The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-03-24

ness.
This cosy room, the luxurious fur
nishings, the fresh papers and maya
zines which justified the name OF IL
brary, were all his-aye, other equal
ly well-appointed rooms and prospec-
tive dinners as good as the one just
eaten; he who had scarcely owned
anything before but his clothes and
his tobacco-pouch!
And this good fortune had come to
him in his prime-for he was not half
through his third score of years, and
a man is still young at so, 1t had
come as a blessed bolt out of clear
sky, for who could have foretold that
Cousin Tom, who had dug his own
gold from Californian gullies in the
sweat of his back, would have made
John Mellin his heir?
Mr. Mellin soon became interested
in his neighbors. The lady in the gar
den hat who occasionally came from
the cottage next door was more than
passably fair. A backyard alterca-
tion between his dog and her cat one
day served as a slight introduction.
The acquaintance thus brought
about by Browser and Mouser
progressed as naturally as the grow
ing things of that early summertime.
Mr.. Mellin good-naturedly repaired the
rotting palings through which Browser
had made so rude an entrance, and
this time he was prettily thanked by
a lady in another style of garden-hat
and a lavender dress, apparently the
sister of his first acquaintance He
began to wonder how he had endured
his prosaic life before this interesting
episode,
Next, Mr. Mellin's good offices were
acknowledged by the presentation
through the lady in green-of few
choice flowers made into stiff pyra-
midal bouquet and tied with pink
cord. The gentleman was, of course,
pleased to return the compliment
to her in lavender-by a dish of
strawberries from the old bed he had
been so glad to find.
Then one day when Mr.. Mellin had
heard the sisters voices in the gar
den deploring windstorm which had
| broken down their Canterbury bells,
he was non-plussed to find himself
offering his services to a lady in a
neutral tint of gown and with brown,
uncovered hair.
Il have brought few stakes, Miss
Cummings" he said-for at least he
had learned the family name. IF you
will Just allow mech, no trouble at
all. Down, Browser sir! l think
your sister has spoiled him a little,
madam, with the bones. And neither
he nor l always know which is Miss
Cummings" With this explanation
he proceeded to make himself useful.
The lady laughed so gayly that he
was sure it was the lavender one.
Il am Miss Hope" she said. Call
my sister Miss Desire If you choose. "
And so throughout that charming
summer Mr.. Mellin grew daily more
interested in his fair neighbors, or
rather neighbor, for the two he never
saw together, nor ever quite felt he
knew them apart.
At last came an October evening
when an almost summer heat lowered
in the air, and large, golden stars
peeped through shriveling vines at
Mr.. John Mellin on his piazza.
A wooden screen at the end of his
balcony cut off the sight of the CORE
spending excrescence on the other
house, but gentle rustic of feminine
skirts had already been heard there.
on, bringing wild and daring
thought to the mind of the lonely
bachelor. If he only could-if he
only might-just make a neighborIv
call, and for once compare the sisters
side by side.
But now there was the sound of
china and glass adjusted upon a hard
table. The Misses Cummings were
evidently about to refresh themselves
in some dainty feminine way. It was
too late, even had he dared to venture
Suddenly the grave voice of Miss
Hope broke the mellow silence.
And, dear, we must have patience
to endure this as other trials over
which we have been so lovingly
guided, but l admit it is hard. some
retrenchment indeed we could hear
without complaint, but to think Of
leaving this house, this garden where
we have been so happy this summer
oh, it-is-hard. You have been spcb
a dear, good, patient. sester. such an
angel in all that we have been called
upon to bear; sometimes it makes
me feel very foolish when | think ~
your fortitude and courage"
The voice, which had begun with
such trustful exhcrtation, trembIed
more with each succeeding cIauso
finally breaking into stified sobs.
Mr.. Mellin, an involuntary eavas
dropper in the perfect Suiet of the
night, clinched his hands and gritted
hard his teeth, while beads of mois.
ture not directly traceable to the
neat stood upon his brow.
Could it be that she-tbev-waro
going to leave their home? Could a
be that next summer there would he
no neighboring with Mouser's swaa,
mistresses? impossible! InsuAar