The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-09-03

was very stupid of you not to. But II
is awful to think that / should have
struck you. You-you of all per
sons!"
Me, OF all persons" cried the girl
of the double negative. why do you
say such thing as that? l don't
know you from Adam"
Because, because" said Hepburn
wildly, Il love you, love you!
have loved you ever since saw your
picture last night, but it seems to me
now as II had always loved you"
The girl arose from the grass with
an expression of profound disgust
upon her features. Well, of all in
comprehensive things!" she ex-
claimed. you are certainly the most
impudent man ever saw. How dare
you say such thing to me? What do
you mean?'
q mean" said Hepburn desperate
ly, that l don't care what things you
say to me now, if only some time you
will marry me-"
The girl of the double negative
spoke never a word, but with tight.
shut lips gathered her skirts in both
hands and began to walk rapidly
away.
For over a week he saw nothing of
Miss Darlington. That young lady re-
NAMED in her room nursing a nose,
formerly of classic proportions, and
an eye which resembled a boiled
gooseberry, sunk deep in the brilliant
and varied hues of summer sunset
Her indisposition did not, however,
prevent her from inspecting that hor-
rid man" from behind her curtains,
and secretly commenting upon the
facts that he was certainly very good
looking, and that he took sly peeps at
her window as he passed.
Ii she had expected a repetition of
Mr.. Hepburn's former frenzied con-
duct when she again appeared in the
corridors of the hotel she was disap.
pointed. At first he seemed not 10
even see her. Then after they we're
introduced by a mutual friend, he
treated her with the grave courtesy
which happy instinct told him would
be most pleasing to young lady with
high regard for the conventionali-
ties of polite society
1t was only towards the close of the
season, and when preparations were
Deing made by her family to return 10
the city that, piqued by his indiffer-
ence, she began to unbend a little
They met often, then oftener, then
walked together. They discovered
that they had many points of interest |
in common, although photography was |
not one of them.
One warm September evening they |
walked upon the almost deserted pi- |
azza of the hotel in the moonlight and |
1t seemed to Hepburn that the hour |
was ripe at last. Ardently, but this |
time with dignity and decorum, he |
told her again of his love. Memories |
of that other proposal must, however. |
have returned to the lady's mind. for |
Sne drew herself up haughtily and |
said:
Il am surprised and sorry, Mr. Hen |
burn, that you should so have misun. |
derstood my sentiments toward you.
esteem and respect you, but / do |
not love you. l cannot marry you, but |
will be a sist-" Miss Darlington |
paused and blushed. 1t was the regu- |
latlon formula which she had rendered |
TO more than one callow youth, but it |
was too obvious a chestnut to offer to |
man of Mr.. Hepburns character
! and experience. To her utter amaze. |
ment, he seemed to entertain no sen.
satlon OF chagrin or disappointment.
instead, he drew her only half-resist |
ing form into his arms, and for the
second time in their short acquaint
ance pressed kiss Upon her brow.
f--- Again she intimated angrily, as she
had once before DONE you are GER
tainly the most presumptuous man I
ever heard of! Don't you understand
me? l said mol"
Hepburn's face beamed with joy
and satisfaction. MY sweetest GIRL
he said, gayly, repeating the oseula
ton, Il hear you. But don't you re-
member that you learned long ago
when you were in school that double
negative is always equal to an affirm
alive? This is the second time you've
turned me down. What other con-
clusion can drawn"
That evening, when the happy man
was again alone in his room, he found
in close proximity to the fateful' niece
of glass a letter placed there by the
bell-boy, and bearing a special deliv.
cry stamp. 1t read as follows:
Dear Hepburn-Did you take awav
: with the rest of the stuff you bouebt
of me last summer an opened hoy Of
D 4x5 dry plates? If so, for heavens
:. sake, return them at once. hone
you haven't monkeyed with and
e spoiled them. They were left here
y by young fellow-Billy Darlington
T to be developed, and he is rending the
), earth because they can't be found
: Wire If you have them Yours
SANFORD"
9 Hepburn smiled, with some concern
on his features, however. What a
careless fellow Sanford is" he said.
I Il always insisted that he woula 49,,