The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-15

province. She was humbled-had been a Dit frightened-and he relented and began | they sat over the untouched dishes. She | eagerly questioning and he portraying, by story and description and inumerable
 nsht sketches. the depths of a life of | Men and women, children. scraggy cats | and CUTS. dingy rooms and streets that
 cut to the heart all were flung from his
 Imitation that Held her listener until l he rose to resume his search for the news | that the yellow journal had sent him to gather It was 8 revelation. He ignored
 Her money as one who knew its worth lessnsss and its penalties to the bottom. | Her own exists nee seemed bare when she
 came back t9 the great house on the | tant.
 From. that rcd day their story took | together at his boarding house, with the dear, illiterate old landlady standing
 guard upon the proprieties; there were
 were. books of themselves; and yet oth- ers-but more rare--when he alilow wed her | to be hostess and sat beside her. at mati-
 nee or concert-hours- full of their utter most of human reality, making her days deed
 And at last there came the day when. | after he had mortified her father by d
 manful declaration of his love, they had
 taken the course laid down by the Lady | Fate and fled over seas, man and wife | fled to a yolley of newspaper shrieking
 led by the shriil yellow journal
 Those two years in the heart of Parisi | Their primitive honeymoon of working
 and loving and learning! Steadfastly
 they had set their faces from the life
 that had been hers, the Pagan humbly | painting street urchins and beggars for their character, when he might have | made portraits of the rich and powerful | and CharnrtarINqS of the earth RV tho l trife of annuity that had come to her
 from her mother they lived. and the hiSil
 hopes of the workers around them filled
 their days completely. From the great house on the avenue in that other hem | isphere no sign came, nor did they give sign. The Pagan. reveling in the near 1 had made up his dreams painted slav- ishly-thought and sketched. planned and
 psinted until picture was sent to the
 salon, a medal won and his name tele- Still no sign came from the lone one | But one day, in the midst of a riot of work a mortal from Her of1 life camo went back over seas to the great house and were let in at the servants door by Symonds-vho was glad that they had come unnoticed through the early morn
 The blue room held its secret we'll when
 the Master faced 1t at breakfast. After
 the warm dishes had been set before s.t., Ny ,y a, as, '5iNS Aii-S0ASu'
 The Masters brows lowered.
 Miss Martha mean Mrs. -
 "Symonds!' The sharp voice set the butler stammer,ng confusedly.
 Then the blue rocm door opened softly and She stood before him, hand in the Pagan's. and eyes shining with light that he had never seen before-in her eyes. In tine long minute of silence the butler tiptoed away.
 She spoke first, and her voice had a hot rstr N-a- years of mastery over those who com monly had speech with him.
 Father, We have come home, my hus- Since the day that % we psoo toos ~,r onr ives gSg into our own hands against your will no message has passed between this house and our poorer one oyer the waters. Ours has been life of work and wait ing-waiting for the time when we could come@to you with proof that ours was the only way to happiness. A month ago that proof was given us. and we have come back to break the silence"
 The Masters tense fingers released the c-ushed napkin and tho hard glitter went out O: his.eyes. When he spoke his voice
 You-you have not heard |" he asked softiy. No, you cannot know. For alone know what will be street gossip house is no longer mine. and ali that [ have won from the world went back to 1t yesterday AIl-all. This very food so Soes not belong St E. to me me of right. I alone De shouted to the corners of the globe. iOh, little girl. little girl. how I have missed you! l. who thought that, of all men, was most fitted to walk unaided The accursed pride which has come to me with years and power plotted out my own youth-the days when l, with noth- ing but two empty hands and busy brain. set out to battle. It made me for get that woman who, far above me in staten ana wisdom and goodness, for sock her home to struggle with me. Though your story was but mine repeat- ed, forgot 1t all in pride. But I have not forgotten you. H.tle one. Nay, each week l have waited for the mails 1o
 bring me the story of your life and hap piness-for have watched, by means
 which money gives, every hour of it. But the pride was strong-my affairs haze
 R0t 4FSspsrHdL 1e5gs 4y rf;n THs ashamed to ac-
 The Master ceased and turned his face from the listening couple at 9he blue
 room door-turned away and hid his
 shame In flash Her warm arms were
 about him and his hand in the Pagan's firm grip.
 There, poor old headstrong dear. What does 1t matter? Ruined? An. would it not have been better two years ago? How can it matter while we have, chiIdi Why, you are but set free from a burden-free to come and live where life is other than a row of old figures to
 be specnlated upon and worried over' Aye" added The Pagan. I've will teach you that life is sea of things to be | put upon canvas as truthfulfy as ones skill will perrnit-a fathomIess. shoreIess sea Of warm humanity in which he who sinks deepest will find most happiness, | Then the butler tiptoed in and the Pa- | gan said. cheerilv:
 "Synronds. two moro plates. if you l, please"