The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1906-09-18
A Tangled Family
BY CLARE JAYNES

the widows son and daughter Charley
and Mile, just of age, imagined their
prospects blighted.
ooh, George, what shall do?" said
Mrs. Beverley-which was the lady's
new name--ready to cry.
Don't mind EN-, my dearl" said her
husband with a great, rolling laugh.
They're only children; they'll grow
wiser as they grow older"
But the squire's determined good hui
NOR aggravated his stepchildren more
than any amount of positive opposition
would have done, and they made no
effort to conceal their feelings.
81 never, never can call that man
father" said Mile.
my dear, he doesn't want you to-"
said Mrs. Beverley.
81 can't endure the sight Of him!"
pouted Mile. "And Charley says ex'
actly the same thing"
Charley is a disobedient, migrate
full son." sobbed Mrs. Beverley.
But here Mr. Beverley himself came
to the rescue.
Young people, said he, 81 don't OBJ
ject to you making yourselves as mis-
cradle as you like, but you mustn't tor
ment your mother I'll have none OF
this"
Mile lost no time in carrying this
revolutionary speech straight to her
brother.
Every WE'LL" said Charley, coolly;
"we'll accept the challenge"
'T'll not submit to his tyranny"
said Mile "I've got plan"
$50 have l." said Charles; "lots OF
'em; only they don't seem to work
when try to put them into practice =
1--WE been writing to Louise Vane, :
said Mile.
"It seems to me as IL | had heard
the name before, now that you men,
ton it," said Charley, rumpling up his
brown, curly hair. But why should
you write to her?-and what has she
to do with our affairs?"
She sympathizes so thoroughly
with me-" said Mile. "She considers
second marriages as sinful, as l do,
And she has asked me to come to her
and stay as long as l please. There
is a nice hotel in the village Charley;
and her father is very hospitable
| And there is fine supply of shooting
Louise writes, and plenty of agreeable
society"
mot bad idea" said Charley, re.
fiectively.
Louise Vane received her former
schoolmate with effusion.
/ Her father, a stately, middle4aget
gentleman, spoke a few kindly words
of welcome.
ooh, dear!" said Mile, when sht
was alone with her friend, 81 do hop'
we shall not disturb Mr.. Vane.".
Nothing disturbs papa" said Lou
Use. "He will never think of noticing
such chicks as we are Every old maiC
and widow in the village has tried t,
marry him ever since poor mammi
died"
How dare they?" said indignan
Mile. 81 think the Legislature ough
to pass law against second marriages
They are wicked, sinful; an outrag
on civilization"
"Of course they are" said Louise
"But don't worry, darling. Remembe
that you are with me now"
Three months of happiness at Van
lodge followed. Mile and Louis
read their favorite authors together
and worked hideous screens and i'm
possible portieres in crewels.
But one day Mr.. Vane called hi
daughter into his study, with se~iou
face and when, she came out she wa
drowned in tears, and fled straightwa
to the haven of her dearest friend
room.
"Darling!" cried Mile, what is tn
matter? Tell me, l beseech you"
"The worst that could possibly hap
J pen" cried Louise, tragically. Pap
is going to marry again"
Mile crimsoned to the very root
of her hair.
: "He told me so himself" said Lou
: lse 81 never stopped to ask him VIII
1t was that was to desecrate our happ
happy home. just clasped my hand
and cried: 'Papal and ran ava,
: sobbing as If my heart would breal
Oh, and | had so hoped that, when
was married, we could stay on her
just the same; but, with stepmothe
OF course, nothing will ever be tn
samel"
''You married, Louise?" cried Mill,
Didn't he tell you? But 1t onl
happened this morning. Charley ha
| asked me to be his wife"
! But" faltered Mile, "if your steI
! mother loved you very much indeed
!. 'cFiddlestieks!" said Louise; las
? a stepmother could love one! Oh,
} hate her already! And you. too, m
q poor wounded gazelle, will be drive
/ from your refuge. If l could onl
. offer you home"
. 'Tts so good of you, darling!" viii
q pered Mile. "But don't real
I think that 1t will be necessary, b
: cause because"
0 You're not engaged to be Marie
: too?" almost shrieked Louise, struC
with certain consciousness in h
friends face.
|