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

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fusing her cheeks. IL was Tilted
for a younger-a prettier woman"
"Nell-my dearesti"
Miss Harmon rose, went to her
desk, took from it a letter which
she brought to her friend. "Yon
read this" she said.
A sharp exclamation of surprise
broke from Medora at sight of the
c~hirography. She read the letter
through. 1t was a brief note-end
a brutal one The writer had been
mistaken. He had fancied his affec-
ton for Miss Harmon was one that
would prove deep and permanent.
Within the last few weeks he had
met at The Cascades a girl fairer-
if possible-younger, If he might be
permitted to speak so frankly-and
wealthier-not that wealth courtcl.
He herewith returned Miss Harmon's
letters, and hoped they might
be friends in the future. 1.-THE Cas-
cadesl That datel" cried Medora.
1T is from Thomas Elder-and he
he meant me! Oh, Nell-why didn't
you tell me before? 2"
ut might seem as though I were
revengeful!"
Pm revengeful nowl Well, we
must think ouS a way to make him
break his engagement with mel l
know can't use this letter as a rea-
SON. | would never drag you into
a position of such humiliation. +
l have it! Listeni"
1t was after midnight when Miss
Harmon's hair had been properly
brushed-and Medora's, too, by tie
way. Keturah shook her head at the
crackling notes extended. "You may
take the money" her mistress said.
"You are doing me a favor as well
as Miss Verne"
The next day Thomas Elder, ~sitti;-g
down to his desk, trim, well-elad,
shrewd-faced, alert, bounced on one
particular envelope out of the pile
awaiting hisinspection. Alarge square
envelope of palest azure, with a sill
yer seal, and the vagrant odor of
mignonette clinging to it.
From Medoral" murmured Mr..
Elder, placidly. From my Medorai"
He was charmed at the contents.
To call at tive-to meet her mother,
who had that day arrived from New
York; And was anxious to meet
him! Ah-certainly! 1T was Medora
herself-Medora exquisite in a street
gown of crimson cloth and black
m.~ten-who met him in athe little
reseption-room.
"No-I can't go with you'll You
must meet mamma ~alone!" He found
her bashfulness enhancing. "She is
in the library. She is expecting you.
Go right inl"
The sutton boldly did as hidden. In
the waning light of the winter day
the room was shadowy. A gaunt,
red-visaged creature in a gown of
parrot-green confronted him. A
mighty hand crushed his. A pair of
sharp gray eyes pierced his soul.
"Glad to meet you, Thomas Eldo-l
Hope youn make a good son-in-law!
/ suppose Medora has told you I'm
coming to live with you? That's
right. You aren't afraid of panther
cats, are you? I've got a tame one
that will eat out Of your hand. BE
sure you get a good southern room
in the house for my birds. Three
I've three of them. They never stop
singing if they get light enough. I've
been gadding around the world so
much I've gathered some live Curl
osities-bargains, ] call them. 1t was
such a comfort to me to know Me-
dora was going to get married, so
I'd have a place to keep my pets.
Not" critically, that | think she
did the best she could have done
diet of vcgetables-best kind of diet
for you. I'm q vegetarian, you know.
No meat in my house! Medora says
she told you l lost my money in that
wheat failure. Didn't tell you all
the fortune she had was swallowed
up in that Bank of Gilead crash?
No-didn't tell you that? I'm sur
prisedl Wen, it don't make any diff
ference TO you son-in-lawl Day not
named yet? Oh, Wen have to hurry
thingsi"
Escape Thomas Elders finally ef-
fected. How he never knew. So ex.
cited was he that some sound in an
adjoining room seemed to resolve it,
SER Into an lrfepresS1Dle ripple OF
laughter. That night Keturah, in a
parrot-green gown, laughed as hear
tily as her mistress, when between
gasps OF merriment, Medora read
aloud a letter from her admirer, in
which he deplored the fact hat a
suddenly-developed case of cardiac
collapse had convinced him hat he
could not ask any woman to share
the life of a hopeless invalid.
whats the joke. girls?" cried
Maurice Harmon, Struggling off his
overcoat as he came into the parlor;
a fine, manly young fellow, with
steady eyes and a strong, beautiful
/. mouth. "Joyel Isn't Keturah in
. stylel"
Keturah, still shaking with mirth.
took his Goa and went out. Nell
stood up and kissed him.
Its all right. old boy" she said.
| "Medora will tell you about t." She
laughed again at the thought of Ell