The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-03

ed him AS to his part and from the mo. ment Of introduction he was as Lester's shadow. At nrst she protested against him; but it was % no tns nse. and fD py ~ and yI, py | the exhilaration of having a handsome man always at her elbow to hold her fan Ssd Tnispsr ifa Iet happy nonsense in her ear | clared she outsnone even her own bright self. The next morning when she stood l before the brilliant audience to deliver | her vaIedi ctory she was glad for the first time that she was carrying of the hon | prs Of her class. for directly in front of her sat Phil watching her with a look eyes His admiration made the honors seem more worth while. When she was done an usher brought her a great arm | fui of splendid Jacqueninot roses, and | she flushed to think of ths sender. You were superb" Phil whispered amid the congratulations after the exer- cfses were over.
 And my roses are past praise." she answered. for. under the ribbon she had He lifted one of the blossoms and held 1t near her cheek Jacks are your roses | by some artistic right. l shall always associate them with you"
 That afternoon there was coaching | party. and by Julia's arrangement she vent went with 1 Phi on the box seat: but she have him near her at the faculty's re- | ception that evening. Julia laughed; | when woman Is sure of 8 man game | like this is very amusing. So that even. | ing Phil again followed in Lesters train. dancing with her, sitting with her on the balcony or in some quiet nook. and Ju- | satisfaction on him. But Lester was ex- cited and restless What did that intent look In Phils eyes portend? What was this now. sweet emotion knocking at her | own heart? She began to be afraid. and | was glad when at last 1t was all over | and she was alone. The next morning. | rising very early. before the others. she about the grounds At the boathouse l was Phil Blair, oars fin hand.
 Come. he said. let us go for little
 She hesitated, but he drew her to the boat, and for half an hour they drifted on the placid water. but they did not see the cool. white lilies looking up at head; they saw only each others eyes. | A few hours later the three friends stood in their sitting-room for the last l time.
 | Remember" said Julia. .'one year from now we are to keep tryst here and tell each other what fate has brought us.''
 We will remember" the others an l The year went by. Lester had spent 1t teaching at the college; Celia and Harry had been six months married; but some Their marriage had been postponed, though to the world Phil was a model l lover; only the girl missed something from his manner and his voice. something | void and empty.
 | It was the anniversary of the conn | mencement. Again the June sunshine whitened the paths through the college campus. but there was a silence in the l house and knot of crepe on the door. 1 A carriage came swiftly up the drive. and the two women in it were pale and sor-
 ''Our tryst day. and we are to keep it l with dead Lester instead of our blithe. brown bird we loved so we'll" sobbed Ce- lia.
 Professor Pope wrote me that she l worked all winter as in fever. He thought she was unhappy. but she would never tell him the cause At Christmas I wanted so much to have her with me. but she would not come," Julia said. | Celia turned her face away; she was dull at mathematics. but she was quick to read human hearts. and she had long ago guessed that the loan of Julia's lover had worked mischief for the two persons
 most nearly concerned. Lester would not go, because she feared to put herself in
 Phirs way again; she was too loyal to farther jeopardize her friends happiness: but Julia had never guessed the harm her intended kindness had done.
 As they stood, few minutes later. be- side the casket in the hall. weeping for the smile they would never see again,
 Professor Pope entered and placed two
 unopened letters in the-cold hands on the pulseless breast.
 She said she had no right to read these on earth. but she wished them
 buried with her that perhaps in Paradise she might know their contents, and promised it should be SOL he said. weep ing bitterly.
 Julia bent down and looked at the writ l ing on the envelopes, and when she stood up she was like some beautiful marble l statue.
 And these roses?' she whispered hoarsely, pointing to the mass of Jacque- minots that covered the lower part of | the casket.
 They came an hour ago addressed in the same hand as the letters. The death notice was in yesterdays papers, and so l suppose they were some friends fare we'll"
 ""Yes. they were his farewell" Julia said. still in that tense whisper Then with Celia's arm about her. she stopped and kissed Lester's cold brow. T loaned you my lover against your will. my lit- tie brown birl, and in so doing I broke three hearts-for now l know, l know"
 And so they kept their tryst. these old friends, in the soft June weather; and Julia's heart was filled with a bitter self accusing: but Celia, looking farther into the future, said. as she held one warm
 hand and one cold one in her tender clasp.
 They. were both true to their ideals of right dear Julia. and all will yet be