The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-12-24
TheL0st Invitation
By INA BREvooRr ROBERTS.

1AN---0 oh1 LOAA sLOOA at L1E QUE
skirts of the town looking disconso-
lately of toward the frozen river.
where a skating carnival was in prog
ress. At least, LuciIla looked at the
river, but Toms gaze stopped at her.
which was scarcely any wonder, for
Lucilla was very pretty. She was zlen-
der and girlish-looking, with finely
chiseled features, rose-.eaf complex
ion and a quantity of soft yellow hair.
1t IVES Tom who broke the silence.
do you suppose" he asked. in a hope
less sort Of tone. that il would do any
good If ignored this foolish quarrel
and went TO your father like a man
and asked him for you2"
Lueilla looked al him with horror
stricken eyes. That would be the
most foolish thing you could do she
said, emphstica.ly. Father would or
der you out of the house. and, worse
still, he would make me promise not
TO speak 10 you again"
We'll, l Won't run any risk of that. :"
was Toms decision. DO you think
there's the least chance of their max
ing II up. ne aoOe0.
mo. DO not" LucilIa answered. Il
had hopes until Christmas drew near.
Always IS long as my father can re-
member the whole LawtOn family has
eaten Christmas dinner together. No
matter how much unpleaSantness or
pickering were in the air. all hard feel
ings were put aside, and for that one
day. at east, we were united family"
Weren't they good cd times?"
sighed Tom zone year the dinner
took place in our house, the next in
yours. Do you, remember the long.
snowy tables, the monster turkeys.
and how impressed we used TO be at the
imposing sight of all our august rela-
tives in their best bibs and tuckers?-
Indeed I DO" and Luci,ls sighed
also. II did think that when Christ
mas day came that silly quarrel would
be forgotten. but when mother sent in
vitations 10 dinner TO every member of
The family but your father and mother
and you. and l learned q few days
later that your mother had also sent
invitations. leaving us out. lost all
hope. Things will be worse than ever
after Christmas. for the people who ae-
cept your mothers invitations will be
in my mothers bad gracex, and the
other way round. Oh, dear" Lucilla
ended, despairingly. why can't rela-
tives agree any better?"
They're a jealous. baek-biting.
sman-minded set" cried Tom, in
wrath. "snd after we're married, Lu-
ella. l say we shake the whole lot, ex-
cept our fathers and mothers. It's the
only way weu ever be able to keep
out of hot water"
THAT would never do declared Lu-
ella, gently. I'VE should miss them
too much. In spite of their quarrels
they think the world of one another.
Don't you remember how good they
were TO Aunt Emmeline before she
died? She needed so much attention
and was so peevish and unreasonable
that she could not keep nurse, and
Yet her relatives took turns at taking
care of her"
Tom gave a short laugh. II guess
all families are alike" he said. We'll,
/ wish they had deferred this affair
until after we were married; il would
not have mattered 50 much then"
NO" agreed Lucills. Il wonder why
that particular invitation. OF all you
sent. should have been the one TO go
astrsy." AS she spoke the girl turned
to go.
Tom turned also. and the pair start
ed in the direction of the town, whose
spires and white cupolss were visible
through the bare branches of the
trees.
tom" said Lucills. turning sud
denly to look at her lover. ARE you
sure that invitation was mailed2"
"Lueills." replied Tom, solemnly, II
dropped it in the post Office myself
And that reminds me. I'm due at
meeting this afternoon TO discuss the
sdvisabi,ity of putting up new town
hall. but l can't say that I'm wildly
enthusiastic one way or the other. II
had a home hers with you in it
could take lot of interest in the town,
but as it is-if my father disowns me,
as l am afraid he will do after l tel
him l mean to marry you. why, I'll have
20 go somewhere else to earn my liv-