The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-02
Rx SARAH ROGERS.
WITH THE STRONG HAND.

When g years old Mary Eilerby l was sure that she would never marry. Men were well enough to talk 10. 70 ride. or row. ,orS golf or sing with, but the idea of surrendering herself to ono of them to- be held in martial thraii for a lifetime filled her. when sne l thought of 1t. with a shudder of lo1tn- ing. She thought of 1t just as seldom as was possible ito her, which is to say tnat she tl1ougt1t of 1t only when some one of her many admirers enforced it upon her attention. Her manner oI re- fusing them was characteristic Of her She did it gently. smoothly, irrevocably and with as much regard to their feel ing as was corsonant with making her dissent unInistakable
 Mo- sil.s would say finally, when some despesate wooer had retlrned for the fifth time to the charge, no; l do not love you well enough to give myself to yor. I can never love you that we'll Let this be the last word on this subject between us. We will talk of something else. if you please
 Miss EIIerby was handsome. healthy and weII-to-do. No young woman held better blade in Stayborough society. She was popular with every male ac- quafntance except those with whom she had declined to mate, and the girls liked her because they understood that she would never willingly poach on any manor of their. Her mind was set firm ly upon celib<Acy and she was at no pains to couceAl the fact.
 Richard Haven. better known as Dick" knew this when he began his pursuit. He was big, square -tawed lawyer, successftii in most of his cases. and he made upt his mind to win her if 1t were humAnly-man-hum - possible. His friersds predicted defeat; his enemies. of whom there were many, laughed at him. 'rhe women wished him godspeed, but predoomed him to failure. He could not say, after SIX months of assfduou,s ,courtship that he had made an~ decihAl progress. The girl was affaa.s. appabently glad to see him when he came. certainty m Wnit disturbed when he wetlt away, gentle- hammered. entertaining and cold. T feel.' he said to himself. a good deal like the Latin chap who was al ways rolling a heavy stone up a hllI and never getting it to the top. How ever. faint heart never won, etc. and here's for another go at the citadel. Miss ElIerby was talking to her very dearest friend. Miss NorniaI. when she said tentatively:
 You know. my dear. that shall never marry"
 The other merely looked as one who | had heard it before, and was noncoui- | initial.
 T shall not marry for reasons well known to you. Unfortunately one can not put these reasons as an adver- tisement into the morning paper, | though I would like to- 1 nave been bothered a good deal by the men and shall likely be bothered moTtab because | they are stubborn creatures. Many or them 1 care nothing about, because
 they soon get over disappointment.
 but others of them feel mo1se deeply, and I hate to give pain. There is one in my mind now who will be badly hurt, but I cannot help it."
 Miss Norman looked al her sravely. and said:
 Dick Haven. I presume" ] "Yes-"
 "oh. we'll, T am satisfied he will make a quick recovery. He is big
 enough and strong enough, you know.
 You must not take all of his passion for genuine. He used to be noted as
 an amateur actor and much of 1t is | sinulater He is too level-neadeh to
 put has all upon any cast"
 Miss Ellsrby did not like the intl-
 nation that her pursuer was haIf-sil-
 cere but she only remarked in brisk | manner:
 Well. I can't break the rule Of a life time for him." and went her way. | which was the way of an automobile
 party, for the afternoon.
 About that time Dick Haven was strfding up and down the rooms of
 his friend. Arthur Pym Jackson, d
 young minister of the Protestant Epis-
 copal Church, who ran a good deal to
 boxing gloves. foils. French novels hid
 under sofa cushions, and bull terriers. Havens coat was off, for the men | Wednesday. "IN LATIN QUARTER