The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-07-02

mind that she had made a wise de-
cIsion. That is. according to a pc
cuniary view of the thing and the smil-
ing approval of a host of poor relations
whose proclivities for advice, hereto
fore, were in i'll proportion to the size
of their purse.
And though inwardly rebellious, the
idea of sacrificing herself on the altar
Of Mammon seemed to her as interest
ing as it was odd. But money could do
anything! All the pinching little econ
omies that they had been compelled to
practice for years would vanish like
snow under a MONDAY sun, and some
sense of independence be established.
But there is no getting over the bitter
fact thai other thoughts. and, perhaps,
other hopes, had been crushed int the
background.
"All that is past and gone. though"
Dorothy told herself with a stanch
sense of propriety, land | mustn't al
low myself to think toe much about it,"
She passed her hand. a little YEARLY.
through the brown hair that waved
back from her face, and leaned one ell
bow meditatively on the window sill.
thinking of the future she had laid out
for herself, and living over, in a hum
bred ways, the past.
Then she thought of Harry. and look
ing %gloomily for an instant at the dia-
mond that sparkled on her finger, drew
it off, slowly, and with a sigh laid it on
her lap. No, it had not been an en-
gagement. exactly-but-
There was all the difference in the
world now. Had he not, only the night
before, after all that had passed be-
tween them. entirely ignored her and
carried Adelaide Hunt, a bright, dash
ing brunette, to the SWEETEST hop of the
season, while she remained at home?
That was all. But it was enough. So
that when Col. Eggerton. as usual,
called around, and, as usual, proposed,
she promised, in desperation, a final an
swer OH the morrow.
So that answered. acceptance-was
written and signed with a scrawl, and
laid on the library table to be posted.
In n day everything had been
changed. 1t did not seem possible, yet
as she sat BY the low yine-screened win
dow, a SOFT wind lazily lifting the loose
hair on her forehead, each event rose
up in lurid distinctness before her
mind.
Then a brilliant red famed over the
girls face, ard faded off suddenly, as a
tall, athletic young man came quickly
up the walk. As Harry cambridge
stepped on the low veranda, she left her
seat by the window. and gave him her
hand with a friendliness that ill-be-
tokened any inward agitation.
The shining regard that broke over
his face at sight of her, brought the
soft color to her cheeks. She smiled-a
little uneasiiy-and drew her hand out
OF his.
"Will you sit out here?" she said at
is cool, and pleasant"
He bowed a smiling assent and sank
into the empty chair next to hers.
You did not expect me?" he
queried. studying the girls face critic
ally. She was pretty-very pretty. A
tall, slim girl, with regular features,
and expressive gray eyes.
Il knew you were here, and came
he went on. May / tell you why2
want to ask you-to tell you how much
love you, and to ask you to marry me
If you will"
Dorothy flushed and turned away. a
sort of desolation sweeping over her al
his words.
Il would rather you would not-not
say such things" she returned, nerv
: nYtelx- n,Ars,sr n ~. - frNv, h,rn
But l must" he continued, hal
smiling and trying to look into her face
1T is my first opportunity to ask you
j did not feel that / had a right to be
fore. But now, l am in a fair position
to-"
He paused for one moment to glanc'
at her face, now turned to him, half
frightened, and with an earnestness al
NOS pathetic.
you must not, you must not, in
deed" she choked back a little dry sob
alt has all been a mistake-a wretche,
mistake" she went on b~rokenly. he
face pale with suppressed feeling.
She was staring past him. ~vacantly
y at the wide green garden. now bril-
. liant with a thousand perfumed bios
q SONS, while, with hands cold and trem
z bling, she took the ring from her la
y and reaching toward him suddenly lai'
the glistening thing on his knee.
81 He looked at her in a dazed sort o
. way. the happy light dying out of hi
q face as his fingers closed mechanical
over the trinket.
. why Dorothy-what's the matter
Y Won't you keep it?"
~ A look of keen disappointment
. crossed his features as he looked at he
. II would rather not" she returned
y her voice tremulous in spite of hersel
~ "You see"-twisting the end of he
. SASH am going to marry some on
. else, and"
. Dorothy"
~ lie had risen and was leanin
~ against the banister rail, where b
. could look her directly in, the face, an
" where she, too. could see him. He ha
. grown very pale, and with a deept
81 throb of pain than any he had W
z known, waited in silence for her to 50
y something, but she did not, and he wer
f.