The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-04-06
PEELED to return to his college with
out again seeing Lucinda.
that lutturr aAdvRGGed

Out 6x81u S<ci0B 1>oSAh40s
''If was said that letters addressed
to Lucinda in young Kandelrs hand
writing ca me after he went away. but
the postmaster, who WAS a friend and
sort Of dependent of the squire- saw
10 il that none Of them ever ached
her. FINALLY one of the letters re-
ceiyed after Kandel! had left the
piece, was returned to him. so I've
heard, with the notation across the
face Of il that the person 10 whom
it was addressed, was dead
1T was a cruel and wicked thing 4
to do. but such things will happen
when a penniIess student falls ia love /
with a naboD's daughter
Years passed. Squire Peek finally 1
died and then il was discovered tina. I
the most of his fortune had been /
wasted in unwise speculations- The I
big house on the Hill was sold. and
mother and daughter moved into
small cottage al the other end OF the
village A year later Mrs Peek died
fof broken heart, il was saic)- and
Z Lucinda was left alone in the worl>-
She was now 30 years Of age, and
q
sadness on her countenance. she was
still the handsomest woman in the
place, and it was rumored that she
had refused many fattering offers Of
marriage
We'll, ten years roEed around and
those of us who had been young once
were growing old. Lucinda among the
rest The savings bank had failed
that spring. business was almost at a
srandstill. and Eden Center was in
bad way generally. Right in the
midst of the stagnation a stranger
suddenly appeared IN town He was
a middie-aged gentleman with iron
gray hair and beard, and had the air
Of prosperous business man He
engaged board a. she hotel. saying
he was from California. and was look
ing around for some quiet eastern
: village in which 10 spend the summer.
: l told him / thought he would find
Eden Center quiet enough just then
: and he said, in sort of abzent-minG-
ed way:
Yes it does seem quieter than il
! used 70
for-?'. | asked. giving him a quick
look. and vainly trying to place him
He colored up and said he had
been thinking of something else
when he spoke, and the matter was
dropped.
Well. the first night he was there
he sat around. listening to every
word that was said by the villagers
who lropped in but taking no part
in the conversation After awhile the
crowd began TO discuss the bank
trouble. and one of the party said:
Too bad about Lucinda Peek,
isn't it? They say she lost every
cent she had by the savings bans
failure. and ii is only a question o.
time when she viii have TO give w
her cottage and go out to work fol-
: a living
, Before the sentence was fairly
: ended. the stranger was standing al
| the desk before me, with face white
as a sheet
For Gods sake. tell me quick,
he gasped-'is Lucinda Peek asivee-
why, of course she's alive. said
And her father and MOTHER h,
asked next
= They're both dead | replied
: And she no longer lives in the big
r house on the hiiI-in her old home ?
: he questioned eagerly
r NO said l; she is now living in
; a small cottage out near the
Excuse me for inrerrupsing.' hs
;, broke in inpatien'ly. Ny name /.
c Randell. l used 20 know Miss Peek
: l must see her al once. Have yos
; some one you can send with me Il
show me the way to her hou<ez'
4 Il called in Joe. my man of al
E work; and. by the way. Joe Is still il
e my employ. ana I think Id bette
2 let Kim tell the rest OF the story
v Stepping to the door opening int.
= the hotel storeroom. the landlorl
E sung out:
:. Here. Joe; come in and tell III
+ ladies and gentlemen what happeneI
I the night you showed the strange
d from California the way to Mis-
Il Pesk's cottage
: Well" began Joe. apologe tically
o as he stepped into the room. Il reck
Il on yen all be disappointed. becaus
there didn't anything happen wutl
n mert:onin' scarcely In the frs
n place. the gentleman didn't say
n word all the way to the cottage-jes
4 walked; that's all: an l had TO III
o purity nigh all the way to keep u
e with him.
% An when we got TO the gate. al
IS I told him that was the place n
le went flynn up the walk an bega
It knockin- at the door as if he wa
Is there on some mighty urgent bus
n ness In a minute or so. Miss Pee
10 opened the door. an | heard him say
c Lucinda, don't YOU know mes' al
;. she held out both hands an said
lie Why. its Henry" an the next mir
$ ute they were hangin' onto each 9th
Id er. laughin' an cryin' both at oac
he like pair of softies. an seen | Ia
he no further eixness there. SO 1 com
ar away an left EN-: an that's ali Their