The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-28
THE ADVERTISERS
 DAILY SHORT STORY

In the cold, raw biuster of a wind | street corner an Italian stood cookini waffies and about him were a numbe | or mouth-watering boys, watching hin l With powder and sugar. A young mai came along. halted and looked at tn boys. Here. boys said he, "tak, Christmas dinner with me-" and turning children what they want" The stree cook looked at him, at his clothes. anC then catching the flash of a gold piec, in the strangers hand, seized .his batter spoon and began to spread hisNwholesalt order. Among the boys was a girl. wilt haired, ragged, but beautiful. Timidl, she hung back. but the young man urged her and she joined the feast, modestly striving not to betray her ravenous hun. was paying the bill. T want you all to meet me here next Christmas morning Good bye"
 A year passed, slowly for youth, but rapidly for age, and again the young dering if that girl would meet him there Hundreds of times had he thought of her; more than once had he looked for her, down in the slums, but of her could learn nothing. On the same corner stood the waffle man, and there. too, were a crowd of boys. Standing back against the wall was girl with an old shawl over her head. and when she removed 1t
 
 wild hair. in ebon ringlets.
 You didn't forget" said he, approach ing her.
 NO. l have thought of you many a time.''
 ''Of me? How could your"
 How could 7 help it?'
 She blushed. this waif inured to the the young man gazed in admiration as q lover Of art viewing the work of mas ter. But let JAS not stand here in the cold" said he. T will, pay the man for the waffies and then we will go into a restaurant"
 She gave him an appealing look and the black ringlets danced about her face. She was shaking her head. 'I must eat with them she replied. point ing to the boys. She was moving off wait n moment. want to know something about you. What is your But your other namsr"
 That's all."
 Surely not all"
 Yes. May ! go now and eat with the boys?' ,,. ,o. =. u,,,. ,,o,, .ou,o r,,n
 You may give me ten. cents"
 T will give you more"
 70, no, that will be enough-it will be all III eNpecteu tO orHB' WOH ldho any more"
 to see you some timer
 T may not be in the same place. We move about. May I eat now?'
 'Yes. But won't you meet me here again soon?'
 Next Christmas" she said. smiling at him.
 .'oh. before then. Won't your"
 T may"
 The weeks passed and one day man said: Hello. Eugene. why do you hang around this corner SO much? I have seen you here three or four times late- iy."
 T am looking for a picture"
 ''One that you lost?'
 "One I can't find"
 A year passed and early on Christmas morning Eugene went to the corner. The italian had not vet arrived with his stove so cold and cutting was the air. But he came after a while recognized his an- nual patron and smiled at him. Toward noon the hours slowly dragged. The boys began to gather, but the girl did not come The clock struck and she was not there. Gene inquired of the boys. but none of them had seen her. The waffle man, generously. If not shrewdly throw. ing in the measure of encouragement said that she would no doubt come after awhile. But she did not come. and the time passed with the glow of summer and the flying of snow again. and the young man waited but did not see her. The old building on the corner was pulled down, a great office structure erected
 supdav,s storv THE RETURN OF AN