The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-13
Copy rtgh. 1900 by Daily story Publshins Gel
THE MILLS OF THE GODS.

THE MILLS OF THE GODS.
 There was no doubt about the beauty of Wilimina Van schaack. She had low. broad, placid brow of exquisite | faisness, a serene mouth, With pe- culiar expression of tenderness, glowing complexion sensitive to the most alluring brightness. When Henry Lo wden first met her he said to him. self that he had seen other women as beautiful. but none with quite her re- | pose, her exquisite air ot breeding; | certainly none with such radiant eyes
 At that time in his life Henry Low den was a very well meaning young gentleman. He had finished with col lese with something of over reVer- ence for the things inculcated there, and more than something of covert l contempt for men who had not en- joyed similar opportunities ana ne meant to make good deal of himself He had right to expect so much, Tor his forbears had been of importance. | But he intended to exceed them in achievement. He was thoroughly am< bilious and would have been fine | tyre of the aggressive and aspiring | young American if his ambition had only included the idea of benevolence. Which 1t did not-emphatically.
 | He made up his mind from the first hour he saw Wilimina Van Schaack that he would marry her. It WAS | charac acterietic of him that he gave l himself up to no loverlke misgiving | He appraised her with that discerning | eye of his.
 l "She will do credit to me- he said | to himself. and saw nothing profane in l regarding her in that fashion.
 | When 1t came to love making Henry ! Lowden was not a SuCCess-at least no | sentimental audience at the theater | would have applauded him had his lovc-making been conducted for thelr deiectation. But he won by simple | methods. He was six feet two in height of irreproachahle character, and conventionally, he dressed to per lection. had deep and rather musical | voice. a high bred face and personal | fastideousness which was positively obtrusive. He was conscious, and Re someway made everyone who was with l him conscious of an immaculate skin. l and irreproachability of linen. If a man can be vulgarly clean, he was that man.
 Miss Van Schaack had a girls shall low pleasure in his strength and els- gance. She took satisfaction in being seen at the theater of the assembly dances or on the golf links with man | so eminently correct. As for her heart that was an organ of which she had become as yet, but dimly conscious. She had a conventionality brought up young woman's shy aversion to con- sideration of the emotional life - and | a sensitive woman's dread of the myS- terlous deeps of the sea of love. To | walk along the shores suited her very we'll; and this she did daintily.
 | So uyhan ha asked hAr O marry him and he had the air of an upright and | manly fellow when he did 1t she &C., cepted with stately grace which com mended her strongly to her suitor's approval
 The engagement was announced; the couple comported themselves with dis tinguished correctness; Miss Van sichaack accepted invitations to all the luncheons given in congratulations: MT. Lowdsn looked pleased, but reserved when the men felicitated him. All was perfectly proper-all was accord ing to rule.
 But just at this point, Destiny. which is not proper nor according to rule swasgered upon the scene and took a hand in this demure comedy. Will naina Van Schaack fell ill with -eAr- ful diSease-thera was an epidemic of it that yAar--and when she emerged from her sick room her beauty was utterly gone Her skin was salloN and pitted her hair. which had been abundant and glossy. was lead and thin; and the eyes which had en- chanted all who saw them. were lus- teress and faded. The impetuous car riage of the erect figure was gone too She moved as if with reluctance. A lassItude like that oi age was upon her The monster had cru shed the body And the mind? Oddly enough. it seemed as if that had been liberated by the same means. The mind was alert. Ard the first act of it's new found pride and power was to release Henry Lowden from his engagement However. people were saying:
 Well where Lowden Is concerned the honorable thing is to be expected. "
 Height and a clear complexion. a trick of erect carriage and an accent will sometimes make a man appear SC much like hero that he has no choice D1. tn endcavor to live up to the rule This unhappy young man was quite aware that :he fine and generous thing was expected of him. He was toc vain not to justify these expectations He insisted. with all appearance of his habitual courtesy, Lpon marrying Wiiimina Van Schaack: and though her newly aroused spirit told hel there was not the ring of true love ir his insistence. still the pressure brought to bear upon her by friends was too strong. Her nerves were en feehled. her courage gone. She let oth CTS be her arhiters. She married Henry Lowden. very quietly-there were only the relatives preSent-and waiVing tho wedding journey, they went to live in their new home.
 And now. by Wa yof giving the devi his due, I must tell q certain painful circumstance. so intimate in it's char acter that very discreet chroniclel would leave the thing unsaid. Yet hoN shall the devil have his due if it bf not said"
 The morning after the wedding the bride was being awakened by the soft light which forced it's way througF the drawn curtains. opened her eyel those eyes that had once been sC beautiful-and was shocked to hel. the sound of heavy and smothered sohs. She held her breath in dismay and lying quite still, turned her eyes toward the pillow beside her own There. with his handsome face con, tortel like a broken hearted child, la5 Henry Lowden. convulsed with gries The bride had no need to inquire, ever of herself. the reason for those tears She knew that the light had reveale5 her to him as she lay there; and bS those tears with her bitter regret their selfish agony, she was assisted
 Friday. "A WARM WELCOME" b, l