The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-19
he has arranged the date. Come and assist at the sacrifice. Yours.

"seiss et ehc sacrlnce. IOurS,
 Stella"
 That was just like Stella, she was always doing something unexpected and theatrical. Of course, the "sacri- fice" was largely imaginary. But Donna packed her trunk and on the af- ternoon of the fifteenth reached her friends home. Stella was in a highly nervous state.
 Just to think. Donna, this time to- morrow it will all be over, and I can never so much as think of Jack againl'' ..
 Does your fance know anything of this?"
 "of course not: he has been in Japan for a year and only returned yester- day. The arrangements were made by our parents who greatly desire the
 And how long have you known Jack?"
 "Oh. more than year. He trav- eled with us when we were abroad. He and father had a terrible scene when my marriage was announced. But there Is the bell: my fiance is in the li- brary; come. let us so down.
 As Donna descended the wide stair case she realized that here was no make believe sensation, but a very real drama of love and wretchedness. All her life Stella had been dealing in mock heroics, ard now the grim actuality faced her. At the foot of the stairs a maid servant beckoned to her myste- riously, showing the corner of an en- velope peeping from her apron pocket. For moment Stella looked puzzled, then her eyes lit up. and pushing her friend into the library. she cried:
 Baxter. this Is Donna; entertain her for few minutes" then hastily fol- lowed the maid down the hall.
 With eyes wide and pitiful. Donna steadIed herself against a chair.
 You" she cried. And a voice that must ever bring back to her the shine of the sea, the lap of the waves. re- peated the question:: "You!"
 Stella never told me your name," she faltered.
 And l never thought to ask yours; 1t seemed of no oconsequence." He took a step nearer her: Donna, that day on the sea you bade me follow my hon. or; 1t was bound up in this girl We had been betrothed for four years: I was put 20 and she 16. At the time I thought I cared"
 He stopped suddenly, checking his words by a strong effort of will; he would not be false to his betrothed and to his own manhood with useless ad- misssions; and the dusk of evening gathered about them standing thus sii- ent and apart. After a while Stella came back, a crumpled letter in her hand. an unwonted excitement in her luminous eyes. During the evening that followed she was the gayest person in the little company. When at last the long evening was over Donna fell across her bed in fearless sobbing, No sleep visited her. no coherent thoughts came to her, no solution of this dread mistake that would be consummated on the morrow. Toward dawn the sound of galloping hoofs came up from the avenue below, but she gave no heed; the black misery of this horrible error clung about her, overpowering her with the certainty that there was no remedy, no rescue. Then, finally, she Tell into a troubled sleep. But suddenly she was wide-awake again: the sun was shining through her win- dow; the whole house was in cohfu- sion, and the mistress crying on the star. For Stellas room was empty, ana a note on the hall table told how she had chosen for a husband the man she loved, and had fled with him in the night.
 Donna slipped away from the con- fusion by the early train.
 The sea, she wanted the sea; noth- ing put it's tumult could still the tempest within her own heart; and so she went back to her old haunt on the coast. visiting day after day the coves and sand dunes she and Baxter had known so well during that -ss1aupy month a year ago.
 A week went by, then one evening when the sunset hues dyed the water until it flowed away like wine of the reddest vintage she sat down on a Deached boat and. gazing seaward. fell into reverie. Suddenly there was a step behind her, and then a hand closed over hers. She neither spoke nor turned; 1t was as though she had known it would be so, and that she was but waiting for him.
 First. let me tell you," Baxter said softly. that had not seen her in two years-she had travelled abroad-and so knew nothing of her love for this other man. My mother, who saw her frequently, thought her devoted to me, and l took her estimate. In the sec ond place. I have come to think that in following her heart, Stella followed also her honor. for surely 1t is better to break an unwise promise to marry a man than to stand in the presence of God and men and swear a false oath to love him."
 That last day on the sea, a year ago. did not understand" she began slowly; hut he interrupted.
 "Yes. I know what an enigma I must have been to you. A hundred times I have told myself that owed you 8 full and candid explanation; opIy it seemed disloyal to confess to any one that had outgrown my love for the girl was to marry and who, as I thought, still loved me. But now you know the chain that held me then, and you know also that am now free to follow the propptings of my heart. It Is no longer an ignisfatuus that shines along my path, but the steadfast stars5of love. Donna, will you be my wife. and walk with me by its light forever?"
 And with her hand in his she went away down the golden reaches of the beach.