The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-01-04
CHAPTER I

oak. hall in the spacious hall Of the
Wilderness has just announced slow
Iy to all those, whom it may concern
that neon is past. Again the house has
sunk into stiffness, save for the distant
echo CT fresh young voice singing.
from very gladness Of heart, at
broken intervals.
with frayed cocoanut mating and
opening the thick oak door one comes
upon what seems to be the only in
iiabited room in the house. Here again
Is space ample space, and lofty cell
ing-though certainly, as regards any
modern luxuries in the way of furni-
ture. the apartment is bare enough.
A faded drugget covers the center OF
the. floor, eked out round the edge by
oil-cloth which has long since failed
to boast more than faint visions OF
pattern. An old square piano with
short yellow keyboard stands open at
one end of the room Uttered with
music; some half-doZen chairs OF no
particular pattern. and most of them
of an uncompromising nature, are hid
den under snippings of dark blue print
and observation-disclosures pieces of lin
ing: the shabby old sofa is also piled
with various articles of feminine at
tire.
Both windows are thrown as high
as the sashes will permit. SO admitting
the genial sunshine and sweet flower
scented air-before one stands very
practical-looking sewing machine, be-
fore the other is an cid wicker table
strewed 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
ing determined onslaught with pair
of formidable scissors on section Of
the blue print before mentioned. She
has ceased singing for the moment; her
brows are slightly puckered. whilst
her keen grey-green eyes follow anx-
iously the line to be taken by her
shears. There is decision and energy
in every curve Of her girlish rounded
figure as she leans over the work; the
up nearly to the elbow to allow of free
play, so disclosing a plump, rounded
arm of almost snowy whiteness.
Shells fine pure white skin is her
one personal attraction; but, as her sis
ter Ruby often remarks, she pays for
II dearly, for Shells complexion is ac-
companied by wealth of wavy SHIN
nering red hair, family marked eye
brows, and a pair of eyes which are
positively pale green in certain strong
lights, though they deepen almost to
purple under strong emotion or in the
dreamy cleaning of summer evening
She is little below the middle height,
possessing a round, childish face, with
eyes that speak so often when her
tongue is wisely silent that her sister
Ruby many time takes umbrage at
her 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
full woman of some thirty summers,
whose light spring costume sets off her
dark 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
taken these two young women to be re-
lated, yet such of their acquaintance
who were addicted to the pursuit Of
pointing out that behind, the widely
different manifestations of the person
ality of each there was the same orig
inal force and insistence.
Ibid you get it," questions Shell,
pausing at her work, and looking lit
tie blankly at her sisters empty
hands.
Get it! Get WHAT" asks Ruby
clearing a space upon the sofa, and
sinking down upon it languidly.
''Why, the tape, of course! / haven't
an inch left; and how can get on with
the killings without taper" cries She'll
with a pathetic ring in her voice.
Dear me, your mind never seems
able to soar above dress making." says
Ruby, slightly Struggling her shoulders
We got the tape all right-fortunately
Violet remembered It,"
HAS vi got it. them" asks She'll
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?"
81 surely did not imagine that even
you would make any poor errand boy
tramp whole mile to bring few
pieces of tape that would have fitted