The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-01-12
CHAPTER I.

1t was glorious spring day. The old
0aS hall in the spacious hall OF the
Wilderness has just announced SLOW
y TO all those whom it may concern
that noon is past. Again the house has
sunk into stiffness, save for the distant
echo Of a fresh young voice singing
tron very gladness of heaft' d.
broken intervals.
Going down long passage covered
with frayed cocoanut mating ana
opeaing the thick oak door one comes
apon what seems to be the only IN
tahited room in the house. Here agaln
is space-amplc space, and lofty cell
sng-though certainly. as regards any
modern luxuries in the way OF furnl-
tETe, the apartment is bare enough.
A faded drugget covers the center OF
the floor, ekcd cut round the edge by
oil-cloth which has long since failed
Go beast more than faint visions OF
pattern. An old square piano with a
snort yellow keyboard stands open at
ane end of the room Uttered with
music; some half-doZen chairs OF no
Eazticplar pattern, and most OF them
At an uacompromising nature. are hid
Den under snippinss of dark blue print
and observation-disclosures pieces of lin
Ing; the shabby old sofa is also piled
with various articles of feminine at
t3re.
Both windows are thrown as high
as the sashes will permit, so admitting
the genial sunshine and sweet flower
scented air-before one stands a very
eractical-looking sewing machine. be-
fore the other is an old wicker table
atrewed with fashion plates and paper
patterns
Bending over the solid table which
stands in the middle of the room is
Shell Widen. She is at present max
sag a determined onslaught with a pair
Of formidable scissors on a section of
s11e blue print before mentioned. She
tsas ceased singing for the moment: her
grows are slightly puckered, whilst
her keen grey-green eyes follow anx-
toHsly the line to be taken by her
shears. There is decision and energy
sn every curve of her girlish rounded
'dgure as she leans over the work; the
eight sleeve of her dark dress is pushed
play, so disclosing plump, rounded
erm of almost snowy whiteness.
Shells fine pure white skin is her
enc personal attraction; but, as her sis
Ger Ruby often remarks, she pays for
e. dearly, for Shells complexion is ac-
aosnpanied by a wealth of wavy SHIN
usering red hair, family marked eye
brows, and pair of eyes which are
positively pale green in certain strong
lights, though they deepen almost to
eurple under strong emotion Or in the
dreamy cleaning of a summer evening.
She is little below the middle height,
possessing round. childish face, with
eyes that speak SO often when her
tongue is wisely silent that her sister
Ruby many time takes unlbrage at
Ger expressive looks.
she has just finished her critical
piece of work, and is again breaking
into unconscious song, when the door
opens quickly, admitting tall, grace
fuI woman of some thirty summers,
whose light spring costume sets off her
lark classical beauty to advantage.
Ruby, for she it is. differs from her
sister as much in temperament and
disposition as in form and expression.
No stranger at first sight would have
saken these two young women to be re-
Gated, vet such of their acquaintance
wf.o were addicted to the pursuit CT
psychological inquiry were fond of
pointing out that behind the widely
afffarent manifestations of the person.
ali.y of each there was the same orig
anal force and insistence.
Ibid you get it," questions Shell,
causing at her work, and looking lit
e1e blankly at her sisters empty
Eands.
Get it! Get what?" asks Ruby
clearing space upon the sofa, and
e1nking down upon it languidly.
ssWhy, the tape, of course! haven't
ga inch left; and how can get on with
che killings without tape?" cries Shell,
with pathetic ring in her voice.
"Dear me, your mind never seems
able to soar above dress-making!" says
Ruby, slightly struggling her shoulders.
1--WE got the tape all right-fortunately
Violet remembered it."
N@Has vi got it, them" asks Shell
In NO way affected by her sisters low
opinion of her intellect.
"Got it," sneers Ruby. You surely
don't imagine, child, that We are 60
ing to burdens ourselves with parcels
on such broiling day as this?"
II surely did not imagine that even
you would make any poor errand-boy
tramp a whole mile to bring few
pieces of tape that would have fitted
into your pocket if you were ashamed
of carrying them openly" responds
Shell with spirit.
Then there is period of silence. dur
ing which Shell looks quite stern and
even naughty, while Ruby does not ap-
pear to be altogether as self satisfied
Is she would wish to be-possibly be-
cause It frritates her to see Shell more
Of ease than herself Shell meanwhile
,sews steadily on, and ne conversation