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

neighbOrS' concerns, yet the VISION VI
Shell. startled and pale, as she stood
before him in the gathering gloom OF
the hall at the Wilderness, rises more
than once and confronts him during
the wakeful watches of that summer
night.
When breakfast is over the next
morning. and the brothers are enjoy
ing their pipes together with the news
of the day, under the rose-wreathcd We
randall which shelters the dining-room
windows Of Champley House, Robert
suddenly breaks the silence.
Il am going over to the Wilderness
will you Gomez" he asks, addressing
his brother.
ITO the Wilderness" repeats Ted in
amazement. why, what's up? You
went to the Wilderness last evening"
That is no reason why l shouldn't
go again this morning." laughs Rob-
ert.
Not the slightest" assents Ted,
with lazy shrug of his shoulders. IF
you have a fancy for stinging-nettles.
1t may be a weakness on my part, but
| have a particular aversion to prickly
young women. and Mademoiselle Shell
is a perfect hedgehog"
"Then you won't Gomez"
Not if know it; and you can hint
to the young lady that she has lost the
pleasure of my company entirely
through her waspishness OF DISPOSE
then she will mend her
ways"
Yes, that would be likely to make a
strong impression on her, 4 should
think" says the elder brother deris-
lively, as he clears the ashes from his
pipe and prepares for departure. 1.-The
fact is" he continues in explanation,
Il think Shell ought to join her mother
at Oakford; it is really not safe for
her to remain here all alone"
"Oh, she is safe enough! Nobody who
has had one interview with her is
likely to modest her a second time,"
SCOTS Ted. However, If she Is weigh
ing on your mind you had certainly
better get rid of her before we start;
so go and give her the benefit of your
opinion, il you dare-you always were
of somewhat Quixotic nature"
Not in the least" returns Robert
seriously. only where duty so plain
ly leads one must needs follow"
Capital sentiment, no doubt, for the
head of a family" drawls Ted. IF
ever / marry, / hope a sense of my
responsibility will fall upon me at the
same time. At present my duty plain
ly leads me to pack. and not to moral
ize with Shell on the improperly OF
her conduct"
You are a lazy dog, Ted, and no
mistake!" laughs Robert Champley,
looking down with an indulgent smile
at his unger brother, who, instead
of bestirring himself for the talked-of
packing, has sunk down upon the
close-shaven green slope leading to the
veranda, and is almost lost to view
under the widespread sheet of the
Times.
Il am thankful for small mercies,"
responds Ted, in a tone of unmerited
persecution. Your speech would have
been more annihilating had you sub
stituted the word puppy for dog
Now speed you on your way-I have
no earthly wish to detain you-and tell
Miss Shell, with my best respects, that
she is quite welcome to the moor, now
we have done with it," ms
"-,ll right" laughs Robert; and the
next moment he is walking briskly
down the avenue.
AS he nears the Wilderness, however,
his pace slackens. After all, what
business of his is 1t that Shell chooses
to remain at home instead of joining
her mother and sister? May she not
feel justly annoyed at his interference,
and resent 1t as Sheer impertinence?
And yet he cannot somehow feel JUS
titled in going away and leaving her
unprotected. She has been kind to his
little hearts seem full
OF her-her name trips from their
tongues twenty times day; and yet
-incomprehensible girl that she is.
she never seems to care one jot about
them; and, il she speaks Of them at all,
deems them by her tone little null
sauces."
Well, duty is duty-she can miscon-
strue him IL she will, laugh at him II 1t
so pleases her, but he will have his
say, and just tell her plainly and Sc
riously that she ought to go to Oak
ford
With this resolution rppermost in
his mind he mounts the large, fiat
doorstep and pulls the bell. AS rule,
when the whole family are at home,
the hall door stands open to admit the