Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1899-01-14
CHAPTER /

IL was glorious spring Jay. Nc oiu
sak hall in the spacious hall of the
Wilderness has just announced slow
iy 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, At
broken intervals.
Going down a long passage covered
with frayed eocoanut mating ana
opening the thick oak door one comes
upon what seems to be the only IN
habited room in the house. Here again
Is space-ample space. and lofty cell
ing-though certainly, as regards any
modern Injuries In the way OF furni-
enre, the apartment is bare enough.
A faded drugget covers the center OF
the floor, eked out round the edge oy
oil-cloth which has long since failed
to boast more than faint visions Oh
pattern. An old square piano with
short yellow keyboard stands open at
one end Of the room Uttered with
music; some half-dozen chairs OF no
particular pattern, and most of them
OF an incorporating nature, are hid
den under snippings of dark blue print
and mysteriously-shaped pieces of lin
ing; 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 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
the blue print before mentioned. She
has ceased singing for the moment; her
brows are slightly puckered, whilst
her keen grey-green eyes follow anx-
lousy the line to be taken by her
shears. There is decision and energy
tn every curve of her girlish rounded
ngure as she leans over the work; the
light sleeve of her dark dress is pushed
ap nearly to the elbow to allow of free
play, so disclosing plump, rounded
arm of almost snowy whiteness.
Shells fine pure white skin is her
pne personal attraction; but, as her SIS
ter Ruby often remarks, she pays for
H dearly, for Shells complexion is &C
kompanied by a wealth of wavy SHIN
mering red hair, family marked eye
brows, and pair of eyes which are
positively pale green in certain strong
tights. though they deepen almost to
burple under strong emotion or in the
lreamy cleaning of summer evening
She is little below the middle height
possessing a round, childish face, with
eyes that speak so often when hel
tongue is wisely silent that her sister
Ruby many time takes umbrage a
her expressive looks.
She has Just finished her critiea
piece of work, and is again breaking
into unconscious song, when the dool
opens quickly, admitting tall, grace
full woman OF some thirty summers
whose light spring costume sets of hel
dark classical beauty to advantage.
Ruby, for she 1T is. differs from her
sister as much in temperament an6
disposition as in form and expression
No stranger at first sight would hav,
taken these two young women to be re
lated, yet such of their acquaintance.
who were addicted to the pursuit o
psychological inquiry were fond o
pointing out that behind the widel,
different manifestations of the person
atty OF each there was the same orig
inal force and insistence.
ibid you get it," questions Shell
pausing at her work, and looking lit
tie blankly at her sisters empt.
hands.
"Get It! Get what?" asks Ruby
clearing a space upon the sofa, an
sinking down upon 1t languidly.
"Why, the tape, of course! / haven
an inch left; and how can get on wit
the killings without taper" cries Shell
with pathetic ring in her voice.
Dear me, your mind never seem
able to soar above dress-making!" say
Ruby, slightly Struggling her shoulders
1--WE got the tape all right-fortunatel
Violet remembered it."
HAS vi got It, then" asks Shell
in no way affected by her sisters 10y
opinion of her intellect.
"Got it," sneers Ruby. you surel
don't imagine, child, that we are &c
ing to burdens ourselves with parcel
on such broiling day as this?"
II surely did not imagine that eve
you would make any poor errand-b
tramp whole mile to bring a fe,
pieces of tape that would have ftte
into your pocket II you were ashame
OF carrying them openly" respond
Shell with spirit.
Then there is period of silence, dul
ing which Shell looks quite stern an
even naughty, while Ruby does not ar
pear to be altogether as self-satisfie
as she would wish to be-possibly be
Gauss 1t irritates her to see Shell NOR
at ease than herself. Shell meanwhile