The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-02-15
CHAPTER Y.

IhA1 En-
A week has passed Shell has grown
tired of her self-imposed solitude; the
big, bare, echoing rooms have be-
come hateful to her. Even the grounds
seem changed and unfamiliar. The
certainty that there is no chance or
interruption to her lonely musings, at
first so delightful, now seems to fill
her usually cheerful spirit with sense
of depression Until robbed Of all COM
partnership she never guessed what
sociable creature she was Happy
would she be if 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.
1t is now seven o'clock, and the empty
house seems to Shells excited imagi-
nation like a haunted place. She
fancies she hears kurrying through the
passages. 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 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.
Shells first impulse is to take no
notice-to hide herself or to make her
escape by some back window; then
her natural good sense returns, and
she laughs in nervous manner at her
fears and with fast-beating heart adj
vances into the hall.
rs that you, SUSAN" she asks, but
without christening the heavy chain.
There comes no answer save Wig
orous ring at the bell.
who is there?" demands Shell, this
time in firmer tone and one moro
likely to penetrate the thick oak
panels.
"a messenger from Mrs. Widen"
answers voice which is somehow
familiar to Shells ears.
With trembling hands she shoots
back the heavy bolts, and. taking down
the chain, opens the door. There she
stands-pale, big-eyed, and scared
looking, before-Robert Champley.
"Oh, what fright you gave me-" is
her first involuntary exclamation.
"A fright! How SO? What have I
done?" queries her visitor, looking
much surprised.
"Oh, nothing!" answers Shell, whilst
the ghost of smile flickers round her
still colorless lips. ut was my own
foolishness; but / was not expecting
any one excepting Susan, and your
knock frightened me. suppose I
must be getting nervous''-with a self
| depreciating little laugh.
Nervous? should think SOL" cries
Robert wonderingly. He has taken
| her hand in greeting, and feels it cold
and trembling in his warm grasp. But
surely you are not alone in the house?"
Only for short time; / am expect
ing Susan back every minute" ex-
| plains Shell, who feels heartily
ashamed of her late weakness.
Her visitor looks grave.
you ought not to be left alone in
house like this" he says very de-
cidedly. why, you are trembling
still"
His words remind Shell that he still
has possession of her hand-with a
little impatient movement she with
draws IL.