The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-08-18
TIE Broken
House Key

him to his home in W., and al
ready he had begun to neglect her to
20 out Of an evening, and to leave
Ter alone in the big house. He had
tried to convince her that he could
not altogether neglect his former
friends and companions, and that she
ought not to object to his meeting
them on two evenings, every week.
and to pass an agreeable hour or two
in their company over a friendly
game of whist; but she simply did
not comprehend how he could even
think of going anywhere without
taking her along.
'0h the dreadful evenings / have
Co spend" she complained with tears
in her eyes. Il am obliged to sit
mere all alone because ! nave as yet
had no chance to form ANY acqualnt.
nnces here. Naturally / get home
sick. Often / feel like leaving every
thing and taking the train home to
my parents"
would it not be better, darling, If
you went to bed instead and tried to
sleep?"
~ A = Just NA(AC AAAt AOa0A ~
she replied, still in tears. II am
afraid. Our servant sleeps way up in
the attic. She would not even hear
were anything to happen to me-
"Why, you foolish child, what is
there to be afraid of; what is going
TO happen?"
"Are not the papers every day full
~ Attrnlo xtae aud rs.AInWfaGp1 Ghn
persisted. think of the many stran-
gers that flock to a well-known
health resort like this. Nothing is
impossible under such circum-
~stancesl"
The husband looked thoughtfully
Mt his sweet bride.
mo, dear, I do not want you to
brighten yourself into illness. l prom
Use you herewith, of my own free
will (the poor fellow could not help
heaving a sigh as he said this), to re-
turn promptly at II o'clock whenever
! go ~ meet my friends. 1t is impos-
sible !. - to withdraw from their
society altogether, for they would
ridicule and make fun of me, and call
fAG AtAAUNtAC0 NJ lhltly pun
in their appearance before the hour
of II, the streets being fun of life
and traffic. Good-by, darling, and
please do not feel lonesome"
Annie sighed and submitted resign
cdly TO her fate. She read awhile;
she then took up her embroidery, a
present for her mother; she played a
fro :, ~ r11t&ntro on1 Gn.IIxr nko
paced restlessly up and down the
room. AT home there had been a
large family circle, hence It was very
trying to her TO be left so much to
herself in her new surroundings.
At ten o'clock even the familiar
noises in the kitchen ceased, for the
servant had gone upstairs to her at
tic. and the poor woman felt the old
feeling OF distress and fright creep
over her; the sitting-room was locat-
ed TO the rear of the house, and there
sNwas a hallway between it and the
front rooms. She therefore could
snot hear the usual street noises. A
Geath-like silence reigned in the room.
Tired. and yet excited, she threw
7 herself on the lounge. She sadly re-
fectcd why beer houses and card par.
ties had been called into existence,
BY and by her thoughts became more
and more confused, and she fell into
n sound siumber.
II was 11:O5 when Gus arrived
breathlessly and post haste at his
house door and tried to fit his key
into the lock,
Poor fellow! Had evil spirits con.
spired to get him into trouble? Click
the key broke in two, and the BIZ
stuck fast in the keyhole. handle and
barrel alone remaining in his hands
He knocked: he called; he knocked
again and louder, for. unfortunately
there was no house bell-all in vain
II hardly think my wife has retired
as early as this" he reflected, but
Of course, she is in the sitting-room
and most likely she cannot hear me-
Once more he knocked-this tim,
very loud--he called until his voic,
was hoarse. No reply.
To fill his cup of misery to the brin
it commenced TO rain, and he was
without an umbrella.
Perhaps Annie has gone to bee
after ALL" he thought. shivering anc
dripping wet. "Shall / go to a hotel
Not What would the people think
The only place that l know of thai
may still be open is the railwa,
depot, for there is a train arriving al
midnight"
He went down the street in tn,
pouring rain. and at last found him
self in the waiting-room of the sta
ton.
"A glass of beer, sir?" asked al
er+@rprising waiter. Gus shook him
self. He felt chilly. Punch" h
said, "and make it hotl" He dranl
one glass. and thar another. and still
another, to while away the time. II
was the only person there. in du
time the last train had arrived, an
he could stay no longer. They wer
about to close up.
Ia sheer desperation he looked a
his watch.
II was one o'clock when he emerge
into the street, and it had ceased t