cut it?
Why, l don't know how to trim hair
Anyway. there isn't time now. 1t will
have to do Stop your Sowing, for good
ness, sake, Dick Have you handker-
chief? 1t makes no difference, you must
carry one. You ought to want to use it.
Well, YOU should. Yes, they always DO
whether they have colds or not. l don't
know why
"Your Golden Text, The idea! No, you
cannot. You can learn that Sunday be-
fore church. This is not the time 10
learn Golden Texts. / never saw such
child Now take your pumps and ma
the plush bag Why not? Put them
right with Ruths. That's what the bag
was made for. Well. how do you want
to carry them? Why never heard OF
anything so silly! You will knot the
strings. l don't care if they do carry
skates that way-skates are not slippers.
You'd lose them. Very we'll, then, only
hurry up. / should think you'd pc
ashamed to have them dangling around
your neck that way. Because people
never do carry them so. | don't know
why
Now, here's your coat. Well, l can
help it, you have no time to hunt LOT
them. Put your hands in your pockets
it's not far. And mind you don't run
for Ruth every time. You don't take
anv pains with her, and you hustle her
about. Miss Dorothy says. Take another
little girl. Yes, you must. l shall speak
to your father if you answer me in that
way. Richard. Men don't dance with
their sisters. Because they don't
don't know why.
He slammed the door till the piazza
shook. and strobe along beside his scan
dalized sister, the pumps Topping noisily
on his shoulders. She tripped along
contentedly-she like to go. The person
alitv capable Of extracting pleasure from
The hour before them baffled his COM
prehension, and he scowled fiercely at
her, rubbing his silk stockings
together at every step, to enjoy
the strange smooth sensation thus pro-
duced. This gave him bow-legged gait
that distressed his sister beyond words
81 think you might stop. Everybody
looking at you! Please stop, Dick Pendle-
ton; you're a mean old thing. | should
think you'd be ashamed to carry your
slippers that way II you jump in that
wet place and spatter me / shall tell
rapa-you will care, when l tell him. just
the same, You're just as bad as you
can be. l shan't speak with you TO-
dayi''
She pursed up her lips and maintained
a determined silence He rubbed his
legs together with renewed emphasis
Acquaintances met them and passed. I'M
conscious of anything but the sweet pic
ture of a sister and a brother and a
plush bag going daintily and dutifully to
dancing school; but his heart was hot
at the injustice of the world and the
bvpocritical cant Of girls and her