Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1899-02-02
Shell I..!!!:l L. .E!!o!1zz:szl
Widen.
A ROMANCE{

- % - ~ ~ ~ ~ 80 ~ ~ ~ ~ -
"Oh, my playing is nothing much!"
answers Shell brusquely.
"You are wounding my feelings. for
| consider myself a good judge" laughs
her companion; "only | should very
much like to know why you so per-
sistently put yourself in the back
ground"
"Oh, because putting oneself for
ward is such bore!" SCOTS Shell. IF
people know you can play, you are al
ways being made useful in one way or
another"
Isn't that rather a selfish way to
look at it?" asks Mr. Champley grave
ly. Surely 1t was intended that we
should all be useful to our fellow
creatures so far as lies in our power"
smell laughs a little mocking laugh.
'Of course it is very merltorious to
be unselfish," she says fippantly; but
l am not given to self sacrifice, and l
am afraid l don't love my fellow-crea-
lures as | ought" Whilst she is
speaking a single knock at the door is
HNNANt anu again sue DItdhH lHIO a
laugh. "Ah, there is Susan-she is a
fellow-creature of course and at the
present moment | feel full of love for
her, but l am afraid my motive is a
selhsh one! You see, | was so awfully
afraid that something had happened
to her which would have been awk-
ward for me, to say the least of 1t; Z"
and she hurries into the hall to admit
the long looked for Susan.
You are an enigma" remarks Rob
ert Champley, who, having followed
Shell to the door, now holds her hand
in his, and gazes down at her with
thoughtful, puzzled eyes.
Am /? How horridl never found
out an enigma In the whole course of
my life-I think them SO dreadfully
! stupid"
You are not stupid; and l rather
like enigmas," returned Robert Champ
ley, falling into a reflection of her own
mood-"that is, it amuses me to find
them out. By the way, Bob and Meg
loaded me with the most affectionate
messages for you"
did they? How queerw answers
Shell carelessly.
Il don't see anything queer about
it," says Robert Champley coldly
They have very affectionate natures
poor little things and | imagine that
you have been kind to them!"
Have II" muses. Shell in speculative
tones. "If so 1t must have been very
passive kindness"
II am not so sure of that; but
must be going now-I feel that | leave
you in some kind of safety, now YOU
maid has returned-but really this
place Is in too lonely a position fol
you to be living as you are doing, al
most alone"
"Oh, we are safe enough!" laughi
Shell. "There Is nothing at the Will
derness to tempt robbers; and / an
not as a rule a nervous person, al
though you found me In such an alb
ject fright. Good night" and sh
holds out her hand In a limp and In
different way to be shaken.
Good night" he says, earnestly, a
he presses It.
! Good night" laughs Shell, IAN
happy Journey"
] "You are rather premature in you
wish. I shall not be leaving home 70
! two or three days"
/ Never mind-happy journey whe
) you do starti" persists She'll with
careless nod, as he moves away.
= "A strange girl" muses. Robel
t Champley, as he pauses in the drive I
: light a cigar-"one of the most una
countable charactersI ever came acros
I She makes herself out kind of say
o age, and yet the children adore her.
: wonder what induced her to renal
all alone in that big house when IL
rest took to the moor. BY the wa
r what a nuisance that they fixed upc
my neighborhood, and so literal
s drove me away from my hiding-plact
s hope the children will be all right,
/ | do wish Miss Widen would lea
g them alone-however, that she ey
II IDENTIFY won't do. | think l shall ha
to charter a yacht-she couldn't fc
n low us then"-with an impatient laug
by the way, how remarkably WI
n that little Shell plays! l have half
> mind to make same excuse for a c;
ia at the Wilderness in the morning
q wonder II she would play for m
h Don't think so, but I'll have a try"