The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1919-11-05
For Better
or Worse.
Scopyrisht.)
y HENRY KIRK

AAoAhOA osOA1 sui AA tAbC AnAO6I VI
her wedding gifts. They were spread
about upon tables that lined three
sides Of the room.
There were little round boxes, and
large square ones piled with gljttering
things-in one a rope Of pearls, In
another a collar Of diamonds.
The girl to whom these things be.
longed sat very still and stared al
them. There was no light Of triumph
IN her eyes. no Joy Of possession that
one might think should be there. She
showed no satisfaction, no supreme
citation. She was almost a thing Of
stone.
She looked over them all as II they
did not exist. as II they were not even
thought Of, and the shining collar in
its velvet box threw no light into
her eyes.
A man who had been standing by
the window turned carelessly.
you'll have to send them back,
won't your he said. The girl did not
look at him. Miserable business, but
It's the thing to do. Wonder what
they'll say!'' He took up a sapphire
brooch. MRS. Olin winthrop! Mrs.
Olin will say, Thank heaven, can
use this again. =" The girl did not
move. For heavens sake, old girl.
why don't you look upw
my dear Fred, you will be good
enough to remember that this Is not
your weddlng!"
''N0r yours. either" the man laughed
~ don't see anything funny in
that!' =
'You know why you're going to do
itf'
Yes, know that"
@Well!"
And I'm going to do III"
whats all the fuss about, them"
a man with iron gray hair and
gray eyes came into the room.
'sTather, Wish you would insist
upon Fred being Z little more decent +"
She got up and went to the window.
The young fellow started after her.
marion. I'm not doing anything.
What's up7 l think we're all con-
eerned in this little strategy upon an
equal footing"
"What 10 it,"
Nothing, dad. I was only-trying
to-cheer Marion up little"
"You don't seem to have gone about
Il In the right way. Marion?''
sYss2'
'Coms here" The girl went to her
1htAer.
-Bayliss IL repeating his fathers
game. All day he has been at it
pushing me to the wall--and when he
has me there. making me 60 upon my
knees to him. Well, have you moth
INF 10 sayr'
The girl looked at her father with
cold eyes. -What may l say? 1 am
going to do this thing tomorrow. i
am going to deny him at the altar in
the presence Of my friends and his
friends cf the whole world. as far
- that goes"
ut Il your duty"
YES, father. and / shall not shirk
Il. For you-but what will become of
mo! What man would care to ask me
TO marry him after I had done such q
thing r.
Il say. Marion r.
SWELL. Fred Story, would your
Would you 80 to girl who had re-
FUSED man at the altar, shamed him,
Inundated him In the most horrible
manner possible1"
Ills father almost ruined your
father-nearly disgraced him! Is that
something to forgetf And the hate Of
that man 10 In his son. hate him
a. much as he hated me. The whole
Bayliss tribe-for fifty years they have
bean In my way. and this boy is doing
the same thing his father did-no,
enly trying to do It, for shall have
him where wish him r.
Don't get melodramatic, dad; you
know very well Billy Bayliss isn't that
bad, although its crude enough as It
=. Marion will turn him down tomor-
sew-then We will call 1t square. DO
you take this manr-Not on your life |!
Bling Nv Wedding ring thrown upon
aoor-Exit naughty Marion Story
amid the applause Of the gallery and
the Misses Of the opposing faction!''
Four girls came gaily into the room.
"Aarion." said one Of them, ave
brought the girls 70 see the things.
You've met my father; my brother
Tredf Aren't they simply glorious9
Just look ct this collarr
Miss Story waited in her fathers
drawing-room for the man she had
promised to marry.
he would come to her in moment.
with violsts or some other delicate
Offering.
Her romance with Will Bayliss had
begun six years before, when they were
little more than children.
The opposition Of their parents had
made little difference.
She had Loved this man with all her
thought, but now It seemed to have
given way to quite another feeling
Il was anything but the old tenderness,
Regret was there. and 1t was the re.
gret that woman might give to o
~