The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-04-23
LBERT WHITNEY knew that h.

IBERI w III y Ell knew InaJ ne
n could not marry. He was sensi-
be fellow, on the whole, and realized
that it would be sheer idiocy to ask
woman to share his hall bedroom.
Yet Albert was in love.
Every Sunday in church he sat OPP
thought of her far more tnan he did
of the sermon.
Miss Pennington's father was re-
tired carpet manufacturer, with
tidy fortune, to which Gladys and her
brother James were sole heirs.
Albert was a clerk in a wholesale
hardware store and, by hard labor,
earned ten dollars week. of this
five dollars went to his landlady.
The moth sighed for the star, and
Albert sighed for Miss Pennington.
The moth and the star were hardly
further apart than Albert Whiting
and Gladys Pennington. Albert had
never spoken to her; she barely knew
that he existed.
What. then, were Albert's feelings
when, one day. after church. Mr.. Amos
bennington pompously approached him
and invited him to dine at his house
on the following Sunday? He blushed
like a girl, and stammered out an ac-
ceptance. Fortunately, Mr.. Penning-
ton did not wait for more. The invi-
tation which meant so much for AL
bert to him meant only the discharge
of a rather disagreeable duty which
he admired himself for performing.
He would have been thunderstruck at
a refusal. Every year he obtained
from the pastor of the congregation,
Of which he had long been senior
deacon, list of the young men who
were punctual at church and sum
moned them to dinner. The good
man liked to encourage piety and be-
slowed invitations on these exemplary
Young men III precisely the same spir-
it with which he awarded prize books
for regular attendance at Sabbath
school"
The following Sunday, when Albert
entered the Pennington drawing
room. punctuaEy at two. be was sur
prised 10 find already there. besides
the host. his wife. his son and daughS
ter, Is black-coated individuals with
all of whom he was pretty well ac-
quainted. The assembly reminded
him of a special meeting of the
Young Men union"
1t feii TO Albert to escort Miss PEN
nington in to dinner. He, poor lad,
was overwhelmed with the honor.
He did not know that father Penning-
ton, who exercised a strict supervi-
sion of his daughters acquaintance,
had chosen him as the most harmless
and unasSuming of the 16 young men.
/ Albert could think of absolutely no
remark with which to open CONVEX
I sation. Miss Pennington, entirely al
ease, saw his bushes with more pity
/ than wonder. She was accustomed
to her fathers duty dinner parties
and rather expected the guests to be
awed. Mr.. Whitney's shyness spoke
in his favor, as tribute of respect
10 her father. Mr.. Pennington had
brought his children up to strict OBJ
servanee of the fifth commandment
1T is rather warm for the time oil
year." quoth the young lady, break
ing the ice.
Albert raised his eyes and assent
ed. He would have done so had Miss
Pennington said that it was cold.
what nice eyes he has," thought
she. 1t was unusual for Gladys. t.
notice mans eyes. at was fright
fully hot at the lake last August,
she said, aloud. al think it coulC
hardly have been warmer in town.
at wasn't bad in town, except il
the middle of the day." replied AL
bert, bravely.
$50 you were not fortunate enough
to be away on your vacation?"
Albert laughed. "No, l have my
vacations in November" 1t was theI
October.
THAT must be nice for shooting,
murmured Miss Pennington, vaguely
"You hunt, don't you?"
II fish a little" answered Albert
There was another silence. Mis-
! Pennington turned to her othe
neighbor. Then Albert found cour
age to speak to his, a young maj
whom he knew quite WELL
] A November vacation was Hobson'
choice with Albert. Sometimes, i
trade was active, he got none at all
He came last on the list of clerks a
Jobson's. But, when he could, h
thankfully packed his bag and wen
| to spend two weeks in the Wisconsin
xr0Ode xx-;th biS only 1ix.;por rala fix,a
'great-uncle.
Great-uncle Morris was fond of tn
| boy and good to him. His log cabii
and little farm would hardly supper
one, and Uncle Morris held it the dut,
of every man to do his share of tn
worlds work. Albert did what h
could for Uncle Morris. He bought
\ small stock of groceries and shippe,
! them ahead of his annual visits il
II that Aha Nf hf~ an ar