The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-04-20
Redeemed slightly. "Under the guard.

"All women are the same to him."
J tinued Arbuscula, recovering herself
What is the difference between you
and me? A wedding ring"
And all it symbolizes," rejoined my
wife, softly.
That's house on fifth-rate terrace
with only one stop-cock for eight of We,
and the lady next door cuts off the wa
ter when she has had a few words with
you over the hedge l know it!'
sneercd the other.
20, it symboizes more" said Edith
but her tone was weaker; the thrust
had gone home, for the study of hy-
1rostatics had been forced upon us of
late.
And what is that, pray?" demanded
Arbuscula, insolently.
10 explain would be to insult your
intelligence and yourself" replied
Edith. Beat in carte, lunge in tierce!''
thought l.
20, I'm not thin-skinned!" laughed
Arbuscula.
y made allowances" rejoined my
wife.
Arbuscula's lips became a thin line
OF scarlet. Then they parted, and she
smiled. l knew that she had always
possessed most unfeminine sense of
humor, but I was not prepared for its
assertion at this supreme moment.
he two women stood looking at each
other across the table. Arbuscula's
dazzling smile lighting her face, my
wife's pale, yet never so beautiful I
thought. though now, enlightened by
the contrast, | noted lines of anxiety
which had been creeping there during
the past months, and violet shadows
under the sweet eyes. The other gath.
cred up the letters and began te
shuttle them as one would a pack
cards.
You are dying to read them!" she
said
My wife's voice said NO." her face
was not so explicit.
Here's one-it's poetry" continued
Arbuscula. at was written for stays
l invented, the Arbuscula busk-you
might have heard of it?'
mo, it must have been before nv
time" said Edith. innocently.
Possibly you came rather late in the
day." retorted the other.
but came to stay!" answered nv
wife.
Arbuscula laughed. Edith put her
hand upon the bell.
"You. surely, will not compel me p
she said. II have been very patient"
You'll want all the patience you have
in the good time coming rejoined the
other.
And you, what will your future be
without patience?" asked Edith.
My future can take care of itself"
cried Arbuscula, laughing a LAUGH.
short as the snap of a breaking sword
blade. I'm a woman with past, the
sort morality humbngs chatter about;
but If had future. like you, by c.,
ia try to get something better than tho
butt end of a roue!" "Using the hilt."
thought l.
Ny wife laughed gayly now. "You
know the old adage," she said, ''the best
husband is a reformed rake. Mems fol-
lies often serve as beacons to guide
them Fast the other shoals and shall
lows of life. Experience enables them
to appreciate things-it is good light
for man."
And useless one for a woman" an
swered Arbuscula. with a sudden
change of tone; "it's like the poop-light
which shows the foam upon the reef
that has just torn the poor ships side
out-much good, when the masts arc
going by the board"
She gathered the letters together;
whatever had been her purpose in com
ing, | cou.d see her grasp upon it was
gone. Catching at that moment the re-
lection of my own face in a mirror or
posite. Twas so i'll pleased by the sight
that | stole downstairs, hearing an
other hacking laugh and the tinkle of a
bell as went.
l returned to the garden and COM
menced to patiently dig up the border.
presently Edith came out also, with
an armful of plants she began to sort,
singing cradle song I much admired
the while.
went over 70 her. 81 got these
carnations up said; "but, for the
life of me, l can't say which is
which,"
She ran to the border. "Ah. you
took far too much trouble. dear" she
said, softly. Sand after al your labor,
TOO. I'm so sorry!" She pressed my
arm, and the touch covered more than
the words.
But the line was not straight" I
answered. averting my eyes,
We'll draw straighter one, now,
you and l." she whispered.
| passed my arm about her waist and
kissed her. She put both her own
around my neck
MY wife!" said T.
You old goose" she whispered, BIT
ing my ear. 81 saw you all the time!"-
Black and White.
sweetest Love Story In Literature