The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-06-24

no basement, electric bells, hot ana colu
water, n every modern convenience
including a common ennis lawn, 10 De
let at f100 a year, or FL, 800 purchase.
SO tempting an offer did not Ion re-
main open. Within a few weeks the cara
had vanished from number one, ana IL
was known that Admiral Hay Denver
V. c., c.. b., with Mrs. Hay Denver ana
their MY son. were about TO move into
il. The news brought peace TO the hearts
or the Williams sisters. They had ilVeu
with a settled conviction that some Wild
impossible colony, some shouting, sing
ing family of madcaps, would break in
upon their peace. This establishment at
least was irreproachable. A reference 10
Men of the Time showed them thai
Admiral Hay Denver was a most dis-
tinguished officer, who a begun his
active career at Bomarsund. and had
ended it at Alexandria, having man
aged between these two episodes TO see
as much service as any man of his
years. From the Taku Forts and the
Shannon brigade, to dhow-harrying on
Zanzibar, there was no variety of naval
work which did not appear in his rec
ord; while the Victoria Cross and the
Albert medal for saving life vouched
for 1t that in peace as N war his cour-
age was still Of the same true temper.
Clearly a very eligible neighbor this.
the more so as they had been confident
ly assured by the estate agent that Mr..
Harold Denver, the son, was a most
quiet young gentleman. and that he
was busy from morning TO night on the
Stock Exchange.
The Hay Denvers had hardly moved
in before number two also struck it's
placard, and again the ladies found
that they had no reason to be discont-
ed with their %neighbors. Doctor Bal
thazar Walker was a very well known
name in the medical world. Did not his
qualifications, his membership, and the
record of his writings fill a long half
column in the Medical Directory" from
his first little paper on the "Gouty
Diathesis" in 1859 to his exhaustive
treatise upon Affections of the Vase
Motor System" in 1884? A successful
medical career which promised to end
in a presidentship of a college n a
~baronetcy, had been cut short by his
sudden inheritance OF a considerable
sum from a grateful patient, which had
rendered him independent for life, and
had nabled him to turn his attention
to the more scientific part Of his profess
sion, which had always had a greater
charm for him than its more practical
and commercial aspect. To this end he
had given up his house in Weymouth
street, and had taken this opportunity
of moving himself, his scientific instru-
ments and his two charming daughters
Che had been a widower for some years.
into the more peaceful atmosphere of
Norwood.
There was thus but one villa unoc-
cupied. and 1t was no wonder that the
two maiden ladies watched with a keen
interest, which ~deepened into a dire
apprehension, the curious incidents
which heralded the coming of the
new tenants. They had already learned
from the agent that the family consist
ed of two only, Mrs. Westmacott. a
widow and her nephew, Charles West
macott. How simple and how select it
had sounded! Who could have foreseen
from 1t these fearful portents which
seemed to threaten violence and dis
cord among the jewellers in The Wilder
ness? Again these two old maids cried
in heartfelt chorus that they wished
they had not sold their field.
We'll, at least, Monica" remarked
Bertha, as they sat over their teacups
that afternoon, however strange these
people may be, it is our duty to be as
polite to them as to the others"
Most certainly" acquiesced her sis
ter.
Since we have called upon Mrs. Hay
Denver and upon the Misses Walker,
we must call upon his Mrs. Westma-
colt also"
living upon our LAND L feel as If they
were In a sense our guests, and that ii
Is our duty to welcome them"
Then we shall call tomorrow" said
Bertha, with decision.
Yes, dear, we shall. But, oh, I wish
it was overt
AT o'clock IN the next day, the two
maiden ladies set off upon their hospit-
able errand. In their stiff, cracking
dresses Of black silk. with jet-be-
spangled Jackets. and little rows of
cylindrical grey curls dropping down
on either side Of their black bonnets,
they looked like two old fashion plates
which had wandered off into the wrong
ecade Half curious and half fearful,
they Knocked at the floor of number
three. which was instantly opened by a
r~ed-headed page boy.
Yes. Mrs. Westmacott was at home.
He ushered them into the front room.
furnished as a drawing room, where In
spite OF the fine spring weather a large
fire was burning in the crate The how
took their cards, and then, as they sat
down together upon a settee he set their
nerves in a thrill by darting behind a
curtain with a shrill cry, and prodding
at something with his foot The buIl pup
which they had seen Upon the day be-
fore bolted from it's hiding place and
scuttled snarling } ON the room.