The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-03-27
%UncommonIy Common.
R0BERTINE's ROMANOE-HOW SHE
CONCEALED IT.

CONCEALED IT.
Robertine had finished cleaning her
! gloves, and was putting away the bits
of old flannel and the "deodorized''
fluid, whose faint hatefulness she de-
clared she detested. ssIt's quite as bad
as common benZine." she said to her
mother, who was busy cooking a spir-
atuele sort of supper on the gasoline
stove in the other room.
They leased the entire house, a two
story and basement brick, rather cen
trally located, and relet unfurnished
rooms or suites in such a manner as
to clear their own rental while reserv-
ing the double parlors and the joys Of
prOprietorship.
They were very comfortably arrang-
ed. In the evening, Robertfne could
make herself pretty, close the folding
doors, run her fingers lightly over the
keys OF the upright piano, and feel
equal to the entertaining of the most
eligible gentlemen friends-even Will
fred Wales, Esq. In some respects she
was more at ease with this gentleman
for company than with any one else.
Not because he was unusually hand
some-beyond the frequency Of his new
clothes-or talented, or cultured, or
witty; not because Of any subtle charm
in his conversation, like that of poor
Dick Ethel, whom she had known so
long, and who, she was forced to admit,
would always remain the same vision
airy enthusiast and Bohemian. Poor
Dick! If he would only quit trying to
make a living with his pen, and become
a practical member of society-a tailor,
or shoemaker. orsomething honest! No,
but when Wilfred Wales was calling
Robertine knew there would be nc af-
ter remarks from her mother, that good
lady being, at such times. content to re-
tire to peaceful dreams and a bookcase
bedstead, leaving the young people I'M
disturbed.
with further ''expectations,' and Rob-
ertine felt it would be the merest folly
to discourage his attentions. She knew
herself thoroughly; knew all her disad-
vantages and all her little attractive
ness. She had sized herself up long
ago as moderately pretty brunette, who
could sing and play passably, read a
French novel without the dictionary,
write a dashing sort of letter, and dance
all the newest fancies. She never for
got that she bad neither fortune nor
family-a blue lookout for any girl of
twenty; that she had. talent in no par
ticular direction; that she was physical
ly too delicate for continuous labor, be
the life of a working-woman.
Yet sometimes she felt sick of it all
sick of doing lawyers copying at home,
and addressing wrappers by the thous-
and, and scheming how to best spend
the money so earned and how to con-
struct the prettiest costume in which to
attend theatre or promenade concert
with Mr.. Wales. (Often she would far
rather have gone sauntering in the
park, clad in her plain, brown Mother
Hubbard" with Richard Ethel beside
her, and his pleasing fantasies.)
But what could she do to support her.
self? You can't be a clerk in any
store" said her mother, sit takes away
a girls social positions
IF she has any" said Robertine ironi-
cally.
Meanwhile they had got on very well
without touching the insurance money
received at the death Of Robertine's la
mented father, which was but a small
sum at best, and which the mother
would need for herself when once the
daughter was married.
RObertine shook out three pair Of
evening. gloves, and said musingly,
"Now I'm ready to go anywhere if only
| oOllS OuS ll1fltSS Ill., y 4. .- 4.
eff 1 were you [ wouldn't 90 with
anybody but Wales" admonished her
mother. IF he sees you running
around with common tugs like DICK
! Ethel, he'll ship youI'' Mrs. Ferris was
often more forcible than elegant. and
always unconscious of nautical ten
denotes. She was a thin, neryous Wo-
man, with an extraordinary contempt
for the oipolloi. She was often heard
TO say that she had been struggling for
wears to keen her head above WataT "a
also that Of her deceased husband.
pround in snite IF herl1
Robertine colored. Il never 90 with
any one Pm ashamed Off she said IN
dignantly: ssand as for Mr.. Wales tha
shipping process NAV be Conducted by
the other party.O
20, no doubt YOU feel able To MANAGE
your own, affairs. Some folks. when
| they have a little streak of luck act "a
ifit would never be day with them-D
closing with a pet a~ntiphrasis.
"Now, mother. what is the nse Of
such talk? Let us eat our supper in
peace
Anu tEsy ald; a1ter winch, Robertlne
Z udSlllQ NQ1lSLG0. n1r' G0lIpf want fn tho