The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-06
THE FLETCHER AFFAIR.
Br EDNA s. BRAINARD.

We were sitting at able over our coffee and cigars when Boh Fremont asked, "Mhat ever became of Theodore Fietch-
 "'Hayo9t. yop heards"
 He2rd? eehned Fremont, Why, no; you must remember that have been hNelteFipg In the interior of Cuba for the past three years and that l have heard nothing and with the exception of you fellows whom l met by chance this morning, l know nothing of the deings of the old crowds whatover"
 '.Tell Fremont the story, Henry" said Charlie Yates turning 10 me
 1 watched the brandy burning on the fpaen in my cup and as l felt in just the mood, i teid the story. "'You re- msmhe~ EleSner Metoalf? Welt. after
 beush 1t resy esT that she aesd never ioge her heart to any one of the numerous hangers-on who eou?ted her and aa.tered her and tried to win her
 As you already know. TheodoFe Fletcher came to town to settlc up the Mercantile Bark affair. He had no soeneF arrived than he was sought hy all the clubs and Eocieties and was re- oelved into the most exclusive of hena -ia fact. he becaPie sort of Chesterheid gained ths respect and admiration of the older business men and was the most popular man In town.
 'fEleaner MeteRlf had received a col lrse edueation. and two years abroad had giVen her tFaveled air; there wasn't man in town who would not have thrown himself at her feet even had she of the eps lied child of fortune that she was, She was really So dainty. so pure, se,f ssT and semetimes" @ " think W i can n never eyer love any other woman on earth,
 aWell' someone took Fheedere to call on her one evening, and the mis-, mischief ,Gs!s %as with her and she with him. Of course eli the ether ffllowS pulled out qf the race, and we watched the society columns Ians ef Eleancrs arrangement to Fletcher.
 After Fletcher had. heen enc ot uE for perhaps seven ar eight months there each one of us made hnld ee engage the in t,irn swestiy told by her that she was sa sws nSs as5Ty gans 9th Sgt Mr cPt Foher hS
 About this time Edward Metcplf, the rnly scn, and in whom old Metcslfs s hopea were cPnteTed, was expelled from SaIs and coming hone was placed in the hank under the supervision of Fletcher. Strange te say, he never liked Fletcher and Sag n,S qrS SnHs .nan that HhGS were ana derogatary to Fletcher's character. Young Meteaif was not popular himself; he was rather weak, and his hab.es were
 7'The night of the hop, Eleanor came in with Fletcher rather late think ] never saw her so beautiful and SO FeHei
 
 have given my Goul to know had been iNspired hy me, and I'll venture there wasn't fellow in the room who had not the same feeling. She danced with each aEa every one of ns. but her eyes fal- iewed fletcher, and she seemed sweeter and meFs far off from us than ever,
 Sit was. about l2 o'clock just as we Inte supper, when 1 saw tall dark stFanseF standing in the door locking Fisteher's and remember how Fletcher led his partner to a seat and walked up to tbe stranger spoke to hiW in laF tenes.
 HAfteF few mements' 6cnVeeEsatipn FleteheF eentinued the dance When T vas surrounded hy little court of ad- mirers and drawing her to one side he ssidi
 TWI am sorry. but news has just Feaah- ed me of seTne important work at the hank that must be attended to at once: Wauld you mind very much going home RaW. or will you prefer going later with
 saturday, THE PAPER DOLLS" by W.