The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-09-21

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| 4 LBERT WHITNEY knew that h
n could not marry. He was sensd
bic fellow, on the whole, and realize'
that it would be sheer idiocy to ask
woman to share his hall bedroom.
Yet Albert was in love.
Every Sunday in church he sat op
posite Miss Gladys Pennington, AM
thought of her far more than he di'
of the sermon.
Miss Pennington's father was re
tired carpet manufacturer, with
tidy fortune, to which Gladys and he
brother James were sole heirs.
Albert was clerk in wholesal,
hardware store and, by hard labor
earned ten dollars a week. OF thi,
five dollars went to his landlady.
The moth sighed for the star, ant
Albert sighed for Miss Pennington
The moth and the star were hardly
further apart than Albert Whiting
and Gladys Pennington. Albert had
never spoken to her; she barely knew
that he existed.
What, then, were Albert's feelings
when, one day, after church, Mr.. Amos
Penningtonpompously approached him
and invited him to dine at his house
on the following Sunday? He blushed
like girl, and stammered out an ac-
ceptance. Fortunately, Mr.. Penning-
ton did not wait for more. The invi-
tation which meant so much for AL
bert to him meant only the discharge
OF rather disagreeable duty which
he admired himself for performing.
He would have been thunderstruck at
refusal. Every year he obtained
from the pastor of the congregation,
OF which he had long been senior
deacon, list of the young men who
were punctual at church and sum-
moned them to dinner. The good
man liked to encourage piety and be-
slowed invitations on these exemplary
young men in precisely the same spir-
1t with which he awarded prize books
for regular. attendance at Sabbath
school,"
The following Sunday, when Albert
entered the Pennington drawing
room. punctually at two he was sur
prised to find already there, besides
the host. his wife. his son and dauqh.
ter, Is black-coated individuals with
all OF whom he was pretty we'll >ac-
quainted. The assembly reminded
him OF special meeting OF the
Young Men union"
1t fell to Albert to escort Miss Pen
In to dinner. He, Door lad.
was overwhelmed with the honor.
He did not know that father Pennine-
ton, who exercised a strict superyi-
SION OF his daughters acquaintance.
had chosen him as the most harmless
and unassuming of the 16 young men.
Albert could think of absolutely no
remark with which to open CONVEX
'ation. Miss Pennington, entirely at
Ease, saw his bushes with more pitv
han wonder. She was accustomed
20 her fathers duty dinner parties
ma rather expected the guests to be
WED Mr.. Whitney's shyness smoke
n his favor, az a tribute of resnect
o her father. Mr.. Pennington had
brought his children up to strict oh
ervance of the fifth COMMANDMENT
III Is rather warm for the time Of
ear, quoth the young lady, break
ng the ice.
Albert raised his eyes and assent
q. ne would have done so had Miss
'ennlngton said that it was cold.
what nice eyes he has," thought
ne. 1t was unusual for Gladvs tn
office mans eyes. 1T was fr.yht-
uIly hot at the lake last August"
ne SAID aloud. II think it could i
ardly have been warmer in towns
IT wasn't bad in town, except IN
ne middle OF the day." replied AL
ert, bravely.
$50 you were not fortunate eno
De away on your vacation ?"
Aioert laughed. mo, 1 have nv
'cat'ons in November" 1t was then
ctober. 'A"
mat must be nice for shooting"
urmured Miss Pennington. vaguely 4
lou hunt, don't your"
~, - AeeiV, answered Albert
Ihere was another silence. Mis-.
ennington turned to her other
''ghbor Then Albert found cour-
e TO speak to his, a young man
nom he knew quite well.
"A November vacation was Hoh.,.
oice with Albert. Sometimes -
ace was active, he got none At all I
came last on the list of clerks 81
'oson's. But. when he could Ia
ankfully packed his bag and went
spend two weeks in the Wisconsin,
'ods with his only living relative a ,
'reat-uncle Morris was fond ~ ~.
y and good to him. His loo cah;n
d little farm would hardly sunnor.
e. and Uncle Morris held it the dmtv
every man to do his share - 49,
'rms work. Albert did what he
o'o for Uncle Morris. He bouph+
'aIi stock Of groceries and shipped
EN- ahead OF his annual visits ~ 8