The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-01-06


very well that that red-heaced Jen you
set such store by could have taken
good enough care Of old Mrs. Frazer
She isn't exactly a queen, remember. TO
be waited on every minute. and guess
a little work wouldn't hurt Jen any.
And TO think that papa drove OFF poor
Claude, that was worth ten Of you'll
Here"-and she struck a tragedy pose
with some success-"take back your
shabby little ringl won't wear it for
you. And you needn't come to see me
any more. / won't have you sDeaking
round me while better men are fighting
for their country" she concluded, with
a fine patriotic flourish.
It was mere petulance = all this
would-be lofty passion. She turned
away without a tear, and with no more
emotion than if she had been nagging
her mother.
And the man whose love had thus
been flung back 10 his face, because
for him the path of duty did not lead
to Cuba, also turned without tear;
but for many weeks. the great. baby
hearted fellow went about his work
with a heart that sobbed unheard. and
a spirit heavy with tears unshed. Jen-
ME tried to comfort him, but without
visible results.
Meanwhile great deeds were done at
Santiago. The spendthrift debauchee
who had volunteered TO bury his shame
hadachieved honorif not glory. Doubt
less the rumor of it burned like a
branding iron in the silent soul of his
rival; for Eben was human. and the
sting Of Mauser bullets are as nothing
to this marfyrdom of shame. He
dreaded to show himself. He felt that
all who saw him questioned his right 10
| breathe American air. But be still
chopped wood and hoed potatoes. and
fed his mother with the wages Of his
humiliation.
Eben had almost ceased TO visit the
village; he never entered its precincts
if he could avoid it. One day, however
it was the I'd of September. but
/ as hot as Sahara-he was forced to go
to the store. as Jennie could not leave
his mother. The grocery was also the
pest Office, and as he came out he met
Lola. She tilted her red parasol TO-
ward him, and passed without as much
as a look With her was the hero from
Santiago. returned on furlough with
honorable wounds. His ring was now
on her third finger.
| Further up the street Eben encoun-
tered her dog-a huge wolf-hound that
she petted and pampered because it
was the fashion Almost unconscious
IL. Eben reached out his hand tocaress
| the creature. 1t shrunk away as If he
had been a stranger. There was yelp
and a snap. The smoking teeth barely
missed his fingers
Her very dog has turned against
me- he thought, bitterly.
The animal gave a long-drawn. eerie
howl. Then il rolled in the dust, and
paved at its mouth.
II believe the beast is going mad.
And if Lola should attempt to fondle
it"
He was weaponless, and he might be
mistaken. But he could at least eau
ton her. He ran down the road;
Lola" he cried. painting. as he over
took her. Leo. your dog"
"Are you running away from my
dog?' she sneered And the bystand
ers Uttered.
Eben glanced back. The wolf-hounC
was indeed following. Again sounded
that dismal howl. Suddenly, coilinl
like a snake. the frantic animal burieC
its fangs in its own flesh. Then, viii
a savage snarl, it sprang toward them
its distended jaws dripping foam and
blood.
There was a crazy rush for the near
est shelter-every man for himself
Even the hero of e Caney forgot hi:
Iaurels and his lady. Do not reproacf
him. You and would have done tbs
same. A mad dog is too much for hu
man nerves and human nature. As fol
Lola, she spun round. tripped and fel
screaming. The rabid beast was upol
her.
But burly form lowered in its path
grim, red and dusty. Even as i
leaped, stout hands, no longer slow
gripped the envenomed creature by it
very Jaws. and wrenched them asun
der as Sampson rent the lion. A with
ing carcass fell to the ground; a heav,
heel crushed its ribs and stamped GU
its quivering life.
Then the vanished crowd swarmeI
back. dropping from trees. emerging
from behind fences, hurrying dow
from verandas.- They cheered, the.
howled- they caught up new-foun'
hero to bear him in triumph on thei
shoulders. But they bore him no fur
Their than to the village drug store
There the procession suddenly halte'
for it was perceived that the rescuinl
hands were frightfully mangled, an'
their owner had become unconscious.
For several minutes Lola was left "
ing in the middle of the road. At las
her escort bethought himself ant
picked her up.
Il suppose everybody viii expect m
to marry him now, on account of tina
. miserable dog" she grumbled som
weeks later. And like as not he ma,
run mad himself. I just won't do it
Strange to say. no one has ever sug
gested her doing it. She viii MARI,