The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-02-18

her weeping aunt. And then, in the
act of turning away, Challoner fell
lifeless at their feet.
Is luck would have it, that day
Tom Everitt came down to see now
his friend was getting along, and ne
was just ~alighting at the door
Perciyal Challoner was carried in in
sensible.
When Challoner came to his senses
and saw Everitt sitting beside him
he experienced no wonderment; it all
seemed the most natural thing in the
world.
How is she?" were his first words
tremulous with terrible anxiety.
"All right again." was the reassur-
ing reply.
Thank Cod" Challoner murmured,
and Everitt marveled to see tears
stealing from under his friends closed
eyelids.
But in a moment Challoner dashed
them away, opened his eyes wide,
smiled and attempted to sit up.
Everitt kept him down with a
strong hand.
mo, you DON'T" said he. "The doc
tors coming back presently and he
left strict orders that you were not
to be allowed even to si- up until to-
morrow"
But old fellow, I must! You
don't know"
81 can guess" said Everitt dryly.
"But there's no need to get up on
that account. Miss Winthrop is none
the worse for her late experience, but
1 hear she will not leave her Dol
again today"
Challoner was silent for a moment.
then he said:
Tom, I want you to do mt a IA
vor."
Anything in reason, old man..
Then go and order by telephone
three dozen American Beauties-do it
now and they'll be down on the six
o'clock train. And give me a sheet
of paper and a pencil. l won't sit
up, but l must write her a line-be-
fore the doctor m and forbids me
doing it,"
But no answer came to Challoner's
note of solicitous inquiry, and he pass
ed a restless afternoon. At night the
roses came, and Everitt himself had to
see that they were promptly delivered.
Half an hour later, as he sat in Chal-
toner's room reading by dim laInplight,
there was a knock, and Everitt went
to the door.
What is it?" asked Challoner Ian
guidly.
"It's-it's those COMPOUNDED roses
and a note!"'
"a note-give it to me-" cried Chal-
Toner. Quick, Tom, bring the lamp"
And-doctor's orders alike UNDECIDED
and unremembered-he sat up in bed
and eagerly tore open the envelope.
This is what he read:
Mr.. Challoner: They tell me you
saved my life. 1 annot think so. L
know l was in danger. 1 thought you
had come to help me and for one moment
1 regarded you as my savior. Then with
a hardness of which a brute would be in
capable, you struck me in the face. You
coward! You pretended solicitude is
useless now. l shall never forget. l hope
never to see your face again.
MARGARET WINTHROP.
Everitt read it and whistled softly
to himself.
We'll, what are you going to do?"
he asked presently.
I'm going to see her. said Chal-
Toner, already half out of bed.
mo, you're not-not tonight" said
Everitt, pushing him back again. you
can't force your way into her room
when she refuses to see you. Wait un-
til to-morrow-she can't avoid Won
then. Besides, by tomorrow she'll
see things in a more reasonable light. -
Then give me paper, a card, any
thing, and Challoner wrote:
You do not understand. Let me see
you and explain. 1t is not as you think
Nothing could be more unjust. more cruel
than your letter. Don't judge me harsh
y I you hear my explanation. and
then pray you will forgive me"
Five minutes later this same note
was returned to Percival Challoner
and below was added just these words
Forgive you? Never!"
1t was nearly daylight before Chal.
loner fell into an neasy sleep. He
awoke about noon to learn that Mar.
garet Winthrop and her aunt had
called to inquire as to his condition.
Notwithstanding the doctors orders
Csalloner hurried into his cothes. and
although his head ached badly. made
his way to Miss Winthrop's home
Everitt had been there before him
and after lengthy i~ntercession and ex.
PLANTATION of his friends seeming
cruelty in striking her, and showing
her that to that one blow she could
lay her present existence. the fact
dawned upon her that she was entirely
wrong and that she owed her life 70
the heroism of Percival Challoner
Margaret flushed and half arose
from her chair as he entered. Mar.
garet' dear" he said, surely Won are
not angry? You were in danger Of
death and what did was only r. sava
he girl | loved.'
She had turned away from him and
he could not see her face. She mada