The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-10-09


your said Branton Ridgely, turning
with enthusiasm to Eleanor Grayson.
The pink skirted candles on Mrs.
Courtney's dinner table cast a glow
across the pale oval of Miss Grayson's
face. From under her dark, delicately
arched brows her hazel eyes looked
out on the world with starry serious
ness.
"The last time we met" he went on,
was at the Van Nestor's tennis tour
nament on the 18th of September"
Miss Grayson laughed
what a memory for dates! 1 sup
pose you also recall each bit Of our
conversation
every word. Do you remember
calling me a trifer?"
Ibid L? Well, recollect your telling
me that 1 was an cratic, headstrong
young woman. That was two months
ago, and I don't think either of us
have changed much since"
II accept the rebuke," said Ridgely
meekIy.
isn't it a pity to waste such good
material? Instead of a leader of CO.
tillons you might be a leader of men,"
"And isn't it a pity to hide yourself
from your friends and stay in that set
tlement, toiling and slavingY
"And enjoying it more than anything
I've ever done before" supplemented
Miss Grayson warmly.
That's all very well, but how am I
ever to catch glimpse of you? l was
just beginning to know you last sum-
mer, and now your time is taken up
morning, noon and night and you
haven't a moment to give me. And
you'll end" he predicted savagely, "by
falling in love with one OF the workers
down there-unless you're already in
terested in some one else"
"Such frankness merits frankness in
return. am deeply interested in some
one. But your first surmise was
wrong. The hero in this case is quite
unknown. I've never even seen him."
Never mind" growled Ridgely,
"he'll avow himself soon enough when
he's found you've begun to care"
"Well, then, he'll have to change his
present tactics" answered Miss Gray
son lightly. "Do you know, it's the
most mysterious thing! Each week
through the mail I've been receiving
an envelope filled with paper money.
Inclosed is printed note which says,
For the needy and it's signed e. IT,"
Strange" murmured Ridgely.
Eyes, and there's more
'More?"
81 mean each day there's bunch Of
violets, too, and the same initial on the
card"
''The deucey' said Ridgely, "wel,
and what then?"
"Then? Oh, there's nothing more.
The flowers continue to come, and the
money continues to come, and though
have no clew as to who E. T. is,
continue to accept both"
How do you know he's a manY
"What woman would be $3.50 sys-
tematicT
''True. And do you wear the flowers
he sendsT
Sometimes"
"Lucky dog! He's to be enviedr'
'"That's so like you, Mr.. Ridgely, to
think of the flowers first and forget all
about the money that has made it pos
sible for me to carry out one of my
pet schemes. This week Miss Elliston
and / have rented and renovated a
house-number IL Pearl street and
we're going to live there and run 1t
to suit ourselves"
"AlOne?
"Why, of courser'
'Well, to say it's madness is made
quate In that quarter of the city
regular slums! If you had parents
81 shouldn't be doing 1t? Probably
not. AS it is, my friends have eXpostu-
lated in vain, for am quite capable
Of taking care of myself. And l see no
reason why l shouldn't make expert
ments and do as l please. Besides,
Miss Elliston and l aren't altogether
alone. We have very competent
German servant, Gretchen. And I'm
sure the man who sends the money
would be delighted to see to what use
we've put It, We have only been In
the house week and have an inmate
already-such a piteous case, little
Italian girl whose stepfather, Grinaldo,
forced her to work in a cigar factory,
though she was so i'll she could scarce
ly stand. Grinaldo used to beat her II
her earnings didn't please him. If you
could have seen her poor arms-sO
wasted and pinched black and blue! OF
course it was a case for the societies,
but didn't wait for them to interfere.
/ took her in myself / wanted to see
those olive cheeks of hers grow round
ed out and rosy, and those scrawny
hFrrr-Va d@ 4 CHI Hra
as II she'd gained pounds already! Her
eyes are beginning to lose their bag
gard look, and she doesn't duck her
bead as If she expected blow"
"And her stepfather?'
"Grinaldo? Oh, he's Disappeared
We won't have any more trouble with
him, fancy There! I've bored You
with talking about myself. but IFS go