The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-10-15

ApI oil instant. Inc WeuQlnS VIII
doubtless proceed. anyway" he sug-
gested banteringly.
"But-but you?'
Unfortunately. am unable to at
tend. l had expected doing so up to
a couple of days ago; but business
exigencies, you know"
Miss Rasdale looked at him with
wide, questioning eyes. "What-the
bridegroom" she exclaimed. as they
stepped aboard the car. Dear me,
what are We coming to?'
ooh, the bridegroom's all right,
guess-as bridegrooms CO." he an
swered, with an amused smile.
Il really don't understand"
Henderson laughed heartily. But
you would if you knew old Dick as
well as l do"
"Old Dick? But isn't that your name
Richard Henderson,"
ITO my everlasting sorrow, l must
confess it, We are, as it happens,
brothers children, and we both at one
time hailed from Pittsburg. You see,
it was pretty tough on me when had
to fall heir to all the bills and duns,
while Dick came in for most of the
good things. Still''-he smiled in a
way that made his gray eyes look very
! pleasant indeed-"I shall have to ad-
NIT that both of us enjoyed some pref
ty narrow escapes, to be exact"
Miss Rasdale watched the flying
buildings with an odd light in her
Irish-blue eyes. Her face had relaxed
! its tense expression, and a curious
little smile-the first for many day
! -fiickered about her lips. Somehow,
things looked remarkably changed in
the past FIVE minutes. But then, the
mist had cleared as though by magic,
and perfect flood of sunshine threw
its prodigal splendor of gold over the
earth
Soon the car slid to a standstill at
their stopping place, and in silence
they stepped down on the pavement;
down steep hill with quaint, white
washed fence running past-she should
never forget those details to her dy-
ing day-through several stuffy rooms,
and out onto a thronged platform
just in time to see the swaying end of
the last coach disappear below a dis
tant incline!
Miss Rasdale turned nonplussed
eyes up to her companion. There
you don't think there's another could
get in timer" she questioned family.
Not in time for the wedding-no."
"Heavens-what in the world shall
I do? I wonder when the train back
will leave here?"
Il could easily find that out for
you. But really, don't you think it
would be better for you to wait over
; a day? You knew my sister Anna at
school. She's married and living here
now. Shed be delighted to have you
: stop with her, l know Come home
with us, and let's watch the old year
die together? Surely that would be a
better way than travelling all night on
a disagreeable train"
Miss Rasdale hesitated. The pros.
pect was certainly alluring, but
Il don't intend to take no for an
answer. Wen just get into this car
riage that's driving up now"
She allowed herself to be led, with
out resistance. and helped to a seat in
the carriage, and without resistance
or regret-to be whirled away over the
} smooth gravel.
t Once, wnen she thought he was
! looking the other way, she stole a sur
reptitious glance into Henderson,
t face, but the quick look he flashed
i back revealed something in the gray
black eyes she could not mistake. and
i broke down the pretense between them
r all at once.
e Viola" he said, laying his hand for
T a moment over hers. after months of
u misery and silence and doubt-almost
c despair-Fate, it seems, has merciful
e ~ thrust you across my path. 1t isn't
! a day of miracles. and surely this
must mean something. I want you tC
7, tell me, here and now. the reason for
a your sudden coldness-the abrupt
n cessation of your letters-the return
d of mine, unopened"
g Miss Rasdale broke into a little un
n certain laugh that bore a swift sug
d gestion of tears in its transcience. -
d its too ridiculous" she jerked out
d coloring furiously. "but-but wher
# Maize wrote me that she was TO marry
n a Mr.. Richard Hen"
r Henderson laughed outright. Agar
6 the under dog!" He bent toward he
d suddenly then-so close that his warn
breath lifted the fine hair from he
IS temples. Viola he began pleading
It ly, after what has happened, W,
really oughtn't to take a second risk
# There is but one thing to do, ism
10 there, dear? We can be married il
d. time to see this uniucky old yea
pass out of existence, and go bacl
At home on our wedding trip. Dick might
a by some untoward chance. succeed ii
in getting annihilated in railroad
ID wreck, whereupon l should certainly
be called upon to husband his wild
ow-"
Ut Miss Rasdale had been staring on
Z of the carriage window at the rows o
whirling trees and cottages She