The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-09-22


her eyes. l excused myself TO go and
get drink of water. / improved the
opportunity 1t gave me to study fur
Their the ungraceful chirography of
the late Mr.. Swackhammer. When
returned she was diligently practicing
on the signature Of Miss Murphy. The
conductor came in. He looked at US
sharply for a trying moment. took
the tickets and examined them care
fully.
Miss Murphy-Mr swaekhammer."
said he, reading the names; please
sign them"
We did so and he gave us checks
for them and passed on. The Pull
man agent was at his elbow He
looked up. inquisitiyeIy. as ] handed I
over the stateroom ticket. Then he
smiled a knowing sort of smile.
''Shall you want another state
room?" he inquired
As he spoke my mind went up to its /
knees in the mire. OF course il would |
not do for Mr.. Swackhammer to oe-
cupy a stateroom with Miss Murphy.
/ felt as If somebody had opened
furnace door a foot away from my
face.
"Ye-yes," I stammered. "of course
II shall want another statcroom.-
"Why, no you won't said Miss Muir
ply, sweetly. but decisively, as she
brushed the lint off my coat collar, Il
want you with me"
stared helplessly at the agent for
little. Ny wife saw the serious char
acter of the situation, and turned her
face. looking thoughtfully out Of the
window
Yes" said l. feeling for my money.
Give me a section for myself"
To my chagrin it cost me more
than 1 had saved by those internal
tickets. And they were also to rob
our honeymoon of its luster-that
was the worst of it. We We're TO be
put asunder in the very heyday of
our married life. began TO laugh.
from the tickle of despair as soon as
the man had left us. Ny young wife
wiped her eyes and looked very Sc
rious.
-Murph.r said I, you must learn
to treat me coldly for awhile. Re
nothing more to each other than ae-
quaintances, or, at best, friends"
She sat in silence little time.
Couldn't l be your sister?" she
whispered, presently, a solemn look
on her face.
'Impossible." 1 exclaimed How
could Miss Murphy be the sister of
Mr.. Swackhammer?-
Il didn't know but there was some
way to manage it. said she, with a
sigh.
Its too difficult" said 1. 4You
might as well try to be my grand
/ mother"
Well. it was long journey, and
| before it was over everybody on the
car got to know everybody else Miss
Murphy, being young, and, as l have
ever thought, very beautiful, became
exceedingly popular. There were
three young men going east to COZ
] Iege who were more attentive TO her
than they had any right to be. Not
| that she gave them undue encourage
/ ment-it was not necessary. She WAS
only decently polite. They brought
her fruit and water, books and mag
azines and newspapers, and told
stories and sang songs to her. and
what, with it all, l had a feeling
worse than loneliness-it was one OF
absolute bereavement. Day by day
/ was dropping like a flower that
had been cut and thrown in the dust.
One day. when they had all gone out
for dinner and we were sitting alone,
l determined to speak my mind.
MY darling," 1 whispered. 4 don't
like those young men. They are toe
familiar. You mustn't let them come
near you. They are a COMPOUNDED
nuisance. l am your lawful husband
but can hardly get word with
you"
You foolish thing" said she
Didn't you tell me l was TO be cold
and distant to you?'
Yes, but l didn't think you would
bear down as hard as you have
said /. and got up. little out Of
patience, and made for the smoking
room The college boys had just
come in for dinner. AS / stopped a
tAC 0o0A N01-N
hear them talking while they were
lighting their cigars.
Poor old Swackeyl" said one
laughing as he spoke.
HE is head over heels in love with
her" said another. But he hasn't
a ghost of a show"
Looks as if he had been nit with
an az said another
'0r whacked with hammer" said
the first.
l had heard enough. and cam,
away. If 1 was not as happy as
might have been. went unwoundeC
the rest of the journey. When al
last we were crossing the ferry al
New York we were no longer Swack
hammer and Murphy, but the happy
lovers we had been.
Il never want to change my nam,
again. said my wife, with a sigh Of
relief.
And you never shall until an
dead" was my answer.