The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1919-12-31
Love and Breakfast
By SHIRLEY MONROE

~ 4S4Ss " ASSAOIOA ~ WOp0poE Ot00aSosSsS
While the dew was still on the
grass and the sun not yet full-Orbed
over the eastern hills, there came
down the steep, narrow path which
led, between thickets OF sweet fern
and bayberry. to the pebbly shore be-
low. q maiden fair as any queen of
fairy tale fame. Her slim little frock
seemed to have. borrowed its color
from the rosy dawn.
A wandering ray Of sunshine found
her hair and transformed It into a
crown Of fine-spun. virgin gold. Her
daintily shod feet appeared to barely
touch the ground, yet they brought
her quickly down to the beach. There
abe threw wide her sun-browned arms
and took long breaths of the sea-
washed air.
Everything Is perfect this morning
yes. everything!" She spoke aloud.
A kingfisher successfully camOufiaged
against the rain-bleached limb of
dead tree near by turned startled
eye In her direction for the thousandth
part Of an instant, perhaps, then con-
centr1ted again on the sparkling water
beneath him.
The girl looked at the tiny jeweled
disk bound to her wrist. She seated
herself. carefully smoothing out her
frOck that 1t might not be wrinkled,
and. picking up handfulls Of the shin
ing pebbles. let them trickle slowly
back to the ground, talking to them
meanwhile.
Her happiness was Of the sort that
demanded expression. and at first
glance there was no animate thing
nearer than lonely osprey which cir
cied high over the bay.
So the pebbles and sedge grass
heard her wonderful news-a tale as
old as the spectacle Of the dawn, yet
ever ms new and marvellous to one who
experiences It for the first time.
Only the evening before had 1t hap
pcned--the mlracle--when he had
taken her into his arms and of a sud-
den 1t had come and she knew that she
hVed him! It would end In marriage,
Of course but she didn't want to think
Of that now, only of the utter perfec-
ton Of her prince and of the beauti-
full. beautiful world. which was such
happy place to live in.
On parting they had agreed to meet
on the secluded beach, out of sight OF
the hotel, before breakfast. She had
anticipated the time set. for the night
had been sleepless and the glorious
morning called. But at any moment
now, there might come the sound Of
footsteps down the narrow path.
Instead Of q sudden step there was
a splash in the water few feet from
shore. Tie girl turned In time to see
fountain Of rainbow-hued drops and
emerging from 1t gray bird with a
white collar around his throat, carry
ing in his beak small silver fish. The
bird flew straight back to his perch on
the rain-blanched limb Of the old dead
tree, swallowed his booty and resumed
the watchful waiting.
"Why--you horrid thingw exclaimed
the girl, startled from the tale she
was relating to the shining pebbles,
ITO eat up that beautiful little fish who
wasn't doing you one bit of harm
aud on glorious morning like this,
when every living creature must be
filled with Joy at being alive!"
In the sedge grass, a few feet away.
q lump which she had taken for a
brown stone moved cautiously for
ward, step by step. There was an in
describably quick motion of sinuous
neck, a glitter of silver, then lump
moving down the long throat as some
thing was hastily swallowed. 1t took
hut an instant for the tragedy; the
murderer resolved again into brown
stone, ceaselesly watching its chance,
In disgust the girl turned her back
on the kingfisher and on the marsh
hen and, after fleeting glance up the
steep path, turned to the sparkling
waves breaking almost at her feet.
At least there was one creature on
that beach who could enjoy the fair
beauty Of the morning without think.
ing eternally and only Of eating, she
sOliiOquized. Something grOtesque and
horrid of form was moving sideways
and with difficulty out Of the water
with one ugly claw it was pushing be-
fore 1t an object almost as big as It
sele, which feebly struggled.
As the girl gazed, fascinated. the
thing took great mOuthful Of its lfv
inR prey in its free claw and crammet
It into its mouth. 1t was only thai
common occurrence, one crab eating
with relish, disabled brother; but t.
the girl looking on there came I
nauseating revulsion Of feeling AMI
she stoned the cannibal till he droppet
his victim and scurried away.
.How perfectly awful! Why. n
never eat another crab as long az
s liye-they're too disgusting. Nor an
other fish, either! Poor things; the.
have enemies enough! Oh, why nee'
such cruel things happen in such
beautiful worldf"
A loose pebble rolled down the path
announcing the swift approach Of an
other human to the secluded beach
The girl leaped to her feet; strOn