The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-01-29

~nnething FOR a favorite niece he
void be content VITA comparatively
little. Now this house OF cards teh 10
earth. g.
81 am very sorry. This, then, 10
nrobably our last evening together. !
must go back to town early tomorrow
morning, on business" Oh, the IN
finite tenderness and sadness OF ms.
tonel II held the cadence which the
French call tears in the voice.
Lucy pulled herself together with a
mental jerk. She felt as though sne
had taken a plunge into cold water
This. then. after all that had passed
during the last few weeks. Was ms
farewell. But, no. he could not mean
mot necessarily. South Stamford is
not quite out of the world. 1t can Do
reached by rail from Boston" she ven
tured to say.
as that where you live? Child, 1t
is as far away from my world as the
antipodes. Besides, when man
knows himself too weak to resist temp
tation. what can he do but flee!
How can a man measure MS
strength unless he tries it?"
"Ah, you know so little of the world.
When a mans lot in life is SO nara
that he dares not ask woman to
share it, what can he do but love ana
run away? Perhaps he ought not TO
| love in the first instance, but human
nature is helpless; man is only
man"
HAS the woman no right to be con-
sidered? Suppose she loves too?'
Lucy felt surprised at and a little
ashamed of her boldness. But he was
making the conversation impersonal,
which gave her some excuse to speak.
He shook his head. "Ah. no: in that
case he is bound to protect her against
herself How can a man worthy OF a
name drag a woman he loves down to
poverty, even though she does not wish
to be parted from him? Good-by, dear,
God bless you, good-by."
They were in the shadow of the pa
vilion, practically alone; he gave one
quick glance around, then caught her
in his arms and, holding her, kissed
her passionately once, twice, thrice.
Never before had he so wholly forgot
ten himself. He loved the girl as well
as he could love anything except his
precious self, and her appealing eyes
and quivering lips broke down his self
control. 1t was done in an instant; he
| al toll 1aof hn haA
not even time to struggle; then he
rushed her back to the hotel piazza,
and left her, without word.
Lucy sank into a seat to collect her
breath. She was more indignant than
broken hearted. This, then was what
the man called love. She thought oil
her father. who. with her mother al
his side, had fought his way to indie
pendence, indeed to prominence: he
was local judge and had represented
: his district in congress. They found
!, themselves, with all their children
7 passing rich on five thousand dollars
1 a year.
t Thank heaven l am not an heires:
4 to be married for my money" she saiC
to herself, at last, fervently.
Upstairs Mrs. Poindexter was a
: her desk, writing to her brother.
: Il have seen my nieces, in turn,
, she said, "and Lucy, of them all, l fin,
most congenial. wish to keep her a
/ long as you can spare her. Despite tn
i fact that Mr.. Poindexter's estate re
{ verts, at my death, to his relatives,
own some property, in my own right
= and my ample income enables me ever
: year to add something thereto. IL
!. live few years longer, as may reason
= ably be expected, the child will b
. fully provided for, the advantage
y which can offer her meanwhile, ar,
= l am sure, such as you and her mothe
= will appreciate"