The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-05-10

BY MARCUS D. BOWERS

TWO fair women sat on the veranda
of Anchorage" villa, adding their
quota of beauty and coIoring to an ideal
summer picture. The elder woman was
but a matured prototype of her yivacious
yourg daughter.
Mrs. Grace Bernard did not raise her
eyes from a bit of embroidery on which
she was making a pretense Of working
when she made the simple announcement
that Mr. Russell Hudson, an old friend /
from the city, was at the Billow hotel I
Tor short stay, and in all probability |
they would see quite good deal OF
1 MIN"
you see, dear . she went on to explain,
very indifferently Of course, he and
4 we're friends when / was young girl
4 younger even than you. Grace, for was
a mother at your age. and-well,
haven't seen him for 20 years"
"Oh, then he is an elderly man"
"Yes, that Is, if you consider me ell
Derby, but" blushing slightly, i am
only 3S-not SO old. Now | call
woman"
rs he married, mother?"
Oh, no. dear-he never married" and
Mrs. Demands embroidery silk sud
denly became very much entangled.
Then he must be ugly, poor or bow
legged. for"
Grace, what are you talking about?"
Then why didn't he marry?"
How should know? Il"
"Wen"-settling herself resignedly-
Il suppose l can be prepared for a week
or two of boredom. These old bachelors
are not only conceited, erratie and over
bearing. but they bangle TO a girls skirt
like tenacious little sand burs.
We'll, my dear, you may not find the
sacrifice on your part so great as you
anticipate" and there was an unusual
ring Of sarcasm in the maternal voice
He was poor when I knew him, but is
quoted in the millions now, and million
aires. you know, can afford to be old,
ugly and bow-1egged-but he is none Of
these-he is very handsome and"
you forget, mother, you haven't seen
him for 20 years." and Grace laughed
merrily.
That's true, but l hope you will be
civil, dear" and Mrs. Bernard seemed
!, suddenly to discover urgent duties
: within doors, and hustled away leaving
: her daughter to gaze dresmily out over
the blue waters of the Atlantic, as they
glistened and ripple in the morning sun
{ shine
She was tall, fair and graceful. with
y the expectancy and joyousness Of youth
< in face, voice and manner. She was row
8 what her mother had been 20 years ago
8 when she, too. had life lying before her
e with all the snares, thorns and pitfalls
= hidden meath the roses. When the world
= once her playground had become her
q singdom. and with the esotism that i:
Dar6onabIe in beautiful. spoilt and
: pampered young girl. she felt she had but
to stretch forth her hand ard gather OF
reject the desires and opportunities q
life. Nothing was impossible-sh haC
never been denied Happiness and com
for. riches and power, were hers by RICH
Of beauty and birth, and it would seen
a everything had been made subservien
. to her wishes, through mothers low
81 and fathers gold.
"a Reaching her own room, Mrs. Bernart
81 stlelsly paced its length, nervousl.
y clasping and unclasping her hands an
- anon laughing softly to herself.
ID Grace fears he will burden her wit
Ia attentions. She doesn't understand, Q
" course-but-bu what If! Oh, no
81 am foolish. Positively jealous of m
N own child"
The greatest battles of life are nc
always fought mid the blare of trumpef
\ the roll of drum. the screaming of bullet
- r the din Of the lannon's roar. Owe
20 years ago young girls tender lov
had been arrayed against paternal vii
and with a bleeding heart and outrage
IN privileges, she had been torn from til
embrace of her first love, and in tn
-e' guise Of wifehood, delivered a prisone
into an old mans keeping, whose wealt
her father deemed far more desirabl
shan a pennyless youths devotion. Sh
and Russell Hudson had not parted
anger. He accepted defeat as ineyitf
bic. yet knowing he possessed what he
=. husband might never hope for-her VI
divided love.
Fortune had smiled on him in the tV
decades Of separation. and on reaehin
n New York after a soiourn Of seyeri
hi years abroad, inquiry led TO the reYeli
III ion that Mrs. Bernard had for two yea
j } been a widow Being a man Of leisur
what could be more natural than re
days outing at a well known summ'
resort? Sentiment scarcely actuated h
movements so much as curiosity 10
did she look, and well-how did she fe
toward him! Perhaps there yet smou
aered within the recesses of her heart
al spark Of affection for him. that need
- only his presence 10 kindle it into pc
- feet confagration Of passion. In ia
iu' he did not doubt it,
~ Men may forget their VOWS Of love
RS, sentiment is easily eliminated in the co
lch aict for gain in which they daily engas
but woman's love once bestowed. mu
lie needs be a lifelong gift-it is tribu
hey owe the sterner sexi Men expe
. constancy-but with them it is differel
of course!