The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-02-26

ef-iOfe IS IOf me cream OF tnc E
joyful past. and not vision of the
future. Miss Wethered's knowledge
of nursing might be invaluable to
me-" +
Metford groaned audibIy.
1T must not bel" he exclaimed. in
dignantly. ('Shall not belv he NUT
tered. inwardly.) you don't love the
girl. you have admitted it,. you are
not half as fond of her as of that
newest pup of yours" CT would die
to save her half moments pain. and
l don't suppose she cares a straw for
me-" he reflected. bitterly) Il feel
like kicking you.v
He looked like kicking likewise.
Kick me. or thump me, or do what
You will. old chap My feeling is just
this: I am worthless sort of fell
low, have gone the pace, and don't
deserve the love of any woman in
the world"
What man ever did?" growled Net
ford.
"Oh. but you haven't notion what
a thorough bad lot I've beenl Don't
look so unbelievingl" proceeded the
Noteworthy convalescent- II was GO
ing to tell you something that Jess
told me which makes me tolerably
sure that Miss Wethered-but you
would only scott. / never knew such
fellow as you, upon my world"
Metford smiled illegibly.
"The position is a very simple one"
he said Assuming that from what
your sister has been-pardon me for
saying so-unwisely suggesting to
you, Mary mean, Miss Wethered--
cares enough for you to marry you.
a worthless and heartless but toIer-
ably good-looking chap like you. who.
as you justly remark. don't deserve
the love of any woman. nor. for that
matter, the succession to one of the
oldest and wealthiest baronetcies in
England"
He paused. his face white and drawn,
lines visible upon it that were not there
when this debate began.
You haven't any love to offer her.
You don't know what love is You
merely want to cancel supposed debt
of gratitude b. offering her your looks,
your wealth-everyihing you have ex-
cept the only thing that a woman like
Mary Wethered hungers forl"
He was becoming eloquent, too eIo-
quent, and he perceived it.
Love will come later" Winston an
swered, confidently; gratitude is said
to be akin to love. The girl is not
quite my style admit, but like her
Il really do. old chapI she is passably
good-looking. although. | suppose, one
could hardly call her pretty"
Metford snorted.
Sings well-sufficiently well. that is,
for drawing-room purposes. Don't look
so beastIy scornfull OF course. you
can't appreciate anything humber
than Italian opera. She plays the piano
nearly as well as jess does. talks inter
estingly. and has, | must say, the
genilest voice imaginable. Whatever
you may choose to say, you old calculat-
ing cynic, am more and more inclined
TO agree with my sister Jess that if
return TO India without asking the girl
TO be my wife shall be the stupidest,
most ungrateful and most contemplate
beast on earth"
II warn you," said Metford. warmly.
that if you pretend love to Miss Weth-
cred and let her pledge herself to you
you will repent yourself within a week,
and the girl will find you out and be the
most miserable woman on Gods earth.
You won't listen to my words of Wis
dom, of course; for of all the pig-head-
I'd, obstinate mules"
"A somewhat mixed metaphor"
laughed Winston, unabashed-
MIXED metaphor be hangedl Be a
man and gentleman Go away unde-
clared, and if, after you have had six
months TO think about it, you feel
something more than gratitude stirring
within your bosom, get six months
leave, return to England. insert your
head into the matrimonial noose-and
be hanged to you'll"
"Beastly old cynicl" declared the
blase lieutenant. Il like your con-
founded impudence talking about love.
Why, / don't believe you possess even
the rudiments of a heartl Damned
good chap, all the same You shall be
my best man. Tomorrow or the next
day l shall indite hyperbolic epistTe to
Miss Mary, asking whether she cares
enough for fellow to wait for him I'M
til he gets his captaincy. 1t may be for
years as the song says; but l fiatter
myself / am well worth waiting for,
and don't propose to take the risk of
any other fellow-a cold-blooded chap
like you, for misunderstanding into
the lists during my absenee!"
Metford was speechless with con-
tempt. That Winston should have
proved himself such an unmitigated
cadi -.
The funny part of it was that Miss
Wethered, who was taking brief rest
at the seaside, received two letters by
the morrow's malone from the ''un-
mitigated cad" thanking her ever so
much" for all her kindness to him dur
ing his protracted Illness; the other
from the "beastly old cynic," the re-
ply to which-it seems almost like
sacrilege to print twas as follows: