The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1903-01-02
! LOVE AND * * * .
q TICKLE FORTUNE. i


daintily dressed. Jack Granger
sitting beside her in the part, hac
every facility for studying her closely
He was puzzled by the sad, harasseo
look on her face, which he thought mao
no business to be there at all. II was q
lovely June evening, but the part was
rapidly thinning, for the inevitable Din
ner hour claimed society for its own.
So absorbed was Granger in contem
plative study that, mirable dictu, he had
forgotten about that all important func
ton.
Presently the chair ticket man came
along and stopped before the girl
Have you paid yet, MN"
NO" she answered.
zone penny, please"
She fumbled in her pocket, but nc
purse made it's appearance.
I'm afraid II haven't-I've left
"Allow me-" put in Jack, seizing the
welcome opportunity. Most awkward,
of course" he went on, not noticing her
gesture. II really see no
other way out of the difficulty" and he
settled the matter by paying for them
both, while the ticket man walked on,
his face wreathed In inscrutable smiles.
IAN old trick, that" he thought, as
he strolled along, though there's many
a marriage the outcome Of it an the
likes"
1T is really good Of you," said she
girl at last, but rather than be under
any obligations to you l would have
much preferred to pay another day."
"a pleasure at any time to help a
lady out of difficulties" answered
Granger, delighted that the Ice was
broken. Its so easy to forget your
purse, too. l never bother myself with
such impediments. Much safer to car
~ your money loose in your pockets;
don't you think so?''
IF you have any-yes," replied the
girl, smiling in spite of herself and
racing little patterns in the grass with
ler parasol.
Rather an odd remark" thought
Granger.
been picked?" he vent,lred at last.
"No."
Lost your purseT
She shook her head.
"Forgot it?"
"Oh! how dense you are," she ex-
laimed, almost petulantly, you men
ever seem able to realize that we
women can be hard up although we
resent fairly respectable appearance.
low, does not another possible con-
urgency occur to you other than what
on have guessed"
Jack thought for a long while, but
Is brain could not rise to the solving
such riddle. Impecuniosity was as
oreign to him as are the tropics to the
olar bear.
Then you must shame me to an adj
littance," she answered.
oh" put in Jack, at last beginning
realize the truth, you don't mean
'u can't mean that you haven't got
YES" she whispered, and her eyes
lied with tears as she gulped down
10, I'm spite Of all-all this" and she
ade a pretty gesture, indicating her
linty clothes.
"Wheugh," whistled Jack, softly,
we'll I'm" he didn't say what he
as, but whistled again.
She hardly realized why she had tax.
1 this man, total stranger, even
us far into her confidence. But there
as something so kind, so sympathetic |
his face-something different from
her men.
Have you no friends, no relatives |
town." asked Granger at last.
II know no one"
Then what are you going to do?"
Il don't know" She began to cry.
Come" said Jack, cheerily, there is
ways silver lining to every cloud
,rhaps l can help you. Tell me all
out it,
My father and mother died a year
o, leaving me with scarcely any
oney," began the girl, land until
'nth ago l remained in my Devon
Ire home. My slender resources be-
TO exc out, so l came to London
see II l could get employment as n
verness. Luck has been against me.
have now some to the end Of
resources. That's all-the whole
ng In nutshell" she concluded BIT
~. Il need not go into details. You
II understand what have gone
'ough. 6
ne girl flushed scarlet with shame
sucn an exposure. Her pride and
r-esteem We're wounded, too.
ne irony Of 1t struck him forcibly.
lm-l'm awfully sorry" he said at
T. awkwardly enough. ITS fearful c
hard" o
'heir eyes met. Her face was stiu p
'hed, and there We're tears in her
ce ana eyes as she smiled and said:
nank you for saying that. You are r,
7
ne words, though slight in them. n
yes and SO simply uttered, carried Il
World Of meaning. b
ranger stared vacantly across the 10
d again. *
nat sweet face she had. Why
uiu rate be so cruel to one with Il
oih nature had dealt so generously. h,
o. TO look at her, would have thought h,
cruel poverty was hers? Daintily q,
rmlngly dressed-not penny in the
Id. 49, INC
ell. he couldn't leave her without
lg something. q
LOOK here" he said at last, "here is ",
card" He handed II IN bar NJ tho -