The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-08-25
Their KIND
ASSISTANCE

FAMILY hotel where she resided. with
one accord the other women said
How entirely suitable it would be II
they made a match"
VI course, the fact that a marriage.
aDle man takes manageable woman
Tor pleasure outing does not nee
essarlly signify matrimonial inten-
tlons on the part of either. The resi-.
dents of the Crosses, however. were
lolloWlng the unwritten law to the eff
lect that man over 40 is not allowed
simple dallying, the prerogative of
seilsh youth, but must have serious
intentions if he seeks feminine SO.
ciety.
besides being middle-aged, Killing
ton was widower, which added point
TO the affair. He did not live at the
crosses, but every one knew of him
MS wealth, his real-estate business.
his aversion to automobiles and HIS
famous horses.
AS for Miss Perkins, she was such
handsome woman that it had ALWAYS
Deen a matter of curiosity how she
escaped matrimony. When she re-
turned from that first ride she was
met by Enthusiastically casual. I'm.
conscious smiles.
Such a lovely day for a drive!"
chlrped Mrs. Jones. I'D make him
take me again, Miss Perkins!"
Miss Perkins stood, tall and serene
her cheeks pink beneath the fluff of
her silver pompadour, a CLINT of
amusement in her dark eyes.
l shall, Mrs. Jones; 1 certainly
SHALL" she promised that matron
who delightedly spread the news that
Miss Perkins was going in for the af-
fair seriously.
EVERY woman in the hotel at once
jumped to man the guns.
Wear your gray! Wear your gray!"
Dreathlessly prompted Mrs. Smith. the
second time Rillington and his trot-
ter drew up in front of the Crosses.
You are dream in it, Miss Perkins.
with your hair!"
Mrs. Alberts tapped on her door
Just as Miss Perkins started forth.
Miss Perkins," said she, won't you
wear these corals of mine-with the
gray, you know-please dol"
A hand mysteriously beckoned Miss
Perkins as she smilingly passed down
the hall. 1t belonged to Mrs. Don
caster, who had the only three-room
suite at the Crosses.
Miss Perkins," called Mrs. Don
caster, when you come back why
don't you bring him up to my parlor?
You can just as we'll as not and it's
SO much pleasanter and more secluded
than the reception room downstairs 1
wish you would"
When later Miss Perkins babe RilI-
ington good-by at the curb and came
in alone the watching women groaned.
They agreed that she showed amaz-
ingly small command of the situation.
And 1 had put out all the family
photographs and made my parlor just
as attractive and homelike as pos
sible!" mourned Mrs. Doncaster. HE
boards, you know"
Miss Perkins remained provoking
ly cheerful and uncommunicative. She
betrayed none of the varying moods
usual to a person in the grasp of a
sentimental situation Once when
Rillington had not appeared for a
week the Crosses was nearly hyster- !
ical with repressed anxiety. That is, !
with the exception of Miss Perkins. |
The pink in her cheeks never wavered |
and she ate her full three meals a
day.
INDIGNATION o,rapy IN +bo ho,-4 "a |
the feminine boarders. With all their
help-proffers of corals, front parlors
and sisterly advice-she seemed not
to make any marked progress toward
the matrimonial goal.
Mrs. Jones, with a determined set
to her jaw, was waiting for Miss Per
kins when she returned from that last
ride. AS she told the other women,
If anything definite were going to hap
pen it would happen then, after that
weeks interval, which probably
marked lovers quarrel.
Welt" cried Mrs. Jones. playfully.
larting from her corner of the recep-
ion room as a spider dashes out for
is prey. We'll! Seems to me you
md Mr.. Rillington must have had a
OF to talk over. You were gone near.
Y three hours! Is-can't-that is,
when are VITO congratulate you, dear
Mss Perkins,"
The same amused CLINT came into
Hiss Perkins dark eyes that had long
fingered there.
"Now!" she said, gayly. Pm con-
myself, for I've got the
Iearest-"
In the artful pause Mrs. Jones
lasped her hand to her heart.
Dearest house on the north shore
GU ever saw" went on Miss Perkins.
Mr.. Rillington had a number for
ale and I've been all this time decid-
ng which one to buy! I'm tired of ,
oarding and want a home of my ,
wn!" ,
Mrs. Jones came to an hour later
And all the time. she murmured
eebly to herself, "all that horrid man
'as thinking of was the financial
rofit he was going to make! would
OF have believed it of him!"-Chicago '