Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-10-27

first SO delightful. now seems to NIL
her usually cheerful spirit with sense
OF depression. Until robbed of all COM
partnership she never guessed what
socIable creature she was. Happy
would she be II even the most inane
and commonplace caller would come
to break the monotony OF her endless
days! But 1t is understood In the
neighborhood that the family ut the
Wilderness are away; SO from morn
till night Shell wanders aimlessly
about, with only the gray cat to bear
her company.
1t Is evening. Shell is even more
desolate than her wont. Susan has
asked permission to go into Mudford to
make n few purchases. and already
she has been absent over three hours.
1t is now seven o'clock, and the empty
house seems to Shells excited imagi-
nation like haunted place. She
iancies she hears hurrying through tho
passages. A door slams, and her heart
stands still with fear. Shell however
is not one to give way to morbid feel
ings, and. rousing herself from her
book. she starts on n tour OF inspcc-
ton through the house. shutting all
windows and securely barring oil
doors on her way: then, with a re-
newed sense OF security. she returns
to the drawing-room and determines
to while away the time with music.
Shell Is one OF those sensitive folk
who never play 20 we'll as when alone
she cannot pour her whole heart into
L. ha
Now. with the house to herself she
soon becomes lost to her surroundings.
and the room echoes to such heart
stirring strains rs 1t rarely falls to
ones lot to hear.
Suddenly however her music comes
to an end. and her heart throbs with
terror. for through the empty hall
echoes the sonorous thunder of the
big iron knocker.
Shells first impulse is to take no
notice-to hide herself or to make her
escape by some back window; then
her natural good sense returns, and
she laughs In n nervous manner at her
fears and with fast-beating heart ad-
vances into the hall.
"Is that you, SUSAN" she asks. but
without christening the heavy chain.
There comes no answer save a Wig
orous ring at the bell.
who Is there?" demands She'll. this
time in a firmer tone and one more
likely to penetrate the thick oak
panels.
"a messenger from Mrs. Widen"
answers voice which is somehow
familiar to Shells ears.
With trembling hands she shoots
back the heavy bolts. and. taking down
the chain, opens the door. There she
stands-pale. big-eyed, and scared
looking, before-Robert Champley.
"Oh. what fright you gave me-" Is
her first Involuntary exclamation.
"a fright! How SO? What have
done?" queries her visitor. looking
much surprised.
"Oh, nothing!" answers Shell. whilst
the ghost of smile fiickers round her
still colorless lips. 1T was my own
foolishness: but | was not expecting
any one excepting Susan. and your
knock frightened me. l suppose I
must be getting nervous"-with u self
depreciating little laugh.
Nervous? ! should think SOL" cries
Robert wonderingiy. He has taken
her hand in greeting. and feels 1t cold
and trembling in his warm grasp. But
surely you are not alone in the house?"
"Only for short time: am expect
ing Susan back every minute" ex-
plains Shell, who feels heartily
ashamed of her late weakness.
Her visitor looks grave.
"You ought not to be left alone in
house like this" he says very de-
cidedly. why, you are trembling
still"
His words remind Shell that he still
has possession of her hand-with
little impatient movement she with
draws it.