The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-03-02

me well enough-Tye been in love
with you for months, well'--ratber
eepishly-"for weeks, at any rate"
Teddy stopped short, conscious that
he was bungling the thing horribly.
Phyllis relaxed the tension Of her
limbs and slid rapidly to the bottom
Of the ditch. Her dress punched up
round her, and her chin, on a level
with Teddy's, rested on her two
hands
Her brain worked rapidly.
She must tide over this phase of
Teddys till he saw Dolly again; then
she would bring off something def
mite, and it would come all right
Phyllis endeavored to make her soft
blue eyes look hard; she failed utter
ly, however, from want of practice.
She also tried to smooth out her dim
pies, which she had frequently been
told were bewitching, but she only
succeeded, although she did not know
it, in pursuing up her red lips into their
most inviting shape.
Disaster must inevitably have fol
lowed, had not something inside her
suddenly given way. Her white teeth
showed themselves in a smile, and
then peal after peal of ripping laugh
ter broke from her, till her sides
ached and tears stood in her eyes.
Now, disdainful eyes, even absence
of dimples, is no barrier to loves ar
dor; but lover, particularly if he be
very youthful, can never survive ridi-
cule.
Teddy suddenly felt he had made
a fool of himself. Awful enough at
any time, but in the presence of a
girl-above ALL of Phyllis He was
furious with himself, furious with her,
he became more and more crimson.
Teddy. dear" Phyllis at last man
aged to gasp out, I'm really awfully
sorry; l wasn't laughing at you,
| but"
Perhaps you'd rather be getting
| back as you seem to find my pres
ence so odious"-a scrap Of eloquence
from the "Footlights," a college play,
in which he was to act in the ap-
preaching ommencement-came to
the aid of injured dignity.
Phyllis rose, shook out her crumpled
skirt and settled her Panama hat
"Oh, Teddy, you are funny" she said,
trying hard to recover her gravity.
Teddy helped her out of the ditch,
and strobe off, if one can be said to
stride in patent-leather pumps rather
down at the heels.
who's Teddy Randolph got up, I
say, old man; two fair girls and a
portly mammal"
The speaker, youth of blase ap-
pearance, lounged on the window seat
of a room, gracefully buoyed up by
numberless cushions He was scan
ming the brilliant kaleidoscope of sis
tiers, cousins and undergraduates
vending their way in light summer at
tire and shady hats about the cam
pus.
The other occupant of the room
who was ~laboriously picking out ar
air on banjo, ceased his absorbing
occupation and came over to the win
dow. Contrary to his custom, h
waxed enthusiastic.
why, they're the Misses Bletch
wood, of course, the prettiest girls Oh
the campus at the present moment. o
I'm no judge of fluff. Teddy's swee
on the little one, and their people eA
pect them to make a match of il
Jove, I'd give something to be in hi
q shoes"
n 'Oh, so that's the natter
Teddy, as host of two such prett
r girls. found himself the hero of tn
r hour. Thirdyear men, even senior:
i had suddenly become unbending an
u affable His own set We'd holly wit
Il each other in invitations and after
l. tons Teddy's manner was becomin
r tinged with the superiority born {
h success
d 1t was the day of the sophomor
IS dance, and his tickle allegiance r
l. turned in full force Teddy's b
y havior during the afternoon was e
e emplary He devoted himself to Mr.
If Fleetwood, arranging her cushion
S. and assuring her they were not in in
'e minent danger of twigs and spider
p How college does improve a your
sr mans manners" she remarked a
lie provingly to Dorothea.
n How much a few. weeks can accor
plish in young mans educatic
r could have been gathered from Il
in adroit manner in which he broacht
e. a certain topic.
r. Dolly was gazing pinkly into h.
S billowy parasol when, after pr
TX longed absence, they joined the
as party
le Nobody could have said" Teddy I
Ill fiected TO himself with considerab
satisfaction. as he was settling his
w for the dance. Nobody could ha'
ch said didn't take the thing coolly."
e, The only approach to hitch in L
d, proceedings had occurred when sh
I'd though merely for the sake of not a
ed pearing to let him have 1t all his ov
On way, had said demurely-
Are you quite sure you want n
he Teddy? Sometimes l have fanci
az that you were fonder of Phyllis
"phv1lis" cried Teddy "Of cOur