Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1899-02-03
CHAPTER XII.


Robert Champley is not az . rule
given TO thinking much about his
neighbors' concerns. yet the vision Of
Shell, startled and pale, as she stood
before him in the gathering gloom OF
the hall at the Wilderness, rises mora
than once and confronts him during
the wakeful watches of that summer
night
When breakfast is over the next
morning, and the brothers are enjoy
ing their pipes together with the news
Of the day, under the rose-wreathed We
randall which shelters the dining-room
windows of Champley House. Robert
suddenly breaks the silence.
u am going over to the Wilderness
will you conner" he asks, addressing
his brother.
ITO the Wilderness2" repeats Ted In
went to the Wilderness last evening"
THAT is no reason why l shouldn't
go again this morning." laughs Rob-
ert
Not the slightest" assents Ted,
with a lazy shrug OF his shoulders III
you have a fancy for stinging-nettles.
1t may be weakness on my part, but
l have particular aversion to prickly
young women, and Mademoiselle Shell
Is a perfect hedgehog"
Then you won't Gomez"
mot If know it; and you can hint
to the young lady that she has lost the
pleasure OF my company entirely
through her waspishness OF DISPOSE
tion-perhaps then she will mend her
ways"
Yes, that would be likely to make
strong impression on her, 1 should
think" says the elder brother deris-
lively. as he clears the ashes from his
pipe and prepares for departure The
fact is" he continues in explanation,
Il think Shell ought to join her mother
at Oakford; it is really not safe for
her to remain here all alone"
'-Oh, she Is safe enough. Nobody who
has had one interview with her is
likely to modest her a second time"
SCOTS Ted. However, il she is weigh
ing on your mind you had certainly
better get rid Of her before we start;
so go and give her the benefit of your
opinion. If you dare-you always were
of somewhat Quixotic nature"
Not in the least" returns Robert
seriously. "Only where duty 50 plain
iy leads one must needs follow"
Capital sentiment, no doubt, for the
head of family" drawls Ted. III
ever marry, hope sense Of my
responsibility will fall upon me at the
same time At present my duty plain
ly leads me to pack, and not to moral
jze with Shell on the impropriety OF
her conduct
You are lazy dog, Ted, and no
mfstakei" laughs Robert Champley,
looking down with an indulgent smile
at his younger brother, who, instead
of bestirring himself for the talked-of
packing, has sunk down upon tho
close shaver green slope leading to the
veranda, and is almost lost to view
under the widespread sheet OF the
Times
II am thankful for small mercies,"
responds Ted, in tone OF unmerited
"Your speech would have
been more annihilating had you sub
stituted the word puppy for dog
Now speed you on your way-I have
no earthly wish to detain you-and tell
Miss Shell, with my best respects. that
she is quite welcome to the moor, now
we have done with it,"
"All right" laughs Robert; and the
next moment he is walking briskly
down the avenue.
As he nears the Wilderness. however,
his pace slackens. After all. what
business OF his is it that Shell chooses
to remain at home instead of Joining
her mother and sister? May she not
feel justly annoyed at his interference,
and resent it as sheer impertinence.
And yet he cannot somehow feel JUS
tilted in going away and leaving her
She has been kind to his
,hildren-their little hearts seem full
If her-her name trips from their
ongues twenty times a day; and yet
girl that she is
The never seems to care one jot about
hem; and. If she speaks Of them at all,
leems them by her tone little nui-
ances."
Well. duty is duty-she can miscon-
true him if she will, laugh at him II it
o pleases her. but he will have his
ay. and just tell her plainly and &C.
iously that she ought to go to Oak
ord
With this resolution uppermost in
lis mind he mounts the large, nat
oorstep and pulls the bell As 4 rule.