The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29
THE RETURN OF AN EX-
 PATRIATE.
BY GRACE s. COFFINg tcopyright. 1901. by Daily Story Pub CsJ

E s g E E E E < < $ % plishments was worth a cent in the market Nevertheless she bought the morning paper though she srudsed the two pennies tt cost reading, while the steady cough went on in the other little room, with now and then an impatient whine for more medicine. she saw
 MILLION CLEARED IN WHEAT. Pile of Golden DoIlsrs Amasssd & by Brain and
 Dropped Out.
 Alexander Patton. Napoleon of the Board
 Forces . Settlement With shosts'
 and Retires, Rich and Smiling.
 Alexander Patton! The name woke memo almost insanely. She could close her eyes and see his white face as he pleadedi she could hear too the lsush Tith which she answered n, sac, than any man she had met before or since infinitely better than the hashy scoundrel she her father dead; more consuminsly than the wreck for whom she was immolating herself. Why had she refused him7 Pride. of course; fathers wishes. for she knew that the specu- whom he had introduced to his home Five years had passed since he went from her. i've i've years' ears long ieaden & ana @ ruii or rtm misery wheel. rich. powerful, courted. and she at the bottom. poor. unrecognized almost in hiding fancy him in high estate. To her minds eye he was still young, obscure and pleading cesn o Fom yond sounded the cough and a querulous call
 Florence! Florence!'
 still strong. still beautiful She looked down upon his fallen jaw. his black lips. the hec- finder the sheet his sis knees showed sharply. His narrow chest. with dreadful hollow at the base of the threat; rose and fell pantinsly; air: must have nourishing food; q physician should be called. why am I suffered to He You are willing enough admit it-but un- skilled. With proper care ] should be well
 But you have friends, acquaintances. You were born herel Your father was rich
 Her hands, hanging loosely at her sides, clesed tightly. she half turned from him.
 hsSe %o 0 % 'an she 'fu sad Kently t no call for aid
 A complaining whine follower her she went out. Once more her eye fell upon the paper lying upon the common table. The black she had laughed at? This time her cheeks went white and she shrunk as if to avoid a blow. All of her old stubborn pride arose and fought. She shivered as though in ague.
 'T cannot do it!'' she whispered. If my, souls salvation were the reward. could
 The deep rending cough was followed by weary moan. She put on her hat and gloves and the front door closed behind her.
 Patton, older and graver. sat at his desk in his inner office. quiet light of exulta- tion in his eyes. but he was impassive. His bookkeeper had shown him a trial bal The sheet lay before him. He glanced at it and half sighed. uniformed boy hand
 q do not know the lady'' he remarked un- consciously aloud. but show her in.'' stretched hand. Recognition was instant. If twenty years had passed he should have known that gusenly So form that that patrician naughty. now. but softened tn the shadows of shame
 ''Fiorence@Miss Devoe-Mrs. Warren" he was silent.
 It was the woman in her that made her the
 MT. Patton she answered, taking the hand and speaking softly and slowly T have Without Q dollar in the world or a friend to H3 whom l eaD.sappeai' I ask you to forget the shabby rooms, dying of consumption. He Is doomed, and lacks everything which should lessen ssn his his. agony; 1H e, Gan you forset:% membered but as one whose presumption mer- tied more punishment than he received. can has been with me and bave wished you hap piness It is not for me now to tell you why but you know-you know
 Her head was bowed and again tho blush stole over her cheek and brow.
 'I know" she murmured.
 U an instant his eye met hers and his hand trembled. In every vein pulsed some new and strange delight. which he did not understand, nor try to understand.
 His voice sounded repressed and strained as he ran through some papers and selected one that was yellow and time-worn.
 Mrs. Norton" he said, T have here some- thing l have longed often to show you. You would have known of 1t long ago if I could have reached you. l knew that you were alive because I felt that you were alive but I could not find fin what part of earth you had buried yourself This is a memorandum of q large sum loaned to me by your father when I left his employ. He sympathized with my creditors because they got all and more than they should have had. The sum originally was S5O. oO0 It is in memorandum form be- cause MT. DeNoe would not accept my note of hand.
 " It may happen some time Aleck' he said to me. that my daughter will need your as- sistance. If that time comes, aid her.
 This sum has grown largely It has grown credited with S225. .ooo I will draw my per- sonal check in your favor and then I will drive you to the bank"
 She sank into a chair and looked at him writing. His brown hair sprinkled with gray and there were lines on his forehead but the deep tender, masterful nature of inc man showed plainly. It was not of the money that she was thinking.
 Half an hour later they entered the shabby rooms
 John" she called clearly. Dear John, have brought a friendr
 There was no answer. She stepped hur- rtedly to the rear room. The blue -veined lids down. pressed one skeleton arm hanging list clay Patton drew up the sheet reverentiy, then took her hands. She bent forward anj her head rested on his shoulder.