The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-08-25


der, leaned forward in her low, bed
room rocker, and with a round chiu
popping on q pink palm gazed into
the sparkling fire with dark, solemn
eyes.
'You shouldn't have become en-
gagged to him in the first place. as
serted Nell.
That's easy to sayl" Medora
Verne exclaimed in some exaspera-
ton. "How's a body going to help
becoming engaged to a fellow who
haunts you like your shadow, and
is the only presentable man within n
month of miles, and who makes the
other girls furious by giving you
alone his persistent and lattering
attentions?"
Nen Harmon's plain, pleasant face
looked back at her gravely.
But you weren't in love with him,
deari"
Medora gazed meditatively at the
slim feet on the fender. Fairy feet
they were in their pretty bondoir
slippers of blue silk and swansdown.
I'll didn't know anything about
being in love then" she confessed,
meekly.
''And-you do now?'
Medora nodded, her white brow
r%ufiing into a perturbed little
quicker.
who is he? Do I know him?"
A series of rapid little mods from
the girl in tht~olue kimona.
aTt feOs4 Ra,ban navaro,,
Il should say notl" Indignantly.
Hes fifty!"
"It-it can't be Gregory BowersT'
'Nell-that childl" A d~isdainful
toss of the yellow braids. "He isn't
grown up yet"
Il can't think of anyone else un-
less it might be Dave Rogers"
Miss Verne raised ~heavenward a
pair of appealing eyes.
May the Lord give you sensei"
she petitioned. Dave Rogers! That
imbecile!"
Then there was no sound in Nell
Harmon's pretty room save the wills
pering of the fire and the purr Of
the family eat. A sudden suspicion
caused Miss Harmon to sit upright
TO flash at her guest a suddenly IL
lumined glance.
"Medora-it's never Maurice 2"
The face in the flooding fireshine
kindled rosily. The lids dropped over
the blue-black eyes. The reply cams
in a whisper.
Vests Mauricel" she uttered
the unme tenderly.
"Well!' gasped Nell Harmon. Her
great establishment held her silent.
''My-my brotherl / never dreamed
Does he know?"
"oh, you-stupid-thingl How
should / know-if he didn't He had
20 tell me-hadn't he? That's how |
came 10 find out l was in love!"
"Oh!" breathed Nell, and found no
further word to say. But the flood
gates of Miss Verne's confidence
were set wide.
And here Maurice adores me-has
for Ave years, he says. but I'm sure
it can't be that long, for | was only
in short dresses then. And" miser-
ably. "I1l die without Maurice-I
know | shalt And here I'm engaged
70 Thomas Elder-a fussy, fnical,
,tiresome, old-young creaturel He
won't let mt off. I've tried to make
him hate me since I found out that
Maurice was the only man in the
world for me. But he WON'T He
thinks I'm perfection-and will al
ways be perfection, and that mamma
will be perfection when he meets
heri She's to get back from Europe
on Saturday. I've told him she must
live with us. T. tearfully. ''know
most men detest n mother-in-law-
and mamma wouldn't leave her W
house for any man alive - nor
even for mel He says" in a despair
ing tone, "he-he hopes so! I've told
him she has no money. Think OF
thatl You know what mammals in
come isl He declares hat doesn't
make a particle of difference. 7 said
she--she was-was bad-temperedl
oh, NELL Think Of mn sweet mother
being bad-temperedl He vows that's
impossible-if she's my motherl
Nell-whatever am / to do?"
"Well, of all the sublimated SAP.
phiras I've ever met you've turned
into the worst, Medoral If that's
the effect of love on you. / pity
Mauricel There-therel You little
silly AS II ! wouldn't give-oh
what wouldn't ! give to have you for
n sister, Harkl Come in. .T.eturah.
Keturah ZANE ina tall. scout, red
faced woman, with the aspect of r
g~renadier and the stride of AT
Amazon.
Are you ready, Miss Nell2 Shall
brush your hair now?"
mot for ten minutes, thank you,
Nell answered, politely.
When the door had closed behind
Keturah the visitor drew the foldi
of her japanese negligee around hel
with a fastidious little shudder.
II can't congratulate yon on You
taste In choosing a maid, Nelll Tha,
old creature is hideous. And You,
mother says she has a volcanic tenn
per"
"she is very faithful-very de
xoted to me, You see. / rescued he
from unhappy conditions severa