The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-07-27

Let us go out | suggested, feeling
that something must be done to cause
a diversion; "even II we get wet, 1t
will be better than staying here"
So we donned our rain coats and
walked through the little village. with
It's modest frame dwellings and oc-
casional pretentious hotel, up hill
and straight out on a bluff overlook
ing the sea. There, isolated and alone,
was vacant cottage with q covered
veranda.
shall never forget our first sight
| of the ocean-all gray like the en-
veloping fog, except where the white
crested waves rolled highest, with
wonderful green shadows and Opales-
cent lights. AS we looked, the mist
lifted, the sun came out, and We saw
the vast Atlantic stretching away into
space, restless, awesome, and IRE
sistibly alluring, with it's vague sug-
gestion of hidden marvels just beyond
the horizon.
Elizabeth beckoned from the turn
of the veranda, which ran quite about
the house, and we joined her, speech
less with admiration. Evidently the
island ended here in a sharp point,
for while on one hand was the ocean,
on the other was water also. but
closely dotted with little green ISL
ands, gay with flowers and COM
fortable-looking houses. Just beyond
was the strip of land we knew to be
the border of the United States.
High above, upon the bluff, stood the
little cottage, commanding an unob-
structed view on every side. There
was an air of coziness about it, de-
serted though it was which made us
homesick in spite of ourselves. 1t was
built of shingle, now beautifully gray
. and weather-beaten, and had fascinat-
ing latticed windows and overhanging
= gables, with an outside chimney OF
, rough stone. Anything more unlike
the clapboard houses OF the village
e could not be imagined.
+ How l would like to get inside!
exclaimed Elizabeth, longingly
There amt no reason you can't
G said a gruff voice behind us. l almost
I lost my balance, but turned to meet
the intruder.
y He seemed entirely harmless, mere
ly an old man with door key, who
{ explained that he was the caretake
= and came up after each rain to b.
. sure that everything was all right
, SO we followed him eagerly.
If the outside of the cottage wa
l. attractive, the inside was irresistible
Is 1t consisted of a moderately large Ii,
I ing room with stone fireplace,
small dining room, smaller kitchen
three bedrooms, a bath and littl
square entrance hail.
y 1t was furnished, too. AS GABRIEL
= said modestly, it could not have bee
l. done better had we attended to it Ou
q selves There were large, comfortabl
Il wicker chairs and couches, upholstere
in chintz, chintz hangings, delightfl
i little tables, and, last, but not least,
I generous supply of the necessaries
life in the shape of bed and table lii
NJ en-, cooking utensils, table appoin
IN ments of china and plated ware, an
Nj in short, everything one could desir
N "Oh." exclaimed Elizabeth, after e
81 hausting her supply of adjective
how l should like to spend the sur
mer right here!"
/ "Wel," returned the care take
4 "the house is to let"
II 1t was the beginning of the end. v
all knew 1t privately, although we d
no more than casually ascertain tt
" rent; but Elizabeth cOnversed asst
II" with the old man, while Gabriel
NJ, ~ in f,,r mr. 6iCcO
cred a light arranged over the cou'
al where one might lie and read luxu
10 ously on stormy evenings.
EN- "Of course" said Gabrielle, as '
lei turned reluctantly away, lit is out
'ur the question for us to take it,
tly "Of course" we echoed; but Eli
lie beth added that the rent was rid
len ulously low, and l referred to t
lue view from the window and the utt
absence of vines or any sort of "
the dure. so necessary to combating h
ace fever.
ing We wanted to go back along
el1' shore as far as possible, so descend
a very steep little flight of steps lei
ter ing down to a small shed or DO
uld house, belonging to the cottage.
n! A woman stood on the little 81
m. looking out over the water. She turn
ned as we approached, and l recogniz
yes Mrs. Graham. The keen air b
red brought a little color into her ia
LED but her lips looked blue and pinch
ued and her voice, as she responded to
surprised greeting, shook uncontl
VIII lably.
go Il am waiting for my husband {
cad said. He went out early this mo
ana ing in his boat, and has not yet
on turned. Our cottage is just beye
ems the bluff, but I had no idea we W
IND, your neighbOrs."
the explained that we were at
ter hotel, and expressed the hope t
she felt rested after her journey,
I'M she had resumed her scrutiny of
item ocean and did not reply to my
OF Quiry.
tual (TO BE CONTINUED)
M Attn MICCI0|