The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-12-24

married IN our own church and live
here where we have so many friends.
A moment later she added. nervously.
as she caught sight Of an approaching
figure in the distance, you must leave
me now, Tom; some one is coming,
and if we're seen together and father
hears of it"
Il know" interrupted Tom. he'll
forbid your speaking to me. Wen, III
go. Good-by. my darling. I'll watch for
a chance for a word with you after
prayer meeting tonight"
'AIl right, but DO be careful urged
Lucilla. And. Tom she continued,
earnestly, please go to the meeting
this afternoon; no good viii ever
come of Sinking your duty
Il will. You're an angel, LUcillz. and
far too good for me- With these
words Tom started of in another d.
rection.
LucilIa walked home in a reverie.
She was wondering why. when all she
and Tom wanted was TO marry and
be happy. they must both be made
miserable because Of a petty quarrel.
The trouble had come about in this
way. A good deal Of rivalry had al
ways existed between the two heads
of the Lawton family because, being
twins. neither brother. and cOnxe-
/ que1tly. neither brothers wife. could
boast supremacy. The household of
James Lawton, LucilIz'z father,
claimed prestige by reason Of greater
wealth. that Of Joseph Lswton. Toms
adopted father, on account of social
/ position.
The James LaEtonz. though emf
nently respectable. and well thought of
/ by everybody. were not ain society"
I They had. in fact. always profeSsed
themselves as not desiring TO be. but
/ when Mrs Joseph Lawtou announced
the engagement Of her daughter Ger
Z trude TO one Of the brightest social
lights of the town. Mrs. James Lzwton
at once decided in her secret heart
+ that the wedding would be an auxpi-
cious occasion for LuciIlz TO make her
I debut in Riverdzls society.
The wedding day approached and a
large number OF invitations were
+ sent ont from the handsome house on
the hill, but none came addressed TO
'Mr- James Lawton and family"
That gentleman's wife held her head
high, and TO the other members of the
family, who had all been hidden 10 the
nuptials. she declared herself indif-
ferent TO the slight They, not liking
TO become involved in matter 50 DEL
ieate, said as little as possible about
it to her. and nothing at all in the
other house
When the wedding day came, Ger
trude. who was in her room being
( dressed in the white gown and the
Z flmy white veil a woman wears but
once in her life, sent downstairs for
her girl cousins.
They hocked into the room, q fresh.
! rosy-cheeked bevy.. all eager for q
/ glimpse of the bride Where is Lu-
cilla?" asked Gertrude. after they had
! kissed her For q moment there xaz
an awkward pause. and then by de-
grees the whole thing came ont
Mrs. Joseph Lawton paused in her
task of giving the last touches 10 the
brides hair before re;oining her
7 guests, and with uplitted brush de-
I clared that James Lswton's invitation
had gone with the others. II addressed
1t myself" cried Gertrude. And Tom
mailed It." added her mother
LuciIla went over al these details
in her ra;nd as she walked slowly home
along the pleasant street. For herself
she had been quite willing TO accept
the word Of her aunt and cousins that
I the invitation had been sent. but her
father and mother took another view
of the matter. and after the explana-
tion which Mrs Joseph Lawton called
TO give on the day after the wedding,
was followed by stony silence on the
part of her hostess. the rivalry be-
tween the two households became an
open breach
This wss why when Tom told Lu-
ellis that he loved her. the young
couple were obliged to keep their en-
gagement s secret.
That evening after the prayer meet
ing Lucills and her mother started 10
walk home under the stars. They had
gone but a few steps when Mrs Law.
ton reeollected an important some
thing she had forgotten TO say 70 the
minister's wife and went back into the
church.
"Lueilla,~ said voice at the girls
side. and Tom stepped ont from the
shadow.
They had but a moment together,
but the bristest moments are boons
to lovers.
did you go 70 the meeting7" asked
Lucilla.
Yes" answered Tom. "snd it's
lucky did. But for my vote the thing
would have been tie and the chances
are Eve should have had no new town
hall As ii is. we are TO put up fine
one. They will. begin to tear the old
building down on Monday. so as TO be
ready TO break ground as soon as the
spring opens When shall I see YOU
again. dear? II is hateful TO me to have
10 skulk shout 70 meet you as though
our love were something to be ashamed
of when"
At this moment the approach of his
aunt sent Tom back into the shadow