The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-12-02

nation, and, forgetting politeness,
rushed from the house, taking the
front steps almost at one leap. He |
knew what it meant if Sam Howard |
had been drinking. 1t was with |
many misgivings that the Hermitage
patrons had viewed the marriage, |
not long before, of these two young
people of the district. Sam and
Marietta were Woodworking young
people, and cared for each other,
but he would indulge in drink on rare
occasions. and one drink meant a
spell of crazy drunkenness.
Reaching the tenement where they
lived, he. sprang up the stairs to the
little suite of rooms that the Her
mitage club had furnished as a we'd
ding present to the Towards, and
burst open the door.
Against the wall crouched the
young wife, her eyes horror tricken,
her face white with terror, except
where the blood was gathering un-
der the skin from freshly-dealt
blow on her cheek.
Between Marietta and her husband
Leslie had interposed herself. The
mans face, with it's bloodshot eyes,
was that of mailman. He had evident
ly struck Marietta with his hand, but,
with increased wrath that anyone
should attempt to thwart him, he had
caught up stick of wood from the
floor, and even as she tried to soothe
him he had the bludgeon raised threat
eningiy. With a spring Steele was up
on the man, who, though powerful nat
urally, and with the added strength of
frenzy, was no match for the new
conner, whose muscles were backed by
a rage that man should raise his hand
against any woman, and Leslie, of al
women. There was a short, sharp
struggle, and then Sam was over
powered and forced into chair, where
he sat in sullen apathy.
When Leslie would have thanked him
and offered to help the frightened wom-
an, Steele, with an air of command, or
dered her to desist.
go straight back to the Hermitage"
he ordered, peremptorily, land stay
there till l come. This is no pace for
you. Have no fear" he added, with
still smoldering rage; 81 shall spare
the life of this protege, who so nearly
killed you. When Ihave left some one
to take care of his wife and to watch
him, l will get carriage and come to
the Hermitage for you. Go at once!"
And Leslie, so used to commanding
and being obeyed, went down the stairs
without word. She did not wait for
him, however, but as soon as she was
out of the alley ordered carriage to
take her home.
She arrived late for dinner, cold and
tired, and with unstrung nerves, but
as she knew that Steele would follow
to inquire after her welfare, she put
away her inclination to go to bed for
a good cry, and, changing her gown,
though her heart was anything but
brave.
at is a waste of time" she confided
to herself, ambiguously, as she sat by
the fire. men are all alike-they do
not care for anyone but themselves,
and Steele is only more honest than
the rest in owning that he does not
care, and does not care whether he
cares or not. OF course, he is gentle
man, and would not strike a woman
as Sam did poor Marietta, but he has
no heart, and that is bad enough"
1t was a very mournful girl tina;
Steele found few moments later, but
he was evidently too excited to notice
her detection.
"He has a new argument that he
thinks will crush me" she said to her,
self, in dismay. "And. oh, dear! be
lieve a fly could crush me this even
ing"
Leslie" exclaimed Steele, 81 have
come to tell you"
ing up an imp.oring hand, don't speal
of Kant or Darwin. My opinions art
firm as ever, but am so tired"
Steele was holding both her hands
and beaming down upon her as he stool
by her chair.
Kant and Darwin may have been es
Unable men, my dear, but for me jus
| al THIS bilhc buS9 nave
have come to ask you to advance mi
to the first class in sentiment. Like
good pupil, l have been studying a
home. l have learned to carry you
picture next my heart and to sleel
with one of your handkerchiefs unde
my pillow. press all the flowers tina
you put into my buttonhole, and
stole a little curl of brown hair tina
used TO lie just back of your ear.
think brown eyes with yellow lights i
them are the sweetest eyes in tn
world, and my heart thumps like
trip hammer when you put your han
on my arm. Not content with think
ing of you by day and dreaming o
you by night, have called the offic
boy Leslie, and addressed my gray
headed employer as Miss Mason. Ha'
ing learned al this, ! come to tell 20
that, as the dictionary says, l have
thought prompted by passion or fee
ing;' that l am in state of mind i
view of some subject namely, your
self; that my disposition prompts a,
tion and expression-Why, Lesliei"