ifK7riil
THE HESPERIAN
washed, then the muffled ca-thud ca-thud of
the churn dash as it rose and fell in tho rich
cream, but she did not go down. After
all sounds in tho kitchen ceased and present
ly she heard her mother call from the foot
of the stairs:
"Air ye awake, Deborie ? You'd better
git up purty soon fur yor pa says Rob Car
ter and his sister is comin' fur tho evenin'."
Rob Carter. Yes, she rembered him.
He had dragged her through more than one
game of dare base and black-man to keep
her from being caught. She wondered what
he was like now. Big and red and akward,
no doubt. Oh well, anything was better
than this. She sprang up and began brush
ing her hair. It was beautiful hair, though
neither she nor anyone else had known it
until she left home. At regular intervals
when she was small it had been bobbed off
at the ends and thoroughly oiled with kero
sene, and every morning it had been comb
ed back smooth and tight from here forehead
and plaited into a thick stubbed braid, tied
with a piece of tape. It had always looked
streaked and dirty, and account of the
stubby ends, a malicious boy had dubbed
her bob-tail. Others had taken it up and
the hated name had clung to her for a long
time.
But live yoars of proper care had pro
duced a mass of long thick hair that many
girls envied her. A costly wash, which a
hairdresser had proposed, had changed it
from the dirty brown to a rich tinted hazel
which exactly matched her eyes.
She took pains in waving and arranging
it this evening and dressed with dainty care.
Presently she hoard a heavy rap at tho
kitchen door and then her mother's voice.
"Good evenin' Jane, good ovenin' Rob,
walk right in. Yes she's come and '11 be
mighty glad tor see yer again. Go right on
in tho sottin' room Jane and make yerself
to hum and I'll call her." Then from the
stair door, "Deborie, be ye a comin'? Yer
company's here.
fJDo hush ma, they'll hear you," in a
loud whisper. "Yes, I'm coming," and
lifting her skirts from tho floor she went
down tho stairs.
Through the open door of the sitting room
she could see her former play mates. Jane,
staid and homely as ever Rob somewhat
changed. "Not such a guy if he didn't
wear red ties and celluloid cuffs," she men
tally commented as she came through the
door, but what Lob and his somewhat dense
sister heard, as a vision in soft rose-pink
appeared, was a delighted exclamation and:
"How lovely of you to come aud see me so
soon! I was really dying of ennui.'n
"You look well enough," remarked Jane.
"I hope it ain't the same thing as consump
tion. But they do say folks that have it
has just as rosy cheeks as anybody."
"She seems right pert," answered her
mother, for Deb had turned to Rob and
was saying: "Yes, I came home last night
wasn't it pa?" looking at her father without
waiting for an answer. "It seems like I've
been here a week. I was really worn out
when I got here. Travelling is such a bore.
I cannot endure it. And you woubl not
have known me ? I shall consider that a
compliment. Do you remember what a
fright 1 was when I left ? Always tho
prettiest girl in the country?" with an up
ward glance and a dazzling smile, "How
absurd while your sister is here."
An hour later as she stood in the door
way, bidding the brother and sister good
night, she urged sweetly speaking to Jane
but looking at Rob, "Now do come just as
often as you can. I shall bo so pleased. I
shan't go much for we have nothing for mo
to drive." "There's Doll and the cart,"
ventured her mother, but Deb, pretending
not to hear, continued: "Come next Sunday
if -you can," and to her airy good night Rob
stammered, "I will."
Later that night as old Mr. Dobson
struggled with his rheumatism and the boot
jack he remarked to his wife, "Taint no
ways likely this '11 bo the last time Carter
'11 be here fur -. Deborie can be amazin