The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-02-08

laid this time. perhaps a little moro
stress on the "at last" She must nave
noted that fact, for she biusneu' i0u -
the strawberries she began 10 'ulH
over with a critically poised lork'
"And did you come down alone'
Vernon went on. ,,
mo not exactly" said MISS
Greene. MRS. Overman Houge-h"'
throp, and, believe, several
Mrs. Overman HodgeI.athrop!
81 think" said Miss Greene, "tha'
she sits somewhere behind. ine'e
was a twinkle in the eyes she lllteu
for an instant from her berries.
Vernon scanned the dining room
There was Mrs. Overman hoose
I.athrop. in all her-and yes, beside
her. sheltered snugly under her ail-pro
tecting wing, was Amelia Ansiey!
They we're at long table, Mrs. over
man Hodge-Lathrop at the head, ana
with them half dozen women, severe
and most aggressively respectable.
They sat-all of them-erect, pecklhs
at their food with distrust that was
not SO much a material caution az
spiritual evidence of their superiority
ito most Of the things with which tney
we're thrust in contact every day.
Their hats scarcely trembled, such
was the immense propriety OF their
attitudes; they did not bend at all,
even to the cream.
Vernon, who was taking all this IN
at a glance, saw that Mrs. Overman
Hodge-Lathr was severer than ne
/ had ever imagined it possible for
women to be-even such woman as
she. He would not have been sur
prised had he suddenly been told that
her name had acquired another n.y.
phen; certainly her dignity had been
rehyphenated. There she sat, with
her broad shoulders and ample bust,
her arms jeopardizing the sleeves of
her jacket.
1t was the most impressive break
fast table he had ever seen. 1t might
have given him vision of the future,
when he should have secured for WON.
en- all their civil and political rights,
and the nation had progressed to fe
male lieutenant generals, who would
be forced at times to dine in public
with their STATS. But he had no such
vision, of course; the very spiritual
aversion of those women to such q
thought would have prevented it, &C
Guilty.
In point Of fact, his regard in an In
slant had ceased to be general and had
become specific, having Amelia for Its
objective. She sat on the right Of hel
commander, rather timid aide; ant
she seemed spiritually to snuggle more
closely under her protecting shadow
with each passing moment. Sht
seemed to be half frightened. and hat
the look Of little girl who is about tt
cry. Her gray figure, with its hat o
violets above her dark hair, was, OF
the instant, half pathetic to Vernon
She sat facing him, her face downcast
There was no conversation at tina
table; 1t was to be seen at a glanc
indeed that among those ladies' Their
would be need for none, all thing
having been prearranged for them
Vernon noted that Amelia seemed t.
him more dainty, more fragile thai
she had ever been before, and hi
heart surged out toward her. The,
she raised her eyes slowly, and he'll
him, until from their depths sh
stabbed with one swift glance,
glance full of all accusation, indict
ment and reproach. The stab went t
his heart with pain that made hir
exclafm. Then perceiving that tn
complicating moments were flying h
rose hastily, and with half an apolog
to Miss Greene, he rushed across tn
dining room
(TO BE CONTINUED.)