The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-25
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 GOLDEN ARROW
BY GEORGE J. BOHEN. .t ICopyright. 1902. by Daily Story Pub. Col il &f%%%@@&@d

Copyright. 1902, by Daily Story Pub Col k
 SsssSsse tsss sss S%e@aA sss sss.A too, could be generous. She would not waste time pretending ignorance.
 She threw on her dressing gown and hurried to her desk. She realized that the little note she wrote was incoherent but he should not be kept waiting. even wrote. tits all right. Of course you knew It would be. l could strike myself when think how foolish and cruel and unjust have been. Come early tonight. There is great deal for us to talk about, isn't there?' And she added in a post script, T shall wear them all day long, . and signed 1t with certain foolish little name they both knew. She gave the note to her maid with instructions that 1t was to be sent at onces
 The day wore away as days that lead to an expected happy event do. She had the library lighted early and donned a ment for many weeks. Now, for a happy hour at least: there was nothing to do but stare impauently into the face of ths clock and think unkind things about It's unsympathetic slowness.
 A quarter to seven-half past seven and a sharp ring at the door bell. She met the maid at the library door.
 ns,n.S A boy y,nat from .rae the florist msam" ex. this card was to have been sent with the flowers this morning and was for She took the card with unsteady fingers and held 1t unread 'intil the maid dis apreared. with sickening precedence of what name would meet her eyes. It seer,ed to leer up at her from the | pasteboard-oMr. Frank Biveridge. |" After the first blank moment she crushed It savagely in her hand as though It were living thing she could hurt. An ignorant fool. that was what she was, jumped hcadiong into conclusions and was properly hurt for It. And so 1t was al! to begin again, the old torturing un- happiness and wearinesst
 She looked at the clock-a quarter of eight. He was probably on the way to her now. coolly exultant, and half pity Ing this easy surrender of a weaker nature
 as If the man she had been thinking of so tenderly half hour ago had turned from lover into a mocking creature eager to witness her humillati ,n. |. There was only one thing to do, she thought She owed it to herself and her own self respect.
 When he came she would explain the matter instantly, and dismiss him as she was no poor weakling, but woman who stood by her pride and gloried even to herself that the disappointment hurt her with pain that was almost phys
 
 afterwards.
 She had told the maid early in the evening that when MT. Essington" came he was to be admitted to the library at once. She had not thought to coun- termand the order. Now, when the bell rang sharply there seemed only a mo- ment between the closing of a door and the sound of his step on the salrs. She put the thought of how she would have welcomed 1t an hour ago sternly aside.
 There was only one thing for her to do now-the duty she owed herself. She realized bitterly as Essington stepped task before her.
 In the first hurried glance she missed the fact that there was nothing of tri- umph in his appearance. On the con trary, his manner was constrained and his face grew heavier as 1t met her own. She checked the involuntary step she made towards him. How strangely old he looked! Suddenly she seemed to hate her pride as a slave hates the master who goads him to an unholy task. Es- sington looked at her silently.
 Have you nothing to say to me, perhaps-that you She drew away from him proudly. You thought. natur- ally. had forgiven you" che said. q
 Her voice broke. She was conscious that she did not want to explain at all that she only wanted to repeat again what she had written that morning. and If necessary, despise herself forever af- ter. At any rate,' said Essington, "you must let me say what I came to say, and then l will so away at once if you. wish: Grace, hasn't this wretched business lasted long enough? We wer, both wrong-not n the very quarrel It. elf, n "haDs but in all the rest. Oh. my dear, it's all very well to have a worse for t, but it's deadly to make a pet of monster tha. devours yoI. mind and body and soul. Nc, don't stop ma let me finish. My dear. life isn't Iorg this spoil the best of it. I've been a topl and a madman. and I've come to tell you so and ask you to let me stay Will you. Gracer'
 ,r spirit. "oh.' she cried. why diIn't you come yesterday, or the day before? Did you have to wait for that letter?'
 That letter?' he said. What letter? What do you mean? I've been away with Benson since Monday, and thought of you every miserable minute of the tim" and of how things were with us last Easter -and-all we had planned for I ran away from Benson and came direct here from the train. There is only one thing of any Importance in the world Grace Will you let this wr@tched busi-
 She looked at 1im hlankly for a mo- ment; then, with realization of what his words meant, she burst into a hys- telical little sob and held ont both her hands.
 As Essington's hands fell on hers, a sudden knowledge of how desirable it is to be humble for loves sake filled her mind.
 This man must never think that she exulted ia the petty thought that her pride had been the stronger. She would not be less generous than her lover, Grace" he cried. T may stay--da YOU mean it? Is everything lll rig,i. Ut last:'' She made her womanly sacrifice quick.