The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1906-09-11
The Hero
Who Ran Away
BY j. S. FLETCHER
copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles,)

o'clock of an April evening. Maxwell
! left the train with a sigh of immense
relief He was in Paris, and in Paris
he could breathe and think, and per-
haps make up his mind as to what was
to be done at the present crisis of his
life.
Anyway, am freed from the great,
the overwhelming temptation of her,
presence" he thought, as he walked
moodily about the fiower-scented
streets. "a man gets so little chance
of thinking clearly in a woman's pres
ence, or ii she is within easy distance
of him. If I'm going to fight this thing
out it must be away from her. She"
Maxwell stopped suddenly-thought
and step alike came to a summary con-
clusion. He was dimly conscious that
he stood at the corner of the Rue
Royale, and that he was shaking hands
with his friend Lady Rayensrode, from
whom in some vague fashion the
| spring morning had suddenly borrowed
new charm of light. shade, color and
scent.
Major MAXWELL" she exclaimed.
But why should one be surprised?
Paris lis so very much next-door now
adays! Let me see-it was night be-
fore, last that we met, wasn't it?"
81 think So" said Maxwell. II
came over yesterday Dover and
| Calais, you know-on business"
Il came over yesterday, too" said
Lady Ravensrode. "Folkstone and
Boulogne, you know-also on business.
| My business is-frocks
Maxwell stroked his mustaehe He
became conscious of the presence of
Lady Ravensrode's maid, lowering at
discreet distance; also of the inter
est which was being created in the
minds and eyes of the passers-by, who
glanced at the English woman's gra-
cious figure, copper-gold hair, and vi
vacious beauty, with unmistakable adj
miration. He looked at Lady Ravens
rode, first furtively, then with Gu
rious determination in his bronzed
face,
Send your maid away" he said.
1.-THE frocks, am sure, can wait little
IL want to talk to you. The fact
is I'm in a bit-no, l mean a good
deal--of a hole, and want your adj
vice"
Lady Kavensrode obeyed this per-
emptory order without a murmur.
They sat down on a rustic seat under
the refreshing shade trees of the
Champs Elysees.
Maxwell began tracing strange
shapes in the gravel at his feet; he
knitted mis- brow and pursed up his
lips, and Lady Ravensrode watched
him with a tiny smile at the corners
of her mouth. Presently he looked
up, regarded her with a stony stare,
and said:
1.-THE fact is that I've run away"
run away? With whom?"
"That," said Maxwell, lis feminine,
but silly. ] ran away to think"
oh" she said, blankly.
"Well, I'll tell you the TRUTH" he
said, I'm running away from a wom-
an"
That" she replied, sis exactly what
| should expect of YOU"
He looked quickly and suspiciously
at her.
"Ah!" he exclaimed. Then you do
think ma a cowardT
Il didn't say so" she said. els she
pretty?"
Maxwell raised his eyes and stared
at her.
pretty" he said "She-why, she
is the most beautiful woman in the
world"
Tho honastv and ofunp1icitv ~ t,tS
tone we're so evident that her inquir-
ing eyes dropped before his.
%She is to be congratulated that
you are so fond of her." she said,
softly.
"Ah, hut then, she doesn't know" he
answered. The thing is-ought to
tell her? That's what l want to know.
That's the question l want to decide.
Oh, I'm a horrible coward about It."
IF you love her" said Lady Ravens
rode, you certainly ought to tell her
of your love for her. It's wrong not
to; it's wicked"
Wrong? Wicked? Why?" he de-
manded. with signs of great surprise,
Lady Ravensrode turned her face
toward him and studied him with
dancing eyes and a tightly-closed
mouth Maxwell frowned still more
gloomipF.
WHY DO you look at me like that?'
he asked. Il know you're laughing
at me, wight away-d down in your heart
and l want to know why. You
see, sometimes / think John Max
we'll you'll be the luckiest man on
earth II you can win her-try youi
luck! But again I think: Nonsense
don't make fool of yourself, and
Lady Ravensrode interrupted him
quickly.
What. by marrying her?" she said
: Good heavens, mol" answered Max
we'll mo, but ;by thinking that she
would consent to marry me. You see
it's here. She's young, and beauti
full, and rich, and She is so much adj
mired that she might choose a hus
hand amongst fine qreafest-zhe rnioh-