The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-02-23


nlet % delightful. now L ems IN \ std III
her usually cheerful spirit WlthA xsnle
OF depression. Until robbe sofg alf com
panionshir she never guessed what .
sociable creature she was. } Happy
would she he II even the most inana
and common lace caller would come
to break the monotony of sher endless
days! But it is understood in the
neighborhood that, the family at. the
Wilderness are away; So from morn
till night Shell Swanderss saimless1y
about, with only the gray cat to bear
her company. I.
1t is evening. Shell is even more
desolate than her wont. Susan has
asked permission to so into Mudford to
make a 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 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 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
vanccs into the hall.
''Is that you, Susan?" she asks, but
without christening the heavy chain.
There comes no answer save a Wig
orous ring at the bell.
who is there?" demands Shell, this
time in a frmer tone and one more
likely to penetrate the thick oak
panels.
ga 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.
ooh. what fright you gave met" is
her first involuntary exclamation.
"a fright! How so? What have I
done?" queries her visitor, looking
much surprised.
ooh. nothing" answers Shell, whilst
the ghost of smile flickers round her
still colorless lips. at was my own
foolishness; but l was not expecting
any one excepting Susan, and your
knock frightened me. suppose l
must be getting nervous "-with self
depreciating little laugh.
Nervous? I should think so." 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
a 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 it.
ITO be Continent