The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-18
WHEN MISFORTUNE CAME
BY EDGAR MELTON COOLEY. rcopy+isht, 1901, by Daily Story Pub. Col

lCopyfight, 1901, by Dahy story ruD' S"1
 x ;s E E ;s matter of course You cannot deny it.
 A sudden spirit of rebellion arose Il her breast and in that Instant she reach' | ed Ter decision, 1t was No" ..
 Tfen she replied to the remark ne hat
 made, and for an hour hour two two hours, hs. Psdd' pId | haps, she chattsd with him Tn hef oioi
 Suddenly he turned to her face seri'
 0OS SSMarjorie," naj he said. quietly. 'f an waiting for your answer"
 At his words her face flushed. ther lips firmly.
 ing down at her finger-tips. Then sh'
 paused dreading to speak the words that l must follow. The sudden ringing Of tn, telephone bell In the .hail aroused. her at | last, and she turned a pained face tc | him. Dick" he repeated, "I-I---''
 The maid Knocked on the parlor door
 and Marjorie arose and opened it.. MT. Burr is wanted at the telephone I immediately" the maid said. l Burr passed into the hall, and Mar jorie. taking a seat by the fire and gaz- l Ing into the eeaie Oh the srate, heard but I indistinctly his words. But once she thought she heard him say: Tt is death l At this she started and turned an anx- l ious face towards the door. When Burr | re-eftered the room she gave low cry and sprang to his side.
 His face was asheh; his staring eyes | had lost their steely glitter; his hands | trembled; precipitation stood in beads 1 upon his forehead. and he walked as | one who gropes in the dark. But his | lips were close-pressed in the old. de- | ter mined way.
 He seemed so stricken. so helpless. so
 much in need of sympathy, As she gazed with startled eyes into his careworn I fha lrfy aho tnr for hir1--fhA l she had thought did not exist-surged ur from her heart and forced the tears to | her eyes
 Marjorie" he began, "I--" 1mpulsively she threw one arm around | his neck and with the other hand cover
 Do not speak" she cried: do not tell
 me anything 1ntil-until have given
 But I must" he persisted. T can not
 "Dickr' she exclaimed determinedly
 arry yoa S1ee t5nxst eVf ySS pics y ts T That Is my answer. that IS final; nothing can change it. Now. what has happen
 He, looked at her. his eyes dimming. Then he shook his head. -. Tt cannot be-" he sighed. T am ruined, Marjorie. A firm indebted to us | for hundreds. of thousands of dollars | sources. Thts will inevita ply force us to | the wall, for we are not in a position to | meet the obligations that will confront us"
 ahd petted it, while the man bowed his head
 Dick" she said, .'I knew something awful had happened, But did not | want tu know what 1t was until I had given you my answer. wanted you to know my decision came from my heart | and was not actuated by any motive or circumstance. I am glad I decided as I did. for l love. you, Dick; | did not moment ago. I have been saved from l making an awful mistake. ard I am glad. So glad. 1 will marry You whenever you say and my money, our mohey. Shall l tide you over" .-... |. mans eyes. But 1t passed in moment and he again bowed his head: ., Tt cannot be-" he repeated. T will not come to you ernpty-handed, Mar jorie. Good night" ...... to hide the tears in her eyes. Silently he walked into the hall and put on his overBoat. Then he paused a m ornent. and as he did so he heard the sound of
 Softly | he steppsd to the paflor door and glanced ih Marjorie sat by the fire, her face buried in her hands. Slowly he walked to her side and placed his hand | upon her head
 She turned her tear-diiamed face to his a fioTient then sbrafg to her feet and threw her arms around his. neck. Dick! DicLN she sobbed;
 ehoEi1kly. Y6 g.e' ii did did not know you really
 But he did not finish the sentence. The glearn in her eyes forbade it. ATIoNp bv I. Y FScyce