Willmar tribune., 1909-03-10
CHAPTER vii.

that she is so dependable"
We were standing at my window,
watching Mary Anne and a mar
ket basket disappear in the d.
rection of the village. We regarded
ner broad back and deliberate move.
ments with genuine affection, know
ing that her foraging would be emf
nenuy successful and our larder sat.
isfat torily stocked, which desirable re-
suit was not by any means certain to
follow when we ourselves went to mar
ket.
Gabrielle and Elizabeth had their
hats on and even carried gloves, which
meant that something unusual was
about to happen.
II wa had not made such definite
engagement with the Campbells,
would not 60 one step," announced
Gabsielle. Il don't like to leave you
alone with headache"
"Of course you must CO." returned
ruefully. 1--WE have set too many times
and been disappointed to put it of
again. Then, too, remember Lord Will
frid is to meet you over there at lunch
con, and as he must have already
started, there is no way of letting him
know. l will be all right when you
come home, but it is too bad"
For this was the day agreed upon,
after various disappointments, for a
shopping expedition to the small town
across the water. We intended to take
advantage of the little steamer that
crossed every morning and returned
every afternoon, explore the place, and
invest in few articles the village could
not supply. Lady Campbell and her
brother were to join us, and we an
ticipated very jolly time.
was therefore awfully disappointed
when wakened that morning with the
dull pain in my eyeballs have reason
to respect and treat with every def
erence. While the grin made their
toilets, protesting vigorously against
leaving me alone, rested my heavy
head against the window frame and
tried to calculate how long it would
probably be before my brain felt clear
again and life would seem worth liv-
ing.
1T is the kindest thing you can do
for me-" said at last. Il prefer to
be alone when my head aches. When
you get off I will take something and
lie down, and Mary Anne will make
me some tea for lunch. BY the time
you come home tired and rather cross
l shall be all freshly dressed and as
cool and comfortable as possible. Now
if you don't start, you will miss your
boat"
They finally set out, and watched
them walk down the path toward the
village. Both were tall and slender
but there the resemblance ceased en-.
| tirely. Gabrielle was strictly tailor
| made from shoe to hat, but Elizabeth
inclined toward softening the severity
of such costumes by various feminine
devices very telling in their effect, es
pecially upon the masculine element
of society.
When Gabrielle turned and waved
her tightly-rolled silk umbrella In q
farewell salute, I thought her plain
well-fitting skirt and jacket, immacu
lately severe linen shirt waist, stifl
cravat and trim little hat with its knot
of ribbon and long black quill, the only
correct costume for any one. But
when Elizabeth also turned and raised
her red parasol was not SO sure, fol
| tho pro<fv <on.oolorod cl>i o~A oSo.1
Elton jacket, the dainty white blouse
and the light straw hat with a red
rose under the brim, were certainly
very becoming, as we'll as entirely
suitable.
lay quite still for some hours, theu
found myself gradually reviving and
with strong desire for cup of tea
The house seemed very quiet, and
though l opened my door and called
several times there was no response
l was forced to conclude that Mary
Anne had taken advantage of our in
tended absence to spend the day in the
village, not knowing I had remained
at home.
| I therefore got up and went down tt
the kitchen to see what 1 could find;
for l had eaten no breakfast, and fell
that I would now be all the better fol
a little food.
The fire was out, and the prospects
discouraging to one disinclined to make
much of an effort; but l found some
crackers, and remembered that Mar,
Anne had mentioned putting the mill
on the hanging shelf in the cellar, 81
l got glass and went after it, cracker
jar in hand.
The cellar had been well aired ant
was much less damp and musty thar
on my previous visit. Also, the littel
of boxes and other rubbish had bee.
neatly piled along the wall, and thu
whole place seemed more habitable
The sea breeze swept through the ope,
windows until the hanging shell
creaked on its rusty chains, and a IA,
Of sunlight penetrated the dark 70
cess, almost reaching the packing css>
at the end.
| found the milk and filled my glass
then wandered aimlessly into the re
cess, sat down upon an upturned bon
and began my lunch. do not under
stand why should have elected to dt
this, when the entire house was at N,
disposal, but sometimes one obeys n
impulse without any tangible reaso1
for doing so.
AS I sat cOntentedly nibbling