The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-12-16


grand and glorious in the traditions
and achievements of the stage. lie
didn't even think of asking the name
of his divinity till the intermission,
and then, with unspeakable rapture
he heard it. Miss Grace" she whis-
pered, that will do for the present"
Never mind what Hodge said. He
said everything he could think Of,
and therefore was silent, except for
his speaking eyes and blushing ears.
Would she not like a little lunch
con? he managed TO ask her as he
helped her out of the elevator with
one hand and counted his remaining
dollar with the other.
$50 kind of you, Mr.. Hodge," she
Uttered. yes, just a bite. It's per-
fectly dreadful for me to be out so
late with a perfect stranger, but
you've been so perfectly kind and,
er-natural, he, he, he, ha-a, was
going to say just like an old shoe
but you know what mean. Feel
like I'd known you for years"
"Oh, / don't knowl" thought
Hodge. 81 guess / must be poor
hand at picking a winner"
He escorted the fair Grace to a
fashionable cafe, and when she had
discussed her "bite" and the bill was
paid j. Dillingham; had two dimes
left. He gave them to the waiter
with the grandest air he could COM
mand and then began to screw up
his courage to the ordeal of hiring a
cab ION credit" OF course he meant
to take Miss Grace home, but when
! they reached the sidewalk she put
an end to his glorifed agony thus:
Now, you must leave me, Mr..
Hodge" smiling radiantly at him.
"You know l live at the Auditorium
and / couldn't think of your coming
there with me at this hour"
Then the desperate ]. Dillingham;
waxed eloquent indeed. He begged
her to permit him to at least accom-
pany her part of the way. She yield
ed on condition that he rest content
to part a block from the hotel
Then he besought her for her full
name, and with wondrous impor
tunity asked that he might have the
honor of visiting her.
you may write to me-" she said
after pause in which he felt as i
some splendid sibyl were about tC
pronounce his fate. 'And now, good
night"
Her thrilling voice fell to per
fumed whisper as she added:
"Grace Miller. Write to me. Good
night"
She was gone. Hodge trod on al
for two days after that. He wrote
letter to Miss Miller the next da
and stayed at home the second s
he'd get the answer the moment
came 1t didn't come, but he wa
not to be denied. He wrote agai
and again. For five days he poure
forth his callow soul in words S
\ eloquent and periods so sonoror
that all his former efforts at poes
seemed tame and trite. Then he b
Il gan to "blow himself for gayer an
= more costly raiment. He limited
: his fellow clerks that he was tired {
7 the life of bachelor and meant
h marry very soon.
! 'Who is she?" grinned Schwart
n the woman hater.
"Oh, never you mind" sneere
O Hodge. "She's not in your set
society. Lives at the Auditorium
It that's all. Millionaire father and a
I only child"
And the magnifcence of ]. Dill
-. ~,
1t verisimilitude and certainly color
d his boasts.
III Yet he waxed thin waiting for Il
lie letter that never came. He felt TIL
a his Grace had been already strange
gracious aud began to suspect tn
a she was now trying to discipline h
n, impulsive heart while at the saI
e. time checking his too ready ardC
ne But after two weeks waiting
IL could stand the suspense no long'
at Arrayed in all his sartorial gloI
to his hair parted into football tut
ut alum in his pimples and nosegay
his lapel, he braved the majesty
lg the hotel clerk, and extending
new, engraved card, asked that it
d. sent to Miss Grace Miller.
The clerk smiled as he summon
. Buttons"
=, ~ The boy grinned as he darted
~ ward the elevator.
- j. Dillingham; Hodge fumed a
:, wondered at the impertinence as
- impatiently paced the lobby.
"a This way, Mr.. Hodge" said
~ bellboy, touching his arm. And tn
- the ardent lover followed that b
through the dark and devious h;
10 ways, up queer and misleading sta
lie and around food-smelling regions
81 the hotel.
90 'See here, boy" at last yelled
painting Hodge, ''where is Miss \
- Ter? Did she say she'd see me in
,ar apartments or in the parlor?"
~ "She amt got no say about
snapped the lad. Shell see yer
Al tn laundry r she won't see yer
,ot tall. See?"
IA Look here, my boy" gasl
Hodge, slipping a quarter into
), hand of the surprised Buttons. st
i, Tell me. Who is Miss Grace Mile
~ The boy stared a second at