Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-11-10
CHAPTER XI.-(continned.) }

house as this, and impOverish his
family by SO doing, unless he has
means sufficient to leave them COM
fortably provided for" he muses. impa-
tiently. This house must be a white
elephant to Mrs. Widen, and yet she
cannot bear the idea OF letting 1t, and
moving into place more suited to her
means! Well. can sympathize with
her weakness. for. though the country
round looks upon her late husband In
the light Of selfish spendthrift, l
dare say she still contemplates him rs
q departed saint" Then, no answer
having come to his summons, he rings
again. wondering vaguely at the great
stiffness which pervades the house.
Presently. however. that stiffness is
broken by the sound OF heavy bolts be-
ing withdrawn. ending with grating
turning OF the iron key; then the door
Is opened. and Susan stands revealed.
Il knowed 1t was you, sir. through.
peeping beside the window-blind." she
explains with a slow broad smile. ''or
else shouldn't ha' opened"
Quite right, Susan" agrees Mr..
Champley. stepping into the hall with
out waiting for an invitation-"quite
right to be cautious. want to speak
to Miss Shell for a moment. Is she
in?"
"Eh?" asks Susan. putting her hand
behind her ear, and assuming list
ening attitudc-for she is little hard
Of hearing. and the question is uttered
rapidly. .s
Robert Champley again expresses his
wish for an interview with Shell. and.
what is more, the old woman's eyes
being fxed steadily on him as he makes
his demand. he feels himself growing
red as he makes It. When Susan's
face finally relaxes into broad, smile
he feels that It would afford him In
finite relief to box her ears.
Miss SHELF" the old woman repeats.
still smiling at the joke. Her isn't
here-her went away two hours ago."
Went away-went where" de-
mands her visitor. looking bewildered.
Hers gone to Join her ma and Miss
Ruby. sure" explains Susan. in a tone
which denotes that such question al
most merits contempt. Hers main
fanciful. is Miss Shell; and this morn
ing she took 1t into her head all Of a
hop as herd SO to the moor. and car
ry along with her the wraps as was
wanted. SO nothing would do but she
had me up a-helping pack at six
o'clock. and running errands for books
to the town till I'm fair OF my legs"
"Oh, indeed-gone to the moor. has
she? Well. am very glad to hear
it." answers Robert Champley. with a
strange and unaccountable feeling Of
keen disappointment. Mrs. Widen.
I know. was feeling anxious about her
this house is so lonely"
mo. shan't be lonely" remarks
Susan. who. only catching the last
word. applies 1t to herself and her own
affairs. 1--WE got permission from Miss
Shell to have up my married niece and
her baby to keep me company"
"A very good arrangement" remarks
Robert Champley in slow thoughtful
voice: then he slips half-crown into
susan's hand. and reluctantly retraces
his steps down the weed-grown drive.
what a will-o'-the-wisp that girl
Isl" he muses.. little resentfully. "3he
might have told me she was going.
most unnecessary walk"
Man-like. he does not pause to con-
slider that Shell-unless gifted with
second sight-could have known moth
ing whatever Of his intended visit. see
ing that he himself decided on 1t only
in the early morning.
He finds his brother still sprawling
on the grass, still half hidden beneath
the Times. 7
so soon?" cries Ted. emerging with
a tragic air. "I opine that your recep-
tion was not all your fancy painted It:
and yet--let me investigate"-screw-
ing up one eye in scrutinizing way
YOU look intact; there doesn't seem to
be bite out Of you"
Probably because Miss Shell was
not at home" retorts Robert, with
lazy yawn.
How providential! If I had known
that I might have gone. But where
has the bird flown? l trust not in this
direction"
mo fear of that" laughs Robert, a
little sorely. "She has flown to Oak
moor"
What blessing she didn't take
wing before we left!" muses. Ted.
What has the poor girl done to you
that you should hate her so?" asks
Robert, with sudden burst Of wrath
Ted raises himself on his elbow and
stares at his brother in solemn won
der.
II say. the morning air doesn't seem
to agree with you. old. boy!" he re-
marks in a meditative tone. II don't
hate Shell; I know she is brick to
the children-they adore her; but. see
ing that she does nothing but snub me
when we meet-well, l don't adore
her!"