The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-13
THE ADVERTISERS
 ] DAILY SHORT STORY

| Indeed. Bertie. just think I'm one "f | the luckiest girls in the world" and Eth el Trent leaned back on the lounge and folded her pretty hands complacently. 60 that her diamond and sapphire ring show. ed to the best advantage. MT. Wilson l simply adores me, and I shall have ev- erything that money can buy. Think of spending whole, year abroad. I have al- buy no end of beautiful things for our new house on the boulevard. And then MT. Wilson is man any girl might De proud of. He doesn't look day over 70. and is really distinguished looking. ] But what will Rob say?" asked her sister, far less impressed by the glowing picture than Ethel had expected her to
 The girl shrugged her shoulders impa- tiently. Congratulate me, I suppose. He has no right to say anything else, and it would make no difference if he did"
 Bertha. ycu make me tired exciaim- cd Ethel. sitting erect in her vehemence of speech. T never could see why you always insisted that Rob Hillis and l were sweethearts I am not engaged to him. and supposing he was in love with me what would 1t matter? I can't marry all the men who admire me. so I choose to please myself. Rob is as poor as church mouse. and you know it.
 "But. Ethel. don't you know his uncle has made him his assistant. and he will surely ask you now that he can afford to marrv.''
 Ethel interrupted her disdainfully. On Sl. 200 year. excuse me if you please. My dear child. don't you know that MT. Wilson has twice as many thousands? Really, Bertha. you ought to have more sense. But then you have spent your life here in the country, and you don't know what life Is. l have no more reason to think that that boy Is In love with me than with you; he is Joe's chum. that is all. But if he does mind, what then? He has no right to complain and he will get over 1t. never fear. Anybody would really think you thought more about him than me. Novel reading has turned your brain. don't believe in romantic passion myself and am quite willing that most of the love shall be on the mans side so long as have high respect for my husband and he has plenty of money. never was In love in my life and I never expect to be. but shall do my best to satisfy Mir. Wilson. and I have no fears for the fu- ture. Besires. I am older than you are. and you have no business to lecture me"
 The summer previous Mrs. Trents only sister. well-to-do childless. living In a fashionable apartment house in a large ordered absolute rest and quiet from her social duties ard her charities. Seeking such repose she had come to visit her sister in the country township of Kaowoc. When she returned to town she had taken her eldest niece with her. Ethel was d beauty and Mrs. Morton had announced to her husband her intention to give the girl a chance. MT. Morton never denied his wife anything: more over. he too. had taken fancy to the girl and the chance was given with no niggard hand.
 It would be hard to tell whether Mr. or Mrs. Morton was most pleased at the sensation which Ethel made, most delight ed when the head of the firm of Wilson & Co.,, of which MT. Morton was a junior member, asked Ethel to marry. him. Neither of them imagined the possibility of a refusal, although the suftor was twice her age.
 The old chronicle tells us that when Alcides, having gone through ali the fla tigues of life, took bride in Olympus, he ought to have selected Minerva, but he chase Hebe. Other men since then have done the same thing and no one. not even
 Thursdays story, PERCY CALLERS