The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-21
WAYS OF FATE.

| h. me, settle doun and quit this rest
 less wandering over the earth. Why don't you do it "'
 | Mrs. Thornton was crocheting in the l eozy corner O. the mo. .ntair house porch. and John Walker, b!g and hand | some and smiling. was sitting Tar l down in an easJ' chair, listening 10 her | and occe5iuna,iy picAing Up the papers and m s 2zin sG tha, slipped ot his lap Icquen'ly enough to keep him awake. 1he 2. tetaoon was half asleep and the bees, and flies were droning iulla- o..es.
 "aiarrfed?" he replied. Why make ;so people unhappy instead of one. it would nos be right. Granting that, it might be as Ten nyson said of, the marriage of Jane Welsh and Thdma Carlisle"
 My knowledge is rusty" That it was a most fortunate thing. because 1t made only two miserable when there might otherwise have been fcur-or somcthinr of that kind" T am still at sea"
 Well. granting that there Is a girl who has a few intirmities of temper and disposition--I think you would prefer one of that ,kind-and you and
 
 only two of you, But suppose you should marry a girl who doesn't de- serve t> be made to suffer and the other girl should marry a man who" "Oh, I see, as the blind man said. And you are very sure I'd make the angel long for better place of resi- Gence."
 I'm sure of nothing-and least of all of you"
 Its fate" he declared. as he pulled himself from the chairs depths and leaned towards his aunt. Il am not for the joys of rhatrimory. Wheneer I draw near. Cupid puts his golf sticks l in His case and calls his caddy in. I've tried and I've always lost-and to be honest with you I've always been silad to lose. No my dear aunt, it is of no use. It cannot be-" Mrs. Thornton was looking down the long porch and was paying no, at tention to the young mas words. ! Presetly she beckoned and Walker | turned and saw a young woman an- swering the call. She was of good height and she carried herself Ike a | queen. Mrs. Thornton arose and | stepped forward to meet her. while Walker got up from the chair and stood watching the greeting. The two ladies came back to the | corner. and Mrs. Thornton was saying You must come and join us in this cool spot-it is the most comfortable corner of the veranda-and let me present Aline-'Miss Clinton. let me present my-no. I won't call him friend, we're quarreling@ Simply a miserable nephew" put in ! Walker with profound bow. A ya1I Inc tinued pla cidly. adding. "N.>sv, John, tix the chairs and try to be good"
 It was the usual lazy summer after noon conversation, in which the peo- pie talked just as the bees buzzed. not because it was necessary, but because 1t ways the natural thing to do.
 That was the beginning. Even fail- ure in courtship may be a good com panion. and Walker liked Miss Clinton from the start. She was pretty, she was bright nd she had a liking for the pleasant diversions of life. If he was tn take her walking she was prompt, if to drive she was on time, and if to the links she never spoiled his game by needing too much attention.
 One night after they had talked out the gossip of the day and the scant news in the papers and were sitting on the ITOtiI NtA dIId SdHllS uO" Otl lDt moolit valley, he suddenly exclaimed:
 "I wonder where old Noble is to- night?"
 ''NobDe?' she asked.
 "Yes, Noble Burlington. can't tell why I thought of him. guess it was the night. We sat up until daybreak a few months ago watching the moon and talking of home and telling stories about the ,Filipinos-on the other side of the earth, you know-it was when 1 was doing the round the world trip and it was just as / bright as it is now"
 Would you mind telling me-" she asked again, just what was bright the daybreak, the moon, the conversation, the earth, tho world, or your friend. Mr.-Mrs.---"
 Burlington, Noble Harrington. All was bright, but Barrington was bright est. You must make allowances for my rhetoric, for a woman as beautiful as you can upset anything. Let me genera2ize and say again that every thing was bright. except the globe trotter."
 Now I understand" and Walker bowed. And your friend. Mir. Mo- ble -
 Burlington you mean. Darlington with one please"
 Well, then Harrington who is with one r."
 He is what I call a man." he went on with an enthusiasm that caused her to look towards him rather intently. 't don't believe ever met anybody I liked so well. So genuine and so modest. Why, his meh worship him and all his fellow officers cannot say enough in his favor. He is a curious sort of chap, too. His associates give him all kinds of condolences, and yet
 Thursday. ENDS OF JUSTICE" b