Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1899-02-17
CHAPTER xI.-(Continued.)

i mousse as THIS, ana lIuQoSeIASA go
family by so doing, unless ne max
means sufficient to leave them com
fortably provided for" he muses. impa'
tiently. "This house must be whlte
elephant to Mrs. Widen, and yet she
cannot bear the idea of letting 1t, and
moving into a place more suited to hel
means! Well, can sympathize with
her weakness, for, though the country
round looks upon her late husband IN
the light of selfish spendtnrllt'
dare say she still contemplates him as
a departed saint" Then, no answer
having come to his summons, he rings
again, wondering vaguely at the great
still} ess which pervades the house.
Presently, however, that stiffness is
broken by the sound Of heavy bolts oe-
ing withdrawn, ending with grating
turning Of the iron key; then the door
is opened, and Susan stands revealed.
II knowed it was you, sir, through
peeping beside the window-blind,' she
explains with slow broad smile, or
else I 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. l 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 attitude-for she is a little nara
of hearing, and the question is uttered
rapidly.
Robert Champley again expresses his
wish for an interview with Shell, and,
what is more, the old woman's eyes
being fixed 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 it into her head all OF
hop as herd go 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 off my legs"
"Oh, indeed-gone to the moor, has
she? Well, I 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, I shan't be lonely" remarks
Susan, who, only catching the last
word, applies it 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. "She
might have told me she was going,
and so saved me the trouble of this
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 it only
in the early morning.
He finds his brother still sprawling
on the grass, still half hidden beneath
the Times.
80 soon?" cries Ted, emerging with
tragic air. II opine that your recep-
ton 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 a bite out Of YOU ,.
Probably because Miss Shell was
not at home" retorts Robert, with a
lazy yawn.
"How providential! II I had known
that I might have gone. But where
has the bird flown? trust not in this
direction" o.. ~. -... So.
"No fear of that" laughs Robert, a
little sorely. "She has flown to Oak
moor" ~.aE- i ~.
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 a sudden burst Of wrath.
Ted raises himself on his elbow and
stares at his brother in solemn won
der. t -.4., 'e.sE....
Il say, the morning air doesn't seem
to agree with you, old boy!" he re-
marks in 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, don't adore
her!" &l%+ ~'#,'-a g..
1T is of no use to waste more words
on the subject" says Robert, impa-
tiently--'we are neither Of use likely
to see her again for month or So"
"Tant mieux!" remarks Ted; placid
ly. Il,
| IF couldn't pronounce French bet,
ter than you do I'd stick to English
said Robert. in a tone Of irritation.
Never mind-1 shall set that all
right when we are on the other side
Of the Channel" returns Ted, with
comic confidence. How is fellow
to speak French If he has never been
abroad pr ", liatt H 1ssEi f.;5 ff. 80 &