The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-17
THE ADVERTISERS
 DAILY SHORT STORY

Ben" called a clear, silvery voice through the darkness, come for us TOT the nlne-eight train. Don't forget-nine- tight" ,-,. ou riart ma am" ,,o,,a,,
 Down the lane leading from the Donald place another team was rapidly travehne, and Ben's horse followed in a steady JoB'
 In the back seat sat q young mana very unhappy young man, and he was so tusys with his thoughts or ms Gis4p- poirtments that he had only monosylapleS for the quaint chatter of the old colored
 Don't seem very peart tonight" said
 Now look here, Ben," was the reply, "[ don't feel like talking. Drive on and don t upset me in a ditch.
 lies upsot enough" said Ben to him self Guess Mir. Kent Thompson was a Ieetle too much fur him. Mighty sorry, but this Iovin' business suhtlnly am per-
 Irving Winston, who was the young man who did not feel like talking. was very miserable. He was deeply Tn loNe with Eleanor Donald and that night ne had called to put his case before her, h0ning and believing the best. But he n(d lot been in the parlor fifteen minutes De- fore Kent Thompson, on exactly the same errand arrived. Then It became a matter of endurance, each trying 10 out stay the other and both perslstlng re- careless of the knowledge that Miss Don Donald and her mother were to leave the next day and that they needed tlme TOT
 Honors were even because both left at the same time-it was so late that they simply had to go If only for decencS sake-but Thompson had the llShter heaIt because he would travel on the same train with them and they had accepted his proffer of services regarding their transfers in the ctty
 -"The jig's up with me" declared Win had OllDOrtunl ties and have kept putting 1t off. and now I'm getting just what l deserve. lie II propose on the train and then she Il ac- Cept him and I'll be mise rable forever af- rewards If I dared, I'd. go back now, but that would be silly. No. I'll grin and pear it. that's what I'll do.
 Winston owned a place near that of the DOnalds who occupied their country home until autumn began to give way to winter and then went South. Ben belonged to Winston's farm, but he was permitted 10 make extras during the summer and tall months by taking persons to and rom the station There was not a character in the neighborhood sharper than Ben, and he had a high regard for Winston, whom he had known from boyhood. ..=
 Hes done missed it tonight, shure you're bo,n," unused Ben to himself. And it's likely to be his last chance too. Mis- Eleanor too pretty to wait much longer when dey's swarmin round her so thick, and I don't blame her. But it's bad for Mars Winston; it's bad for Mars Win
 Winston knew that Thompson would board the train at the station above that used by the Donalds and there was a ray of hope in the possibility of getting in q word before the start was made, but it was so dim that it only increased his melancholy and he closed his eyes in de- spair. Then he opcnt q them again. He'd fry it anvnow This was the thought that lasted through the rest of the night and made him walk up and down the porch the next morning looking towards Ben S place down near the lower gate to see when he would hitch up the team to go over for the Donaids. Shortly before eight he saw Ben lead out the horses, and he made his way down the hill to the stable. He told Ben that he would ride over to the Donalds with him and Ben grinned as if there was something unusual in his satisfaction.
 a mile before the sound of the engine s whistle blowing for the station. was !:W 6v. what's that?" suddenly asked Winston Tt sounds like the passenger
 "Wouldn't be s'prised if 1t was" said Ben
 it cant belts only little after eight
 "Dare's been a change in de skeedad- dle' said Ben.
 Tn the schedule you mean
 Dat CT time bench or somfin of de sort" srinned the darkey,
 Time table. you rascal but when does the next train leave?
 Six o'clock dis ebenn'."
 And you knew it all the time?''
 "I ain't a-sayin' nOthin' bout dat, an it's none of my business nohow; l jest