The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-04-19
TheLost Invitation


skirts OF the town looking disconso-
lately on toward the frozen river.
where skating carnival was in prog
ress. At least, Lucilia looked at the
river, but Toms gaze stopped at her,
which was scarcely any wonder, for
Lucilla was very pretty. She was slen-
der and girlish-looking. with tne:y
chiseled features, a rose-.eaf complex
ION and quantity of soft yellow hair.
1t WIGS Tom who broke the silence.
do you suppose" he asked. in a hope
less sort Of tone, that 1t would do any
good II ignored this foolish quarrel
and went to your father like man
and asked him for your"
Lucilla looked at him with horror
stricken eyes. "rhat would be the
most foolish thing you could DO" she
said. emphatica.ly. Father would or
der you out of the house, and. worse
still. he would make me promise not
10 speak to you again.
"Weil. won't run any risk of that"
was Toms decision. do you think
there's the least chance of their max
ing 1t up?" he added.
mo, do not" Lucilla answered. II
had hopes until Christmas drew near.
Always a. long as my father can re-
member the whole Lawton family has
eaten Christmas dinner together. No
matter how much unpleasantness or
pickering were In the air, all hard feel
ings were put aside. and for that one
day. at least, We were united family"
weren't they good cd times?"
sighed Tom. Zone year the dinner
took place In our house, the next In
yours. Do you. remember the long.
snowy tables. the monster turkeys,
and how impressed We used to be al the
imposing sight OF all our august rela-
tives in their best bibs and tuckers?'
"lndeed l d." and Luci,la sighed
also. II did think that when Christ
mas day came that silly quarrel would
be forgotten. but when mother sent in
vltaiions to dinner to every member OF
the family but your father and mother
and you, and 1 learned few days
later that your mother had also sent
Invitations, leaving US out, l lost all
hope. Things will be worse than ever
after Christmas. for the people who &C.
eept your mothers invitations will be
in my mothers bad graces. and the
other way round. Oh, DEAR" Lucilla
ended. despairing:y. why cant rela-
tives agree any better?"
They're = jealous, back-bitinR.
small-minded set." cried Tom, in
wrath. ~and after we're married, Luz
ella, say we shake the whole lot, ex-
cept our fathers and mothers. It'sthe
only way well ever be able to keep
out Of hot water"
That would never do" declared Luz
ella, gently. I'VE should miss them
too much. In spite Of their quarrels
they think the world Of one another.
Don't you remember how good they
were to Aunt Emmeline before she
died? She needed 40 much attention
and was 80 peevish and unreasonable
that she could not keep q nurse. and
yet her relatives took turns at taking
care OF her"
Tom gave = short laugh. II guess
all families are alike" he said. "Wen.
wish they had deferred this affair
unit: after we were married; it would
not have mattered 70 much then"
NO." agreed Lucilla. II wonder WHY
that particular Invitation. of all you
sent. should have been the one to 20
astray." Az she spoke the girl turned
10 60.
Tom turned also. and the pair start
ed in the direction of the town, whose
spires and white cupolas were visible
through the bars branches OF the
trees.
"Tom." said Lucilla. turning sud-
denly to look 1t her lover, "are you
sure that invitation was m.iled?"
"Lucilla." replied Tom. solemnly, II
dropped It in the post Office myself.
And that reminds me. I'm due at a
this afternoon 10 discuss the
advisabi:ity OF putting up new town
hall. but l can't say that I'm wildly
enthusiastic one way or the other. IL
had homo here with you In 1t
could take lot OF interest in the town.
but As it is-if my IA th<r disown~ me.
as an afraid he will do after ] tel
him mean to marry you, " by, I'll have
(o 90 somewhere else to earn my liv.