Part 17 (1/2)

”That's it, Seth I put it in there In with the dinner Oh, and, Seth, I got Ma to letmy dinner out, so we can have a picnic, you and I, and General”

Seth was bending over the box

”Then I guess your dinner's kind o' spoiled too,” he said

”Oh, that doesn'tas yours isn't You see it's ive it all to General; so it won't be wasted”

”No, it won't be wasted”

Rosebud watched her cos frolad or sorry that she was going to have her dinner with hiht of springing this surprise on him, but now she felt doubtful, and a certain shyness kept her usually busy tongue silent She would have given ht

That was just where she found the ht about anything

Seth found the note, and put it in his pocket Now he set their htfulness hardly to be expected of her, turned Hesper loose Then she sat down beside General and put the tin dishes straight, according to her fancy In silence she helped Seth to a liberal portion of lukewar, and, finally, herself

”Ma's a dear!” she suddenly exclai me a new dress It's a secret, and I'm not supposed to know”

”Ah! An' how d' you find out?”

”Oh, I asked Pa,” Rosebud laughed ”I kneas so for ies thisI ith hiive him away Isn't she a dear?”

”Sure Guess you like dress fixin's”

”Love theals do, I reckon”

”Well, you see, Seth, irls love to look nice Mrs Rankin, even, says that she'd give the world to get hold of a good dressmaker, and she's s, and that's just what I'd like to talk to you about You see, I've got twenty dollars saved, and I just thought I would get Wana a nice dress, like white people wear I ood one Do you knohat store I could send to in Sioux City, or Oe o' stores an' things But I 'lows it's a good notion”

The irl as she plied her knife and fork

”Maybe,” he went on, a moment later, ”ther' ain't no need to spend theot some Say, you talk to Ma an' fix the letter an'

I'll irl looked up Seth's kindness had banished the ready laugh for the ue remained silent her eyes spoke But Seth was concerned with his food and saw nothing Rosebud did not even tender thanks She felt that she could not speak thanks at that morooo she would have acted differently At last Seth broke the silence

”Say, Rosebud,” he said ”How'd you like a heap o' dollars?”

But the girl's serious mood had not yet passed She held out her plate to General, and replied, without looking at her companion

”That depends,” she said ”You see, I wouldn't like to marry a man with lots of money Girls who do are never happy Ma said so The only other way to have , or play-acting And I'irls who inherit money, but----”

”That's jest it,” broke in Seth

”Just what?” Rosebud turned fro and eyed her companion curiously