Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1907-03-15


says her limbs are getting bad again, and
that she cant chaperon us tomorrow
night"
Regina" interposed Grace, in a tone
Of sharp reproof; although Regina was
the eldest, and she was the youngest.
Il declare that she said IT," returned
Regina, the whole party having imper-
ceptibly glanced at the opposite sofa.
We were in her dressing room just be-
fore dinner, My limbs are getting bad
AGAIN. those were the very words she
used"
"Very possibly; but there was no ne
cessity for you to repeat them. We are
not alone"
Eve are" said Regina. who's Char
ley Baumgarten? Nobody"
Nobody, as you say" interposed
Charles.
"Regina's tongue will be the bane of
her life" cried Grace. "Of course we
are used to Charley, but 1t would have
been all the same had there been room
full Of strangers present. She says any
thing that comes uppermost in her mind"
Like papa" carelessly spoke Regina.
Eyes, but what is proper for papa is
NAANA8A AAC LOA yOut ECLuAhCh NAdGCp VIM
liked to set the world to rights.
go on, Oracle" laughed Richard !;
Keep them in order. What else did
Aunt Ann say"
Nothing. hope it's not true, though,
that she is going to be i'll. We shall be
kept prisoners, as we were last season."
I'D rather run away then put up
with it," protested Regina, fercely. Its
not rheumatism but temper from which
she Is suffering"
Charles Baumgarten laughed.
1T is quite true, Charley; even you
don't know her yet. l protest that it was
half and half last year; little rheuma-
tism, and a great deal Of cross-grained
righteousness. If she does have this at
tack, mind, shall have brought it on.
Little Archdeacon Duck called this morn
ing"
"Archdeacon Duck-who is he2' inter
rupted Charles Baumgarten.
tits the girls name for him; she
means Archdeacon Drake" explained
Richard. LET her go on, Charley"
WELL" said Regina, ''you all know how
Aunt Ann has been setting her cap at
him, thinking, perhaps, he might con-
vert her into Mrs. Duck the second. The
little archdeacon was beginning with his
foOlishly complimentary speeches, and
brought in something about aunt's locks,
of which the weather, windy or wet, never
disturbed the beauty Or If it does
put in, Aunt Esther can send them to the
hairdresser's to be renewed; she is more
fortunate than we poor damsels.'
"Regina You never said it !"
'Inded did. She looked daggers, and
the archdeacon looked foolish. There's
nothing she hates so much, either, as
being called Aunt Esther. was de-
termined to pay her off," vowed Regina.
"She had driven me wild all the morning
with her aggravations. And now l ex-
pect she intends to pay us off BY having
an attack of rheumatism"
"A blessed thing for you girls If you
were married and away" said Richard,
cynically; "but you'll never find another
Aunt Ann. l don't know where l should
be for pocket money without her. l say,
girls, l think Wilmot has landed"
"Then, If so, he'll be here tonight"
said Regina, "and Mary Is as cool ever
it as a cucumber! One would think"
The subdean entered. Regina cut short !
ner Speech anu CnaEles bAuHBdEIen sip 4
ped off his perch on the sofa and took his :
seat decently in a chair. In the presence
of Mr.. DynevOr his family put on their /
best behavior.
Whether they felt who it might be can
not be told. The silence of expectation !
was on all, and their eyes turned to the /
door as it was thrown open,
"Sir Everard WilmOt."
DR.. DyneVOr and his buckles hustled
forward with his right hand stretched out.
A warm greeting to the subdean, a
quiet greeting to Mary, holding her hand
for a moment only, an introduction to the
rest of the party, including Charles Baum
garten, and then Sir Everard sat down.
Look at Mary" whispered Richard to
his sister Regina. us she fainting?"
Regina started up and turned to her.
Mary's whole frame was shivering, and
her face had turned of a death-like white
ness. But she was not fainting.
1T will be over in a moment" she
to Regina. Don't notice me,
for the love of heaven! Talk to them
do anything-stand before me-draw
from me-" And soon the color ,
came back into her face again.
Ito be continued.)