Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1899-02-18

Nrst so delightful, now seems 10 flll
her usually cheerful spirit with sense
of depression. Until robbed of all COM
panionship she never guessed what .
sociable creature she was. Happy
would she be II even the most inane
and commonplace caller would come |
to break the monotony OF her endless
days! But it Is understood in the
neighborhood that the family at the
Wilderness are away; SO from morn
till night Shell wanders aimlessly
about, with only the gray cat TO bear
her company.
1t Is evening. Shell is even more
desolate than her wont. Susan has
asked permission to go into Mudford to
make few purchases, and already
she has been absent over three hours.
It is now seven O'Clock, and the empty
house seems to Shells excited imagi-
nation like a haunted place. She
fancies she hears hurrying through the
passages. A door slams, and her heart
stands still with fear. Shell however
Is not one to give way to morbid feel
ings, and, rousing herself from her
book, she starts on a tour OF inspec-
ton through the house, shutting all
windows and securely barring all
doors on her way; then, with re-
newed sense OF security, she returns
TO the drawing-room and determines
| to while away the time with music
Shell is one of those sensitive folk
| who never play SO well as when alone
| she cannot pour her whole heart into
her music when she has listeners.
Now, with the house to herself she
soon becomes lost to her surroundings,
| and the room echoes to such heart
| stirring strains as it rarely falls to
| ones lot to hear.
Suddenly however her music comes
to an end, and her heart throbs with
| terror, for through the empty hall
echoes the sonorous thunder OF the
big iron knocker. sq5
1 Shells first impulse is to take nc
4 notice-to hide herself or to make hei
4 escape by some back window; ther
her natural good sense returns, ant
she laughs in a nervous manner at hel
fears and with fast-beating heart ad
vances into the hall.
lis that you, Susan?' she asks, bu
without christening the heavy chain
There comes no answer save a Wig
orous ring at the bell.
, who is there?" demands Shell, thi
time in a firmer tone and one NOR
J likely to penetrate the thick GA
, panels.
"A messenger from Mrs. Widen,
answers a voice which is someho'
, familiar TO Shells ears.
: With trembling hands she shoot
( back the heavy bolts, and, taking dow
the chain, opens the door. There SD
. stands-pale, big-eyed, and scared
Q looking, before-Robert Champley.
: "oh. what fright you gave mel"
Z her first involuntary exclamation.
o "a fright! How so? What have
- done?" queries her visitor, lookin
/? much surprised.
s "Oh, nothing!" answers Shell, Will
! the ghost of smile flickers round h
!. | still cOiOrieSS lips. II WAS my ""
s foolishness; but was not expectir
Il any one excepting Susan, and yo'
\ knock frightened me. l suppose
: must be getting nervous'-with a sci
e depreciating little laugh.
o Nervous? l should think sol" cri
Robert wonderingly. He has taxi
l. her hand in greeting, and feels it co
IN and trembling in his warm grasp. "B
10 surely you are not alone in the house
,r "Only for short time; am expet
ing Susan back every minute" e
es plains Shell, who feels hearti
nt ashamed of her late weakness.
Il Her visitor looks grave.
II. "You ought not to be left alone
II house like this" he says very
!" cidedly. why, you are trembli
stillv
~ His words remind Shell that he ST
n. has possession of her hand-with
I'll little impatient movement she vii
X draws it.
n ITO be Continued.)