The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1920-12-01


0NE fine morning in the fun Lon
don season, Major Arthur Pen
dennis (retired on half pay)
came to breakfast at his accustomed
corner in his Pail Mall Club. His
were the best BACKED boots In Lon
don. His bun waistcoat. checked era
vat, spotless linen, white gloves, his
whiskers, his very cane were perfect of
their kind.
He seemed thirty years old, until
you saw the Fictitious nature Of his
rich brown hair and the crows feet
around the eyes of his handsome face
with its Wellington nose. His long
white cuffs showed the good sleeve
buttons given him by his royal high
ness, the duke of York.
Through his gold double eye glasses,
he reads his letters, one an invitation
from the marquis Of Steyne. one from
the bishop Of Ealing Ind Mrs. Trail,
last Of all, two others, one from his
widowed sister-in-law, and the other
from her only child, Arthur Penden-
mis-, Jr. The first begs him to "come
Immediately" to Fair Oaks, Clavering,
st. Mary's, Ito entreat, nay command
the "wretched boy" to give up his en-
gagement to marry Miss Costigan, an
actress twelve years the senior Of this
lad Of eighteen. The second from this
same lad beseeching his uncle to re-
move his mothers objections to his
proposed union with his "dear Emily"
a descendant Of the old Irish royalty.
the most beautiful woman in the
world. "A love like mine, sir" writes
young Pen, II feel is contracted once
and forever-I shall die without ever
knowing another passion"
The major, inwardly In a rage, rue
fully sends refusals to the marquis,
the earl, the bishop and other enter
tanners and takes sleepless and tir-
ing trip in the tight. smelly night mail
coach for Clavering.
On arrival Major Pendennis is most
affable to Pen and his mother. He
does not "entreat" or command" his
nephew but wins the boys confidence
and talks Familiarity Of his own noble
friends and the brilliant career he has
had In mind for Pen. The major then
'faces the enemy" Captain Costigan,
the half tlpsy imaginative old Irish
soldier. the father and protector Of
EMILY" To him and his beautiful,
honest but dull daughter. the major is
equally suave. Beautiful she is. with
broad brow, large melting eyes. black
wavy hair, white complexion, rosy
cheeks and the arms Of "venus.' u
Pen had come to see and know her
through Foker. a school friend, lad
homely and kindly, duh at his books
but bright In everyday matters, whose
father. the great brewer, furnished
him money and Lady Agnes. his moth.
er, social position. Verses Pen had
been writing to tho Greek goddess he
now dedicates to his new divinity.
Major Pendennis, as his next move
let's slip, In the presence of the Cos.
tigans, the fact that Pen has no means
beyond what his mother allows him
out Of her slender income. Costigau
is then indignant that Pen SHOULD
/ eAesNS AAsAN sAAO law ~ OAACA AAAnnCtA ~
his dear beguiled daughter" Pen can
not believe his adored Emily has
calmly thrown him over, until the Cos
ugans openly 'cut" him in the street
He almost dies, or believes he is dying
Of despised love. with all the symp
toms Of sleepless nights and feverisf
days, and Is scarcely consoled by hi
mother and little cousin Laura.
Laura IL I'VE years younger thar
Pen. his second cousin ON the side o.
his mother, who adopted her on tn,
death Of her parents. perhaps becaus,
Of romance Of early unmarried day,
with Laura's father.
| Miss Costigan secures an engage
ment at a London theater througl
Major Pendennis' influence. The mag
netic attraction being thus removed
EPen goes to "Oxbridge." Then through
Foker and with the majors encourage
)sent Pan makes rich and aristocrati