The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-12-30

4 WAO pad because ne smoked
II cigars, said the Misses Tilley.
He was bad because he went in and
out at all hours of the night, said the
matrons. He was bad because he did
not go to church on Sunday morn
ings, but seemed to take a childish
delight in playing with the hose noz-
zle and the pointer pups. He was
bad because he kept a bachelor es-
tablishment with no elderly and Sc
date females about, quoth the mem
bers of the family who lived opposite.
In truth, as he seemed to take no ac-
count of Eucalyptus street in any
manner whatever, he was very bad
indeed.
The only person who ever dared to
express a contrary opinion was Miss
Byzantine Confey, who lived with a
very dilapidated father some five doors
below bad man Mr.. ]. Fenton Barton,
Miss Eglantine's greatest folly in life
had been self-sacrifice. She had i'm
molated herself upon the altar of fam
lily respect, the remnant of which was
the delapidation before mentioned. 1t
may be said in passing that the old gen
tleman was one of the class known in
former days as cupboard drinkers
This secret form of tipping did not de-
tract from his position on Eucalyptus
street, or in business. But it made
him the most irrita BILE and exacting oil
parents, and Miss Byzantine from hel
eighteenth year to her thirty-fifth
had danced like a puppet on string
to his caprices. As Miss Byzantine
had once been ppetty, the inevitable
marily dismissed. Her father at once
demanded of her what she thought
would become of him. AS Miss Egg
lantine could not reply satisfactorily to
that question. the sutton was at once
sent to the right about and, within
two years. he married another young
woman. He lived now on Bear street
and had several nice children whose lit.
tie faces always brought queer feel.
ing to Miss Eglantine's heart when she
saw them at church. After this un-
timely nipping of her early romance
Miss Byzantine settled into a gentle
colorless creature whose life was one
long and irritating sacrifice. There
fore it was quite a surprise when. at an
extra session of the Sewing Guild. held
Immediately opposite Mr.. ]. Fentor
Barton's residence, she took up cud
gel in his behalf
II don't see that he's done anything
50 terrible" she said. stoutly; "he does
as he pleases, that's ALL"
Forty eyes scanned her in disap,
prevail. One Of the Misses Tilley said
"Oh, Eglantine!" in a neat, shocked
way.
81 wish could do as I pleased" went
on the quiet voice; ut must be splen
did"
"But you wouldn't smoke big cigar.
and stay away from church and be Sc
so hateful" asserted the ministers
wife, who really liked her.
Then Byzantine uttered the muffin
gus sentence which was never forgot
zen of her in the light of subsequent
events.
~ declare don't know what would
DO. Nobody does"
1t may be added that Mr.. Confey hae
been more difficult than usual to please
Tor a week, which fact may account fol
this incipient rebellion.
When Miss Byzantine reached hel
home that evening the colored cool
oeckoned her mysteriously into tn,
pack regions.
81 dom know how to tell you, missy,
he said, 'but marster an July AM
lone got mixed up erbout sompin' an
he frew dat cat obah de fence inter d,
llley. An dem pintah pups OBJ Fen
tons war obah dar an wat become
oh dat July Ann / don know"
"Juliana!" she cried, pitifully, fol
she kept a sleek cat as something Il
pour her affection upon. as she dead p
"Jes' you slip out an call 'er, missy,
whispered Betty. "She may hab go
away from EN-"
So into the alley way. in her best
brown cashmere, her hair falling, hel
cheeks pink with excitement, dashed
the poor little woman. She hurried
iplaintively up and down. calling pite
ously: "Juliana" and kitty" over ant
over. There was no returning new. ne
furry form on shed OF fence. Miss Egg
lantine could not bear to return with