The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-05-05

news. oU O.
am SO sorry for young Mr.. Innes
II seems that he has made some fool
Isn enlargement that is ruining bie
prospects. His aunt is furious becanse
the match with Miss Mariner is off
and now Mr.. Ames. who had offorod
MN a splendid place in his office with.
ura"s MS offer because he thinks that
d young man starting out in a business
career ought not marry. 1t seems that
me "retched fellow is going to marry
the girl at once. | don't know ubo
sue is. His aunt thinks it is some no.
Of" "'naneu
jean was becoming hardened TO
misery, and this story did not capse
an attack Of faintness as Gertrude,s
mad done. But | must tell him - ooid
Jean to herself, despairingly. IT cant
iel nh go on losing everything. There
isn't much left but life. He's lost love-
and happiness and fortune and
career"
When Mr.. Innes asked her TO walk
aIong the shore in the moonlight she
assented, and started out with the
cheerful feelings of one marching to
execution.
miss Jean" said the man at length
I've been wanting to speak to Won
for a week, but you have persistentlv
avoided me-"
He's going to speak of it himself
thought Jean in an agony of shame.
he walked on for a m in
silence. No doubt it was hard to be.
gin. At length, he said abruptly. ~
wanted to ask you to marry me"
oh! how dare you! How dare
you!" cried Jean furiously. How
dare you ask me after what has hap
pened?"
ooh! you mean those stories about
my engagement. That needn't trouble
you, it isn't true"
Don't you think I know 1t isn't
true when it is you and I that they
spoke Of"
1 hoped that you hadn't heard the
name of my supposed fiancee. Not
many people seemed to know, though
| had not heard it myself. I can't
imagine how the story started.
think it must have been a case of
thought transferance. You see. I'd
been thinking of that particular thing
a great deal, and some of those ami.
able old ladies who sit on the hotel
veranda have nc thoughts of their
own, so they gathered up mine which
were floating about loose"
1T was / that started the story"
said Jean in a hollow voice. mo. don't
speak. Let me tell you about it. A
man asked me to marry him, and he
said such persuasive things, and
wouldn't go away, and l was afraid I'd
say yes though l didn't want to. So I
old him there was some one else. and
lie thought l meant you, and l let him
20 away without telling him the truth.
Oh! it was a disgraceful lie! 1 don't
you to forgive me ever.
'ught to have told you at once. but I
couldn't. l was going to tell you to.
light, though, and that's why I came.
m so sorry. 1 only hope mother will
axe me home tomorrow, and you
lever need hear of me again"
Il don't see anything in all this that
should distress you," he said. He was
a tender amused smile at the
confession, though she did
lot look up to see it. 81 wish l dared
lope that your suggestion to Ted
to the mar you spoke of-had a
spirit behind it. Since we've
10Th thought of it can't you make it
rue, dear Jean?"
Don't speak of it again." she said
n her coolest manner. Its just your
exaggerated idea of honor that makes
on think you ought to protect me.
deny it. You can't possibly care
me when I've ruined your life.
'es, it is ruined. You've lost the girl
on love, and your fortune and your
areer just because of me-"
l hope I'm not going to lose the girl
love-" he said gravely.
Il mean the n your aunt was
ngry about" she said falteringly.
"Oh!" he said, my aunt and l never
greed about that. You see l met you
lie first day we came here. And if
troubled about Aunt Caroline's
.sinheriting me, pray do not give it
lother thought. She does that every
Iree months. When l introduce you
that mysterious girl 1 shall be re-
ored to favor. It's the truth because
lie has already expressed her admir-
ion of you. But of course, 1 couldn't
lie that golden moment to tell her
at you were the girl, for l wasn't
ire of it. And that fussy old Ames a
d say he didn't want me, but 1 was G
Their fishing for a dismissal there. |
ID had a much better offer a few /
US before. l threw the news of the
gagement credited to me in his way.
rs there anything else, Jean?
mt you think you have been over
n%scientious? A man wouldn't spend K
moment considering those things W
len it was a question of winning
H."
Obi" breathed Jean, afraid to &C. y
pit such unlocked for bliss as C solu.
- H.