The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-03-22

conPahJ, sue saluB Win glance from
her soft eyes.
IF didn't know you better, I should
say you were fishing for compliments"
he rejoined, with the eager look that
came into most mems faces when Miss
Nane spoke to them. She gIided of into
some small talk. occasionally casting
glance at Hunt to see what he was do
ing. He looked little disconsolately
round him for second or two, and
then drifted into chair beside MoIIis
Bentinck, pretty-faced little girl of
IS, whose masses of light hair and limo
cent, brown eyes were voted as charm
ing by some people, though the ma
jority of women complained that she
had no style.
Miss Vane smiled sweet.y. "Cyril is
actually taking me at my word" she
said to herself. "How amusing. arr
glad be has selected such safe person.
though"
What are you smiling at ?" said Capt.
Howard, beside her.
Some men are so supplemented.
and they amuse me-"
rs that intended to be personaI?"
no, I don't think your worst enemy
would accuse you of being simple
minded"
Il hope not" be returned. ferventlv.
At bedtime Howard remarked with
an amused look as he babe Miss Vane
good night:
Hunt seems quite gone in that guar
ter. doesn't hep
-Yes. How touching it is" she re-
Piled, with smile
81 am so glad he's going to amuse
himself" she said, when she got into her
room. putting down her candlestick
with bang on the table.
No doubt il was her delight at Hunts
! finding some amusement to while away
the days that made Damaris lean her
chin on her hands. and stare fixedIy a.
nothing till very late hour.
! Matters were much the same the next
day. when there was a large riding par
ty to some distant ruin Hunt rode
with Mollie Bentinck, who showed q
wild desire TO cling TO her horses name.
and whose hair promptly came down.
/ owing to her ircessant humping. Ii
must have been kindness and nothing
else on Miss Vane's part that made her
stop as she was cantering past. manag-
ing her lively mount to perfection, to
because If SO, you had better 20
home,'' she said Il am sure Mr. Eunt
will be Pleased to take you back"
i Delighted. am sure" said that gen
tleman. I'm fact, to put it selfishiy. !
should prefer going home, it's awfulIy
hot for riding"
> Thus pressed, the couple rode eff to-
gether. 1t was rather aggravsting when
they all came in hot and tired after
their ride to find Cyril and Mollie stroll
ing about the garden. looking provok-
ingly cool and fresh.
! 1t was with a curious feeling that
Damaris found herself waiting under
the trees at the end of the week, hav-
ing dismissed Howard in search of
shawl she never had.
He is sure TO come" she kept on re-
peating to herself Il must give him
long enough; he is sure to come
/ Which showed how very little chance
she really thought there was of Cyril
/ turning up. At last, just as she was
giving up hope, a mans figure came
across the lawn. and she saw. with
feeling of thankfulness, that it was the
one she was waiting for.
81 thought you were never coming"
she said, starting forward.
Il hardly thought you would expect
me to go through the form of coming"
he answered, gravely. you have
shown me clearly enough that all is
over between US"
! NO, indeed" she replied, hastily.
1T is mistake. L"
STOP he said. Il must tell you
that It is all quite over between US
Mollie BeEtinck has accepted me few
hours ago. You know we were both of
us to be quite free"
'All IS indeed over" Damaris replied,
quietly. Il hope you will be happyl"
Thank you; and you, 1 suppose, will
marry Howard?"
Il suppose so" she said. as she moved
into the shadow. leaving Hunt to cross
the moonlit lawn alone.
Left alone in the darkness Damaris
stood motionless.
How false men are" she said. tear
| ing a rose she was wearing to pieces.
And l did care for him; it is 70 good
pretending l didn't. 1 cared for him
more than l ever have or shall for a
man, and this is my reward. How
strange men arel Fancy his being
taken by little pink and white igno-
ramus like that. It's like the end of
play. Model young lady marries model
young man, and for me there is only
Capt. Howard. don't love him, and
did love Cyril; but, after all, 1 don't
think anything matters much"
Footsteps came across the lawn, and
her hostess appeared.
"My dear Damaris. aren't you coming
in? No one knew where you were.
Such excitement! Capt. Howard has
to leave tomorrow morning. and we
are all bewailing his departure. Come
and bewSil it, too. lie has to go home
to join his fiancee."
His fiancee. But didn't know he