The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-03-16

M fact had not real
ly taken a square
Miss Dildack. look at this one.
whom malign fate and a careless
hostess had bestowed upon him.
+ he began, hastily.
Yes, you were" interrupted the de-
butante. Il don't blame you. 1t GER
tainly is hard lines to be planted over
here, while Miss Dildack is way down
at the other end of the table with
such horribly good-looking man be-
side her.
The man turned redder and sur
veyed the debutante with startled
eyes. She looked very young and in
nocent and innocuous.
See here" he began, sternly. with
all the dignity of his 35 years, how did
you KNOW mean"
How did l know you'd rather be
over there beside Miss Dildack than
anywhere on earth?" supplied the de-
butante with impish sweetness. why,
| saw you talking to her before dinner
and I've been watching you watching
her ever since we sat down. You see,
there was nothing else for me to do "
The man WINGED at this stab Il beg
your pardon, I'm sure" he said, hur-
riedly and stiffly. 1t is unpleasant to
be charged with rudeness, and even
more so when one knows the charge
is true. Il didn't mean to be absent
minded. Really, didn't"
That's all right said the debu-
tante, frankly. Il didn't mind the loss
of your attention in the least personal
ly, only l had to have it, you know
on account Of the others"
THE others?" repeated the man
blankly. He had forgotten to eat his
dinner in his interest.
The debutante nodded. 1T wouldn't
do she explained, Ito have them
think l was so stupid that bored you
and made you neglect me. You see
I'm building up my reputation this
month. Either I'm a success or In
not"
"Oh!" said the man. That's it,"
The more he reflected the more his
Indignation grew. Am l to under
stand, then" he began, in the tone Of
voice he usually kept for crushing PEG
pie of his own age and size, that II
made no difference to you whether
was actually interested in you or MOI
SO long as l acted as though l were?'
Precisely said the debutante
cheerfully. Her large blue eyes sur
veyed him with cool criticism. "Wh,
should it have been otherwise?" she
added as an after thought
The man swallowed hard. He notet
her little nose, which gave one the i'm
preston that it was pert when il
reality it was quite Grecian, and tn,
entirely lovely curve of her throat ant
neck. A mild rage seized him at he
imperviousness. Had not her better,
and elders trembled with joy at his ap
prOach? He was not particularly con
ceited as eligible men go, but ever.
eligible man knows his own worth.
Your ideas are most interesting,
he said, with deep GOODNESS.
The debutante smiled dimpllngly
You're not on supreme cour
BENCH" she said, land you only sa,
} that because you'd like to shake me O
} box my ears. Wouldn't your
Il should, indeed" the man SUI
> prised himself by saying fervently. "
l most certainly should
] She laughed out loud. do you al
, ways begin an acquaintance by hatin
: girl?" she inquired.
: 1t was confusing, because the MAJ
3 had had no idea he was beginning al
8 acquaintance. In fact, he had entirel
: excluded the debutante from his min
1 and, until her attack on him, he ha
9 not quite realized that she was there
! Back in his subconscious mind he ha
a expected her to eat her dinner like
+ good child and not bother him in hi
a melancholy meditations.
a Il don't hate you," he returned, il
b dignantly.
Il Thank you so much" said the de
}. butante. Then you are in the gras
i of an entirely new and original emo
ton, because you can't say that yo
like me-"
The man looked helpless and fel
4 awkward, which made him inward
rage. Then crinkle came about tn
debutante's eyes and of sudden sh
: and the man were laughing cheerful,
, gigglingly. He had not felt SO youn
since he left college. He observed tina
!. she really was mighty pretty girl
Miss Dildack is looking at you,
said the debutante with malice.
= "Who?" asked the man, a littl
blankly Say, do you know, | believ
- I'd forgotten all about her. I'd like av
fully well to continue this conveps;
!, ton of ours some day when we coul
!. fight things over without restraint.
!. Were at home Tuesdays" said tn
debutante.-Chicago Daily News.