The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-06-14

gelo's She went. time after time.
trying to solve the mystery OF the
money. She never saw the stranger
again and never noticed a figure fol-
lowing her within safe distance every
evening" person who smiled with
approval when he saw the thin shoes
and suit Of black replaced by substan-
tial boots, cloak and furs. And the |
straw hat had given place to little
fur toQue. What stunning girl she
was!
Two weeks later. Mildred found
$500 In the same way that she had
found the others. and a paper. please
use this Go back home"
The world was hearing a great deal
Of Avery Southern the next summer.
While he was getting rich in the city
Mildred and her mother we're getting
back strength and happiness In the
country.
One morning. as Mildred in a pretty
pink Bingham dress. closed the little
garden gate Of her mothers cottage,
a stranger crossed the road. He looked
familiar to Mildred. but she was al
ready late at the millinery store she
had opened in the village. and she
hurried away. All day over her work
she tried to remember where she had
seen him. but finally gave up.
The stranger. meantime. had on
tered the garden che had left and lift
ed his hat to Mrs Everly on the porch
When Mildred came home for lunch
con she found the stranger established
as a boarder in her mothers house.
1T Is only for two weeks. dearie."
! apologized Mrs Everly. Poor young
! man! He looks as though he needed
J. vacation, and you know how glad
we were to get out of the city. Be
e sides, 1t will be a little extra for US
I dearie."
d "All right, Momsy," Mildred made
q the best of 1t and tried to stop rack
ing her brains for the time and place
she had seen him before.
The first two or three days Mr.
4 Smith-Avery Smith he called him
\ self-was out great deal. appearing
\ only at meal time HE certainly doe:
not force his society upon u.s." com
mented Mildred on the fourth day.
little piqued at his Indifference. o.
the fifth day when he asked to wall
with her to town she gladly &C
quiesced On the seventh day h
walked both ways. On the tenth. !
was four times, including lunch time
After that he made the four trip
over the fields in the long summe
evenings. They watched the bah
moon grow big, and the time length
ened into nearly three weeks. Aver
Smith telegraphed for leave OF at
sence and got 1t, he said. But the da
| came when he must leave.
N Mildred had spoiled two hats tina
day and at last had given up. He wa
to call for her early and take he
81 home. Then he would leave on tn
, evening train She had put on he
J best white dress and her eyes wore
wonderful expression as she watche
=, ~ for the familiar figure swinging dow
the street She looked very beautiful
he Four, five o'clock came without hin
%. At half past five she locked the doc
he and walked slowly home. He mui
he have been delayed in the village an
would overtake her But she reache
ur- the little gate without sign of hin
he "Mr. Smith had to leave earl
ed DEAR" said Mrs. Everly. He got
he telegram. He said to tell you he WI
wo sorry and to say good-by. You al
led dreadfully pale. Are you tired?"
"A little. Momsy. but IL think
on is the heat"
os- And Mildred, have the things a
ao on the table for your supper. VI
ice don't mind eating alone, do you? l
De- missionary supper night at Mrs. tt
ior pens. Mr.. Smith paid his board. 1t
leo In the darning bag, in case Of hr
10 dear. Now do rest, you look SO tired
get And Mrs. Everly hurried away.
1m' Mildred flung herself into the hal
y mock and lay there motionless wit
out a thought of supper. The tea g
sne cold and the salad warm and still 81
'ui' Law. The shadows grew longer al
eek the snnbeams through the great oal
ne we're very yellow Then the ghost
lar a breeze sprang up the yellow bear
Oily faded and the fluffy clouds took on Il
as mink of sunset. Mildred, gazil
mo through the branches, suddenly Sc
ons the great red disk of the moon-the
moon,
ny With a cry she struggled blindly
her feet. "Avery-oh. Avery" g
ie' sobbed and held out her arms to t
in Soooe"
empty air.
Then something wonderful hs
.n,. pened. Two strong arms clos
on" around her and someone drew b
49, head to his breast my darling!
on. little girl! You love me. Say 1t,
~ love you better than my life! Yo
mother helped me to find out If =
..ao would miss me. And you do, dear
you love me?"
Tho "Yes-I love you, love you, swe
heart" she whispered as their
uew met.