Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1899-02-09
CHAPTER xI.-(Continued.)

q uouSc as tnlS, ana 1mpOVerlSn hls
FAMILY by SO doing, unless he has
means sufficient to leave them com
fortably provided for" he muses. impa
tiently. This house must be white
elephant to Mrs. Widen, and yet She
cannot bear the idea OF letting 1t, ant
moving into place more suited to hel
means! Well, l can sympathize with
her weakness, for, though the country
round looks upon her late husband II
the light Of a selfish spendthrift.
dare say she still contemplates him al
departed saint" Then, no answer
having come to his summons, he ring:
again, wondering vaguely at the grea
stiffness which pervades the house.
PRESENTLY, however, that stiffness IL
broken by the sound of heavy bolts be-
ing withdrawn, ending with a grating
turning OF the iron key; then the dool
is opened, and Susan stands revealed.
knowed 1t was you. sir, through
peeping beside the window blind" she
explains with slow broad smile. "ol
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. l want to speak
to Miss Shell for a moment. Is she
in?"
Ehf" asks Susan, putting her hand
behind her ear, and assuming list
ening attitude-for she is little hard
or nearing, 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 1t. When Susan's
race finally relaxes into broad smile
he feels that 1t would afford him in.
Unite 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 tone
which denotes that such a question al
most merits contempt. Hers main
fanciful, is Miss She'll and this morn
ing she took it into her head all OF a
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, fndeed-gone to the moor, has
she? Well, l am very glad to hear
1t. answers Robert Champley, with a
strange and unaceountable feeling of
keen disappointment MRS. Widen,
know, was feeling anxious about her
this house is so lonely"
No, | shan't be lonely" remarks
Susan, who, only catching the last
word, applies 1t to herself and her own
affairs. I've got permission from Misc
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 a half-crown into
Susan's hand, and reluctantly retraces
his steps down the weedgrown 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 spraying
on the grass, still half hidden beneath
the Times.
so soon?" cries Ted, emerging with
n tragic air. II opine that your recep-
ton was not all your fancy painted 1t:
and yet-let me inyestigate"-serew-
Ing up one eye In a 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 a
lazy yawn.
How providentiall II had known
that | might have gone. But where
has the bird flown? l trust not In this
direction"
mo fear of that" laughs Robert, o
little sorely. "She has flown to Oak.
moor"
What a blessing she didn't take
wing before we lefti" 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.
Il say. the morning air doesn't seem
to agree with you, old boy!' he re-
marks in a meditatiye tone. Il don't
hate Shell; | know she is a brick to
the children-they adore her; but, see-
ing that she does nothing but snub me
when we meet-well, don't adore
hertz
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 a month or So"
'Tant mieux!" remarks Ted, placid
ly.
IF | couldn't pronounce French bet
ter than you do I'd stick to English -
said Robert. In a tone of irritation.
Never mind shall set that all
right when we are on the other side
of the Channel" returns Ted, with