The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-02

sMo uaSs oI the week end, 10 coOi little resort right on the sea. I little pierce my heart. But there are palms Tor all our pains. A soft hand stcod ready to heal the wound.
 Every week end found me at Avon. Margie was all sweetness and kindness and showed pleasure in my com ing. knew at last that every other love in my life was as nought com pared to the wholesouled adoration l gave Margie Peyton. would try to win her If I died for her!
 Then the provision of that ridlcu- lous VIII came before me and 1 feared If l mentioned 1t to her she would at once think I was willing to make her ridiculous for the sake of money. However. l determined 0 leave the consequences to her, and If she con- sented to marry me and yet not wear the gray shawl. l would throw the will to the winds and DC happy ever after in spite of 1t. had never felt this way before.
 1t was . beautiful night The light on the water was like . smile. Margie was wrapped in some drapery as flmy as the moonlight. Her head was al- most even with my own. for this beau tiful girl was tall. with eyes like stars and hair like golden waves Margie knew that loved her, as every woman must know.
 "MarEie!" I felt her pure breath on my face.
 Well. is 1t as bad as that" and laugh rippled over the water. You look solemn enough to hang a man."
 Yes" I said, "the fate of q mans life and soul and happiness hangs in the balance. and am sure there will be pity in your heart for him." Then I poured out all my love and longing. and finally told her of my grandmoth- CTS absurd will told her that had only a small dover, but was willing to resign every other dollar if only could win her. That would not have her appear ridiculous before a church full of people for ali the money in tho
 world, and that if she did not want tn"
 money for herself we would give up all thought of the will and be happy
 without 1t.
 She left me in doubt for a littlr
 while and then leaned towards me and put her hand on mine with touch as gentle as the moonlight.
 We will keep the money. And wear that beastly shawl" ] said, already jealous tAat she would not WAbhOQk LhG lhOiCys Yes, for your sake; though 1 would marry you without the money if you will only say so. But money is a very good thing in it's place." she said do
 murely, with light in her eyes that
 made my pulses leap. What do you say? I leave it to you" What could 1 say but "Yes," and after>all ] was rather glad had found such sensible girl. At last the day dawned that was to | make Margie my own. The sun was | shining out of sky as clear and blue | as a bride could wish. Margie had l refused to tell me in what manner. she would wear the shawl. so I was iu | absolute ignorance as to her decision | on this point. I had sent it to her soon after her announcement of our | engagement. I could not help being
 proud of winning such peri wo- l man. She was as happy over the pros | pect of wearing that old tramp os a | shawl as a child would be. 1 l could hardly realize that in so short time l would not only possess l the sweetest. truest, dearest wife in
 the world. but a fortune that would | lift my Margie into a fairy-land of en- chantment, where l could gratify every wish of her tender soul.
 When I reached the church i: was | crowded. I was not to see Margery | until we met before the minister. AS waited in the vestry- room with my friends the organ pea.ed out the notes | of Mendelssohn's Wedding March" and I grew impatient tor my bride. Soon there was 8 whir of sound in the church and I knew she had come. I felt a great pity for my poor darling when l thought of the laugh that | would greet sight of that hideous
 shawl-the betenoir of my existence
 for so many years, but now soon to be T didn't know just what disposition
 we would make of 1t.
 | My heart beat loud when the signal was given me to enter the church. We
 came slowly, through 8 door in the
 chancel. My position brought me face
 to face with Margery. She was com | ing quickly up the aisle on her father S | arm, with such a train of young wo- men crowding close to her that she
 looked like a queen. She was a pie
 ture of shimmering satin and tulle and
 orange blossoms. She glanced at me
 through a cloud of gauge and l caught | a gleam of triumph in her eyes. But
 in my long gaze that never left her
 until I steped down before the white
 robed minister. saw no gray shawl! She had lost her courage then, at | the last! So many thoughts contended l in my brain that when I came to the | words. With all my worldly goods l | thee endow." I was overwhelmed with sense of loss and injury. I did not know until then how much I valued the money. An, we are but human, 1 after all, though love be divine! Then rushed over me such love for ] Margery that l nearly knelt at her feet instead of the proper place. She had loved me. knew now beyond all doubt l with love that could not be measured | by money, however great 1t was!
 would do loving penance all my life for my unworthy thought. God bless
 my darling for this proof of her pure | love. .'Cr 'e '0S' When the irrevocable words were
 said. Margery slipped her hand into
 my arm and whispered through the gauge:
 How do yuI like it?" | Before I answered, the rich tones of
 the organ swept Us out. and as we | turned I saw for the first time the
 gray shawl,
 1 It fell in all its dingy. worn ugli.
 ness from her dainty shoulder like 6
 cavaliers cloak, down the length oi
 the sweeping Watteau to the hem oi
 the lustrous. shining satin. She had
 adroitly arranged it that I might no | see.
 That was a long time ago. am no
 yet sure that l am glad Margery wore l the shawl.
 . E FREAK" by Julia Truitt Bishop.