The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-11
THE ADVERTISERS # # W
 # # DAILY SHORT STORYS /
Copyright 1901. by Daily Story Pub. Co,

1 coin. There was some desultory conver.
 sation, but he was not long in coming te | the sweet subject.
 Miss Maxwell" he said. slowly. se $ | came. to see you tonight to ask you g very important question-a question whicl | will affect my whole future He stopped and regarded the young lady clearly and. without comment, waited foI | him to proceed. He did so abruptly. | Have you eyer thought that l cared for you. Miss Maxwell?
 Her eyes grew wide. "Oh MT. liar vey,' she murmured, "I had mot thought of you in that way. I had not, indeed. 7 Tt Is true nevertheless" he declared 'I love you'll believe I have always loved you. I shall never be happy with out you. l ask you to be my wife" She rose, very beautiful, very grave. q cannot" she said. without shadow Of | emotion. Il am very. very sorry. for your wife,
 He was dazed. "Ah, am I so objection | able then that you are positive there Is no hope"
 Not objectionable. no, certainly not ob- jectionable," she said. but I-I am al
 ready engaged to be married"
 "Oh, l congratulate you-1 congratulate you from the bottom of my heart he
 said "I hope you will be very happy Thank you" said Ada Maxwell gravely.
 He did not stay long after that. Books, art, science, failed to interest him. h. deed he began to think that the girl would do well to turn to lighter topics now and then. A tired man needed men, tai rest sometimes.
 ed the street. He had never asked Tn
 marriage before, and the experience was not calculated to increase his self-esteenh materially. - :,
 He reached his own room and dropped lstlessly into chair Presently his roaming eyes fell upon the bed over which he had tossed the luckless coin. HH which he had resorted to find an evenno of escape from his dilemma. His di' lemma He started. Why the deuce hadn't the dollar fallen tails up instead subjected to this humiliation. And as he thought it all over he believed that he
 cared as much for Grace as he did for
 Ada. He pondered at the strange ways of chance, and as he did so another plan came slowly into his mind. The next evening, at about the same
 time as he had called upon Miss Maxweii on the previous evening. he stood in fron' He was kept waiting for Grace no longer than he had been kept waiting for Ada
 upon the other occasion Truly both girls
 had the saving virtue of promptness. | tered the room, and he smiled respon- siveIy. Her merriment had always been | infectious, he remembered. Her eyes were bright. and her lips smiling as she greeted him. I'm all out | of breath" she said. My brother caught a mouse down cellar and he's been frightening the life out of me with It. | I'm glad you came. because he won dare to come in here. Oh, dear! And
 she dropped into chair. quite out oi breath, 4.
 The minister laughed. He thought IL all delightfully."- unconventional. About a half hour later, when Grace flow of gossip stopped he rose and walked over to her chair.
 Miss Morrison" he said. II am gong
 to ask you a serious question. l love you. Will you be my wife?"
 "Oh, MT. Harvey" she exclaimed, ana
 she looked as If she were going to burst
 into laughter "Oh, Mir. Harvey,
 He strengthened up and stood stnIiy
 beside her. 'Is the idea so ridiculous
 then?'' he demanded, almost sternly.
 "No, mo-" she said, mot ridiculous: pe
 cause I do like you, MT. Harvey. But
 thought you knew"
 "Knew?"
 That I am going to be married
 No I didn't know-l certainly dloh
 know" ... ,,o.,,,+ -hsar
 made vet but Ada Maxwell and are to
 have A double wedding in September.
 Rev. George Harvey bowel low. lie was clearly out of his dilemma. ., 1T congratulate you both. he sald' l congratulate you from the bottom or my heart"
 z,,,,e, ,r r,,,Ic,c r hy Ethel M Colsan