The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-08-24
Our Parents
Wishes
BY K. RAY BAKER

"Do you think We were made for
each other, FredY'
Fred HamiltOn'S lip curled in scOrn
Hardly. l have never thought SO
except back in our school days,
when l used to carry your books and
share my jawbreakers with YOU"
Eva NARROW adjusted a bouquet Of
roses in vase on the table.
"Then why carry on this farce any
longer! It's making us both miser-
able. We don't love each other; in
fact, it's quite the reverse. For one
thing, you're terribly selnsh and there
are other things about you that do
not like"
Thanks for the compliment" he
said dryly, rising from the chair in
which he had been seated. Perhaps
am selfish, but remember am an
only child. To be frank, have much
the same opinion about you"
She lifted the vase and inhaled the
| fragrance from the flowers.
Thanks for the compliment" she
Knocked. perhaps l also am selfish,
but remember l, too, am an only child.
It's nice to have an understanding
isn't it? 1t appears to be mutually
agreeable for us to disagree"
Decidedly" he acquiesced. 1T was
foolish for US to become engaged in
the first place."
I'VE wouldn't have" she reminded,
III it had not been for our parents.
Just because they had all been friends
they tried to settle our destiny for US.
1t was all right when we were chill
dren, but since we've grown old
enough to reason for ourselves it's diff
ferent"
"You are right. We have been keep.
ing the affair going simply because
our parents wished 1t. 1t was not a
question Of love or money, because
both Of US are comfortably fixed, you
with the money your father left you
and with my prospecting business.
was simply honoring my parents wish
but if they were alive they would no
insist on it, am sure"
"As I feel the same way. about 1t
We will call it quits then,' said Eva
and that is what they did.
When Fred left the apartment oc
cupied by Eva and her aunt he wa
not In the best spirits imaginable. l
was not pleasant to be called selfish
even by a girl he did not love. ID
leaped into his roadster and drov
down town.
? Selfish, was he? Well, perhaps sh
was right. Come to think OF it, h
never had gone out Of his way t
. tighten anyone's burden. Still,
! wasn't necessary for Eva to pick MI
3 to pieces that way.
9 Down through the congested street
he drove. unable to shake off a feelin
he could not quite analyze. He wa
as glad to be free of Eva as she wa
$ TO get rid Of him. but that remar
n about selfishness ranked.
He had been driving abstractedl
= when of sudden cry distracte
l. him. A big touring car ahead ma
l. come quickly to a halt, but as abrup
;" " It started off and disappeared. jar
ming on the brakes, Fred managed
avoid striking a small, huddled huma
form on the street.
le He looked with feeling Of cul
to osity for a moment He did not thir
of mingling with the crowd tn
N rushed from the curb and hover
about the huddled form. 1t was
concern of his, was his thought, UNI
suddenly the trend Of his recent rec'
lection flashed back to his min
,e "You're terribly selfish" were Il
Ia words that echoed in his ears, al
they prompted him to leave the c
on and Join the GrOup.
A man held the limp form IN
arms. Fred recognized the pale Ia
as that of a diminutive newsooy
n,liar to this busy corner.
"Poor KID" said the man. "Ih
big car hit him and hurried avn
what had I better do with himT'
"Take him to Doctor Wilson's ON
across the street." Fred directed. -
he there as soon as park my car
When Fred entered the office
nov was lying on lounge. lookl
.hout with wide, inquiring, timorc
l. eyes.
HE ought to be taken home
once" said the doctor.
The boy looked up wildly.
,. "No-no!" he exclaimed In a pia
tive little voice. II can't 60. have
~ sold nv papers-my papers! VIII
are they!" .,-
"That's all right" said Fred. 60
m with me and III take you home
have the money for your papers ri
here. You see, II sold them
you" =,
The lad lived with his father II
howell in the worst part OF the c
/ u The father was an invalid. and 1t
his necessary for Little JIM as ne an
tch tionately called his son, to get OUT
earn their living. The Invalid wa
nan L;rd,v old man, who regretted I