Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1898-12-23
. CHAPTER I.

wilderness has just announced slow
ly to all those whom it may concern
that noon is past. Again the house has
sunk into stiffness, save for the distant
echo Of fresh young voice singing
from very gladness Of heart, al
broken intervals.
Going down long passage covered
with frayed cocoanut mating ane
opening the thick oak door one comes
upon what seems to be the only IN
habited room in the house. Here agar
is space-ample space, and lofty cell
ing -vthough certainly, as regards any
modern luxuries in the way OF furnl'
ture, the apartment is bare enough
IA faded drugget covers the center Of
the floor, eked out round the edge by
Eoil-cloth which has long since failed
Ito boast more than faint visions Of
Aattern. An old square piano with
Short yellow keyboard stands open a
one end of the room Uttered with
music; some half-dozen chairs OF nc
particular pattern, and most OF them
of an uncompromising nature, are ND
den under snippings of dark blue print
and observation-disclosures pieces OF lin
ling; the shabby old sofa is also piled
with various articles of feminine at
tire.
Both windows are thrown as high
as the sashes will permit, so admitting
the genial sunshine and sweet flower
scented air-before one stands a very
practical-looking sewing machine. be-
fore the other is an old wicker table
strewed with fashion plates and paper
patterns.
Bending over the solid table which
stands in the middle of the room Is
Shell Widen. She is at present max
Ing determined onslaught with pair
of formidable scissors on section OF
1.-THE blue print before mentioned. she
has ceased singing for the moment; her
brows are slightly puckered, whilst
her keen grey-gceen eyes follow anx-
iously the line to be taken by her
shears There is decision and energy
n every curve of her girlish rounded
Rgure as she leans over the work; the
light sleeve of her dark dress is pushed
10 nearly to the elbow to allow OF free
blay, so disclosing a plump, rounded
arm of almost snowy whiteness.
Shells fine pure white skin is her
bne personal attractions: but, as her Sis
Ter Ruby often remarks. she pays for
1t dearly, for Shells complexion is ac-
rompanied by wealth Of wavy SHIN
|mering red hair, family marked eye
brows, and a pair of eyes which are
positively pale green in certain strong
Atsl Enough they deepen almost to
~ blXunder strong emotion or in the
~ Z cleaning of summer evening.
little below the middle height,
X a round, childish face. with
I speak so often when her
wisely silent that her sister
any time takes umbrage at
ressive looks.
az Just finished her critical
work, and is again breaking
- conscious song, when the door
fuickly, admitting tall, grace
y Ian of some thirty summers,
s iBlght spring costume sets off her
assical beauty to advantage.
k for she it is, differs from her
as much in temperament and
ton as in form and expression.
Anger at first sight would have
taken these two young women to be re-
hated, yet suchNof their acquaintance
who were addicted to the pursuit OF
bsychological inquiry were fond OF
bointing out that behind the widely
Eaifferent manifestations of the person
Eality of each there was the same orig
FINAL force and insistence.
did you get it," questions Shell,
pausing at her work, and looking lit
File blankly at her sisters empty
hands.
"Get it! Get what?' asks Ruby
clearing space upon the sofa, and
sinking down upon it languidly.
"Why, the tape. of course! haven't
an inch left; and how can get on with
the killings without tape?" cries Shell
with a pathetic ring in her voice.
"Dear me, your mind never seems
able to soar above dress-making!" says
Ruby, slightly struggling her shoulders
I'VE got the tape all right-fortunately
\ Violet remembered it,"
"Has vi got it. them" asks Shell
in no way affected by her sisters low
opinion OF her intellect.
..GOt it," sneers Ruby. "You surely
don't imagine, child, that we are 60
ing to burdens ourselves with parcels
on such broiling day as this?"
II surely did not imagine that even
YOU would make any poor errand-boy
tramp whole mile to bring few
pieces Of tape that would have fitted
lnto your pocket if you were ashamed
[of carrying them openly" responds
Shell with spirit.
Then there is period Of silence, dur
Ing which Shell looks quite stern and
even naughty, while Ruby does not ap-
pear to be altogether as self-satisfied
as she would wish to be-possibly be-
cause it irritates her to see Shell more
sat ease than herself Shell meanwhile
sews steadily on, and me conversation
threatens to come to sudden terml-
nation, when a somewhat sarcastic
glance from Shell causes it to revive.
There is no greater mistake than
bringing parcels oneself" pursues
Ruby in an injured tone-"parcels are
buch nuisance! and why should one
do errand-boy's work-they are paid
Tor IT."
Shell makes no answer but, bend
ling over the table, begins to fit tissue
paper pattern on her stuff. making a