The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-17
THE PATH OF JOY.

T ar1 dead tired of everything"
 She looked out of the window as she said 1t and the haggard look on her face proved that she meant 1t. Life had been rather hard on her. The prettiest of the debutantes three years before, she had not been one of thosawho mar ried after their first season. Only en- vious people said it was Amante's fault A great many said 1t was because the girl desired and expected too much of her suitors, disdaining wealth and posi- ton and looking for the realization of an ideal.
 Suddenly something had happened. She had niet man to whom she had been attracted and newell, he had hardly noticed her, his entire time and attention taken up with girl whom Amante had never considered a pos- sible rival.
 In her misery-for real misery 1t was -Amante despaired. She slept little and arose one morning with an utter disgust for life. Something. some thing must happen to ease the dull anguish she felt o- she would die.
 As she leaned from the window in the late spring sunshine she heard voices across the lawn at the servants gate. Thomas, the pompous coach- man. was expostulating with a slender girl who stood there. She was evident ly- a gypsy. The morning sun shone on her brown face and lit up her large sombre eyes. Thomas was evidently refusing her admittance as in the line of his duty.
 Then a shrill voice came across tc Amantes ears:
 Let me in! I would so to my sister. My sister is in trouble and she waits for me there. Let me in!'
 Amante's heart gave strange stir and impulse. She hurried into the hall where the whitecapped maid was dust ing.
 GO down to the gate and tell Thomas to let that woman in. She seems in trouble. will come down and see her in a few moments"
 So. picturesque in purple and gold kimona. Amante hurried down to the porch few moments later. a mystical butterfly herself with subtitle perfumes in the folds of the sinous silk and with her dusk hair in picturesque disorder
 On the steps sat a woman creature younger than herself, being of sun- burn. of wandering, of untrammelled life; girl who. with equal chances. would have been as beautiful, as mys- tical. She was slim and her ragged gown was opened at a throat bare and brown. Her eyes held a wonderful light. The two looked at each other and the gypsy woman spoke:
 You are my sister and in sorrow. Come with me and I will take you to your joy. See, will lead you to a happiness"
 How did you know?" faltered Amante. "I never said"
 The gypsy caught her hand quickly and pressed 1t to her breast.
 We know. Iris the pain of love. I will lead you to joy. You shall have your hearts desire-if you will only trust me-"
 "Where?"
 "To the north That is all know You shall be my sister and I will lead you to joy. Have you the courage?"
 'Go away with you? How could IT.
 But in her blood was wild clamor for freedom and for change. She changed from red to pale.
 Listen" whispered the gypsy still holding a hand in both her own, His ten! You shall only be ten days with us to gain joy. It is written in the stars. Then" and she leaned over and whispered-"then. my sister. life is yours"
 Amante was red enough now. She deliberated. Suddenly the fascination of the adventure swept her from her moorings.
 II will go." she whispered, "I will meet you tomorrow at noon across the river"
 It seemed sudden resolve to Amante's father. this one of visiting her married sister in Chicago, but he was used to her caprices and only in- sisted on seeing her safely off He would have been horror-stricken to have known that she alighted at the station across the river and telegraphed to the baggage master at Chicago to hold her trunk. Then she deliberately walked to the river bank and there met Zorel whose beautiful eyes shone with well
 Thursday, AFTER LONG GRIEF A