The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-12-11
The Shadow Of d Doubt

BY CURRAN 2. GREENLEY

Copyrighted. 1900. Daily Story Pub. Coz |
The brown waters were rippled into |
golden waves that sang little lullabies, |
all their own, about the silvered roots
of the sycamore. The two were in a
little batteau. The beauty of the |
swamp was an old story not worthy of
comment. Indeed, comment was not
current coin, as the studied uncon-
seriousness of their faces betrayed.
Janet could not forgive that direct
accusation-"Coquett ST saw you.
You allowed his kisses, and you dare
not deny it,
"Deny?" Her face yet burned with
the memory of his tone. Perhaps 1t
was not good form, but she tore his
ring from her finger and flung it at his
feet. And then she was alone. Some
one spoke her halfway to the
door. She turned, and then Jack An
drews entered to claim his dance.
The strains of that waltz yet lin
gered, with haunting sense of pain
and loss. The bright lights, the crowd
and Andrews gay nonsense-a dim
background for one face-Hugh Rex
ellis dark, and resentful. She had last
seen it the night of the club dance.
She had avoided him until today when,
on reaching the camp. Mrs. Ashford
had smilingly beckoned to Rexell and
appointed him her special knight for
the weeks outing.
Il always plan to have those only
who are perfectly congenial, as SO
much depends upon ones companion
in these gypsy affairs" And with a
knowing little laugh, Mrs. Ashford
moved on.
There was an awful silence. Janet
traced divers and strange images in
the sand with her parasol and .Rexell
pulled away at his dead cigar.
They could hear Mrs. Ashford ar
ranging her forces. Nothing left but
that little batteau? Where are the
other boats? OF course not. They
never are in condition. Mr.. Rexell. :"
There was no escape, and Janet felt an
insane desire to laugh when few mo-
ments later she found her face to
face with Mr.. Rexell.
Janet was determined that the adj
vance, If any, should come from him.
Rexell stared straight ahead with a
fixed smile, exquisitely provoking. 1t
may be irritating when false accusa-
tons are leveled at ones head, but to
be ignored is maddening. Janet felt
that the limit was reached, when he
laid down the paddle and calmly pro-
ceeded to joint his fishing rod. The
boat drifted with the current, and the
situation was fast becoming desperate
when third power put swift period
| to armed neutrality"
They had drifted under the boughs
OF large cypress from which into the
boat dropped that most repulsive OF
snakes, a water moccasin. AS il
landed between them Janet sprang up
The next instant the batteau had ca
reened, and with startled cry she
went down deep into the dark water.
She knew nothing more until she
opened her eyes to find Rexell's face
very near hers. There was a sense
of something that had touched her
lips-certainly not water.
Janet, darling. forgive me. There
has been beastly mistake somewhere
/ could have sworn to that pink wrap;
there isn't another like it in the coun-
ty. But mistake it was-I am sure OF
it."
Rexell's voice sounded faint and far
away; but, too dazed to question, she
nestled her cheek against his coat
What followed in that half-tone that
fits itself to but one theme is interest
ing to the victims alone.
1t was past sunset when they real
lied their distance from camp, and
with no idea of its direction. Behind
them were the green reaches of the
swamp, and before the lake and nc
boat. AS the twilight deepened into