The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-12-31

tINSty, active worker JnaJ ne kept
him, allowing him to go to the village
school with Mandy during the winter
and treating him as one of his house
hold. He was only two years older
than Mandy, and he said pa and ma
just as she did, and considered him
self lucky that he escaped parental
disputation.
Bout time Mandy was thinkin' of
gettin married amt it?" said Nathan,
one evening.
Married. That child' replied the
wife. Are you in such great hurry
to get rid of herr"
rid of her? Lor' no. I'll keep
her right here all her life"
'An' let her be lonely, spiteful old
maid! Nice future for a pretty young
grill"
Nathan smiled covertly.
Mandy is pretty" he said. IAN
I guess others see it, mother. C'rell
Newman can't keep his eyes off her at
meetin'."
"C'rell Newman!" repeated Mrs. AL
ger contemptuously HE needn't
make eyes at my daughter"
Whats the matter with him?"
Il don't like his family"
They're rich" said Nathan, who
was inclined to place high estimate
upon an extensive tract of fertile
land.
Him. 1 don't like the Newmans,
an Crell's wild"
Mrs. Phebe had her plans for Mandy.
but it was useless to breach them
then. She had not been visiting the
Manasquan store for nothing, when
she could buy goods cheaper in AS
bury Park. She knew why she al
ways took Mandy with her, and why
deep delight possessed her soul
when the proprietor's son, pale,
slender, light-haired young man, who
sat at the desk, peered out between
the wires that surrounded him and
forgot to attend to his accounts until
after mother and daughter had left the
store.
Arthur Gleason was dignified and in
tellectual, and his natty attire and
debonair air had made deep impress
sion upon Manasquan bellies.
Corell was really very fond of the
slender, golden-haired girl, and the
Newmans had always been known to
be very sot in their ways"
Young Gleason from New York was
a captive to 'Mandys fresh charms
also, and despite his languid effemin-
acy, he was not without a will of his
own. He had been a spoiled child at
home and used to having his way in
all matters. Now he was determined
that no Jersey farmer should triumph
over him
Frank came out Of the barn one dav
He saw blue skirt whisking into
the summer kitchen, which was used
only for storage purposes then. Walk.
ing up to the little square window he
peered in. To his surprise he saw
Mandy sitting in the little rush-bot.
toned chair near the table, with her
face buried in her apron. In an IN.
slant he was beside her.
Whats the matter, sis?" he asked
gently.
Mandy raised her tear-stained face
oh, Frank, I'm 80 wretched." she
said.
Pa and ma at 1t again?"
Its nothing new" replied the girl
hopelessly. you see what they're
trying to do. They think I haven't
got any feelings"
Which one do you like best?" asked
Frank, as he had done once before
i don't know, don't know"
walled Mandy. They're both nice
and they both want to marry me: bpt
If parry one, pa II disown me and
If l marry the other, ma II never
speak to me again. Oh, l wish I wa
dead!"
She covered her face with her apron
again.
There. sis, don't worry" said
Frank, stroking her ripping hair ana
trying to comfort her, Just as he usad
to do in the old school days. a wish
could help you. Come, let's talk a.
over" iA II
The next day, during 'Mandy's tenn.
porary absence from home, her a.
fairs approached a crisis. Arthur
Gleason and Corell Newman had
driven up to the Alger gate at tbe
same time and alighted together IT.
pleasant words were exchanged ana
Corell, who had been indulging the
Newman thirst, struck the storekeen.
er's son, whereupon young Gleason
had drawn his whip from its soctet
ana his opponent. whose whip VS.
at hand, had snatched a billet Of