The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-02-22

loneliness" laughs Shell.
Perhaps it was indiscreet of me, but
| listened to your music for fully ten
minutes before knocking at the door.
l am particularly partial to good mu-
! sic, and it is not often that | get a
chance of listening to any so well
worth hearing. | could not imagine
who was playing somehow l was I'M
der an erroneous impression that Miss
Widen was par excellence the must
clan of the family
"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
sistertly put yourself in the back
ground"
"Oh, because putting oneself for
ward is such bore" SCOTS She'll. "lf
people know you can play, you are al
ways being made useful in one way or
another"
Isn't that rather selfish way to
look at it?' asks Mr.. Champley grave
ly. Surely it was intended that we
should all be useful to our fellow
creatures so far as lies in our power"
Shell laughs little mocking laugh.
'Of course it Is very meritorious to
be unselfish," she says fiippantly; but
| am not given to self-sacrifce, and |
am afraid | don't love my fellow-crea-
lures as l ought" Whilst she is
speaking a single knock at the door is
heard, and again she breaks into
laugh. ''Ah, there is Susan-she is
fellow-creature of course. and at the
present moment / feel full of love for
her, but am afraid my motive is a
selfish 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 it;
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 1? How horrid! I 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 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 queer" answers
Shell carelessly.
Il don't see anything queer about
it," says Robert Champley coldly.
They have very affectionate natures,
poor little things, and l imagine that
you have been kind to them!"
Have H." muses. Shell in speculative
tones. IF so it must have been very
passive kindness"
Il am not so sure Of that; but
must be going now-I feel that leave
you in some kind of safety, now your
maid has returned-but really this
place is in too lonely a position for
you to be living as you are doing, al
most alone"
"Oh, we are safe enough" laughs
Shell. There Is nothing at the Will
derness to tempt robbers; and l am
not as rule nervous person, al
though you found me in such an alb
ject fright. Good night" and she
holds out her hand in limp and in
different way to be shaken.
Good night" he says, earnestly, as
he presses it.
Good night" laughs Shell, land
happy Journey"
You are rather premature in your
wish. shall not be leaving home for
two or three days"
Never mind-happy journey when
you do START" persists Shell, with a
careless nod as he moves away.
"A strange girl" muses. Robert
Champley, as he pauses in the drive to
light a cigar-"one of the most unac-
countablecharactersI ever came across.
She makes herself out kind of saw
age, and yet the children adore her. I
wonder what induced her to remain
all alone in that big house when the
rest took to the moor. BY the way,
what a nuisance that they fixed upon
my neighborhood. and so literally
drove me away from my hiding place!
hope the children will be all right
| do wish Miss Widen would leave
them alone-however, that she evil
IDENTIFY won't do. think shall have
to charter a yacht-she couldn't fol-