The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-03-10

perlnns little woman, with the dear
est, brightest smile and the warmest,
kndest heart as its motive power.
On this particular morning she was |
eating her breakfast hearty, com |
Portable one, with the various courses !
within easy reach Of her ten active (
maids, the fingers.
Pa sent up the letter, seems you
don't come TO the Office very often"
said small voice, following a timid |
knock, which Miss Almeda had not
heard in her absorbed attention to her
breakfast, and little Tommy Tinker
laid an official looking letter, ad-
dressed in typewriting, beside Miss
Almeda's plate
We'll, Welt" she exclaimed, taking
It by the corners and peering at it
suspiciously, as If suspecting dyna-
mite. Who can have written to me
in machine writing?"
Miss Almeda read the letter, her
brows knitting and her lips pickering
with the surprise of the most remark
able communication she had ever re-
ceived.
Well, do declared" she said. at
length in bewildered tone. Who'd
ever although it?"
The letter told of the death Of an
eccentric old relative, who had not
only died, but had left her sole heiress
OF large property.
There it was in plain language the
copy of the will. Il will and bequeath
to my step-niece, Almeda Brown" but
the interesting clause followed later,
convinced that she will make of it
good and humane use. instead Of
throwing it away on fripperies and
nonsense"
She went about in a dazed sort of
way all day, and not until evening did
a definite plan of action suggest itself
to her bewildered mind.
"Tll go down to New York on
visit to Cousin Arson. I've always
wanted to see the city, and Jane and
used to be real chummy together when
we were girls. Arson is my cousin
on pas side, and there can't be any
feeling about the will, because Uncle
Jeffries was connected by marriage on
mas side of the house. Arson is a
real good business man I've heard, and
l need his advice"
A week later and Miss Almeda was
taking her breakfast in New York, at
a most unearthly hour, according to
her country notion, and with unaccus-
toned splendor, though when the ele-
gance was sifted it consisted mainly of
silver and cut glass, with several very
prim servants, who eyed the visitors
up country" ways and dress with
curious interest
"Of course you will come to town
now and enjoy life" said Cousin An
son. after the last course was served
and the three were alone. You have
been mewed up in that little country
town altogether too long"
When we have urged you so, again
and again, to visit US, added Jane re
proachfully. Cousin Almeda with a
fortune was a very different person
from plain, penniless Almeda, although
! Jane herself did not realize the dis
tinction which had so suddenly arisen
and believed herself really sincere.
Miss Almeda smiled, after knitting
of the brows for an instant in an ef
fort to remember; after all 1t was
pleasant to be so warmly welcomed
and she would not harbor a cynica
: thought. Il haven't quite decided yet,
, she said slipping her coffee and won
dering II she could ever become recon
l. hot I cus
come to consult you about, Arson.
r want to look around and make up m!
mind leisurely as to my future
: course"
+ Cousin Jane was skilled in the ar
of polite entertaining, and she CAV,
! a tea and a musicale, a correct ant
stately dinner party in honor of tn
+ guest. at all Of which AFFAIRS Miss A
+ media was introduced to so many pee
4 pie that she felt as if there was
wheel in her head, buzzing out name
unfortunately.
She was beginning TO weary of cit,
- life. and to long for her little brow
cottage. with its newly-shingled root
and the simple compRnionship Of he
r cat and dog.
!. In the succeeding days Miss A
media saw more OF the city's povert
and suffering than she had dreame
Of as 8 possibility. but somehow tn
wretchedness of the poor. touching q
IL was. did not appeal to her as di
the dumb, animal life Of the great cit!
The CALLED and goaded horses strul
Cling along under loads far too heav
for them, which everywhere met he
view. touched a very tender chord
her heart.
She could have wept for very pit
as she saw them hauling great van
heavily loaded street cars, huckster
wagons, with patient, gentle eyes to
often turned toward brutal drivers
mute appeal, and she thought Of thel
In the bitter tresdmill of this rushin
city life. with never a taste of tn
green pastures their natures wer
made for. never a roll on the coo
green earth, spread abroad so LIBERAL
outside this wilderness of brick an
n. mortar