The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-05-02


past snatched from the dining-room
buffet at odd times by members Of the
Rayner family. Only Susan Sears
seemed to have time to eat in peace
and comfort and by that time she had
been completely forgotten. After she
had finished, a maid showed her a
room on the third foor-a small
guest room where the gown and vari-
Gus accessories intended for Miss
Brook had been stretched out on the
| bed.
IF you need anything else or If the
slippers or gloves and things don't fit
you," said the maid, Mrs. Rayner
says you are to go downtown and get
what you need. You can charge every
thing at Blanks and there will be one
of the cars to take you any time now
and you're to ask Mr.. Bob for money"
Fortunately Susan found that not
only the gown Intended for Miss Brook
but all the accessories fitted her If not
to perfection at least well enough SO
that no observer might have guessed
that they had not been made for her.
With the help of the maid she
dressed and then in room below
stairs where the three other brides
maids, the maid Of honor, and the ex-
cited bride were assembling she was
given a glance of hasty approval by
Mrs. Rayner and no one even took the
trouble to introduce her. One or two
of the party addressed her as Miss
Brook and asked her If she had just
arrived that morning, and when Bob
appeared he went out of his way to
call her Daisy and Susan noticed that
the other bridesmaids watched her
with considerable interest whenever
Bob appeared.
"We're all quite mad about Bob"
one of the bridesmaids gushed to her.
ITO think that he went all the way to
Boston to lose his heart with all Of US
just distracted about him-but never
mind, Wen forgive you" And Susan
Sears felt that for some reason or
another she was beginning TO dislike
the real Daisy very much.
Susan found herself facing Bob Rayner
and following the lead of the others
as they walked down the aisle to-
gether. For some reason, she realized,
her heart was beating very fast and
she was bluHiing with great happiness
as she felt the eyes of the guests
focused on her and Bob.
They'll be the next ones" she heard
one of the guests remark. isn't she
beautifully all means the prettiest
bridesmaid"
"And so aristocratic," commented
another guest.
Susan played her part so well that
she forgot at times that she was play
ing part at all. 1t was obvious that
Bob was engaged or nearly engaged
to Daisy Brook and she was Daisy
Brook-for the afternoon. She noticed
his look of searching admiration as
they sat together in one of the motor
cars on the way back to the Rayner
house and she convinced herself that
this admiration really belonged to
Daisy Brook.
you are perfectly beautiful" he
to her, and she persuaded
herself that he said this in order to
be overheard.
At the bridal supper they sat beside
each other and afterward they danced
or sat together, laughed together and
firted together.
1t was all part of a fairy trance for
Susan. She remembered being in a |
group of laughing, excited young peo-
pie waiting at the foot of the stairs for |
the bride to throw her bouquet. One |
young man, obviously friend of Bob's.
said: congratulations, Bob. Every |
man here envies you. Why don't you
persuade her to announce your engage
nent right now? Every one has !
guessed it."
seemed to have forgotten to watch for
he bride and the bouquet at~the top
If the stairs. Then Susan felt Bob's
irm around her shoulders. She saw
lin look down, tenderly, gravely into
Ter face, and then to every ones de-
light and her own supreme embarrass-
nent he kissed her.
'I'm only waiting for her to answer"
lie said and then he whispered, Susan
Sears, will you marry me?'
And because Susan felt that she
must play the part and because she
vas fascinated by the glance of the
'oung man beside her, she archly whis-
,ered, Eyes"
After 1t was all over and the last
.uest had gone Susan started, feeling
Ike a poor Cinderella, back to the little
uest room, to change into her drab
vork-a-day clothes. please" pleaded
Sob, I'm going to take you home. Put
our own things in the bag-the maid
rill bring you one, and go home that
ray"
SO apparently Susan's dream was
OF quite ready to fade. In the Rayner
mousine Susan was ready to lapse
ack into silence, but Bob would not
armit