The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-18
THE ADVERTISERS
 DAILY SHORT STORY

drawing rooms became ping-pongeries.
 It was a game which Lanning despieeo He had seen the savages of the upper
 Nile play ball with human shinbones
 for racquetts and baby skulls filed with
 clay for balls: he had seen the Arabs
 race on camels; he had leaped on skis
 in Norway: he had ridden with the qua
 chos of the South American pampas; he
 was above such chiIdishness.
 yanaster was not. Ills Western soul
 rose to 1t. He tapped the celluloid sphere
 scientifically; he scored against all com
 he taught her 90 much, she said. When
 this game vas in progress at the Beaton
 home Lanning sat at ease and scornfuf. Sometimes he lost interest in the 1.-the
 young figures swaying back and forth forth the library. where he smoked cigar. One night his cigar having an acrid taste. he returned to the drawing room. standing unnoticed near the doorway. a conversation came to him. certainly un- intended for his ears. but possibly he thought that he had thec right to listen.
 You are improving fast. Miss Alice. ter together than any two 1 know" Yes! Pong! You are a devoted teach CT Mir. vanaster. think that learn
 oetfss bo yo9 s59| sont yau fas How nice of you to
 say so! 1--I wish. Miss Alice-pons!---
 that was an awfully bad stroke-i
 wish. .s
 Pong! What do you wish. MT. Van
 T wish that-ping!-we might play, to-
 gether always-pong!-out Vest you
 know-pong! Will-ping!-you. Miss
 AliceT' .s
 The young woman missed her stroke
 utterly, dropped her racquet and stood
 blushing: The ball rolled under the
 piano. vanaster came round the table withdraw it.
 Lanning tiptoed down the stairs. put on
 bis coat and went out. He tugsed- at h,s
 black beard a good deal as he walked eted with Papa Beaton in a velvet-car- peted room of the bank. When he came out his lean face was untroubled. Fifty years ago was the age of stage. steam; this is the age of electricity. When Papa Beaton went home to din- ner that night he intended to do some plain paternal talking. He had no doubt modern methods and the heavlness of his girls chin. Vanaster was in the drawing room. saying chee;fully that he was hun gry and would stay on Miss Beaton's in- her father and put both hands on his shoulders.
 That young man is here too often" he sad, taking the hands from his shoul- ueTS anu STOWHS scu HI tAC AoSS' ANO7 body in the house can have any peace for your eternal ping-ponging. He must go away now and not come back any more. I saw Lanning today and he told me"
 Alice put her white hands on his lips. Vanaster said "Pshaw!' still cheerily. Alice leaned forward with resolute
 smile.
 and r. she said calmly and sweetly. Wont you bid us welcome, papa?' "Married!" Beaton howled. Why why-what-what have you to marry on.
 sir? You are an impudert pauper, sir. Be gone! Get out of my house, sir!' Alice Beaton drew herself up, and the resolute chin jutted forward slightly. .. T am of age and my own mistress, che said. T have some money from my grandmother Anyhow. we are married, and, are going tosStsy marked
 1T can make a living If It becomes ab- solutely necessary said Vanaster. with Papa Beaton stood silent for mo- ment He was a man of business and thought rapidly. There was, he saw, nothing more to be done.
 "T hope Lanning won't withdraw his account" he said placably. Have you told your nnother?" she's had mysteries. but it's over" Alice replied cheerfully. then kissed her E~father' sscheek. That evening the Beaton mansion was much the same as on other evenings. In the library papa dozed; in her boudoir mamma read a late romance;
 in the drawing room there was a shuttle
 of feet an occasional ejaculation or sent ence, a sound of ping-pong.