The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-25
THE ADVERTISERS
 DAILY SHORT STORY

Don't you think she is rather superior
 ..To Tomr' che said with great cheer cry woman to any man she is likely to marry If they waited for their eqnal1 they'd all die old maids Go along with you. ,Dick-and do the best you can for
 When the young minister found Miss Noble phs had. cafsfdTIy Lesta6lished her self In . remote, cprner of the park. and the sketch she was making. he saw as bending tree with glimpse of water ur- der it.. What was there about such a picture to make one turn it upside down with frantic haste and shut the book over the exceeding fineness of her olive skin and the clear brownness of flaming in her face. and the minister stood and He was all at once conscious that it would seem inconeruous to speak to this girl about marrying Tom Harrison. But he had promi8ed and what he had prom q hardly know how to go about 1t" was the tndiplomatic way in which he opened the subJect. '.I, shall do 1t very awkwarqiy. know."
 barrassedt but he went heroicaily on There was but one way known to the young minister whereby things might be done. and that was the briefest and most T nope you won't think me ofllcicas.'. he said, but I come in behalf of young MT. Harrison. He loves you very deeply. and is % ,s ii,tls G., conscious os Of his own he hesitat<s to tell you of his, love. am only anxious for you to do him jus tice. know him. suppose. better than oushiy good fellow. who has built himself up through many adverse circumstances"
 Miss Noble was iookii'g al him hauEht- fly and her face was very white, vocate." she said In chilling tones:- "Will you tell him that asked you not 10 speak further of this matter. because it would be useless-now and foreverr He ;houndered helplessly. and for one swift moment resolved never to be . friend to anybody again ;5" "I am sorry" he said-for speech was sye a, h hss te day tor be s s'y uracns SFo~o away.least of all .he love or man-ltke Tom" V f1s
 He waited rnom ent She had turned her sketchbook under her arm Having nothfng else to do, he watched the trems- ling gold that the sun threaded into her hair. Manifestly. the proper thing to do looking into her face again.
 "I hope you won't be angry, with me, he murmured contritely. 'I knew I should do it badly-I don't suppose there
 
 ward about 1t as 1 naturally would--but wretehsd Te i'S as this" He walked around until he was Facing her ,au,,aly myou surely Grace.'
 She had raiser her eyes, and he saw the tears In them. In an instant he was holding both her hands, and the sketch book was on the ground
 For long moment he stood there. hoid- ing her hands and looking into her face. while his own face grew white. Then
 Good bye" he said. .1 must go and tell Tom that I can't plead his cause for I love you myself. And then I sup pose I shall make failure of my own He had not surprised her secret-he had only discovered his own. The young art ist made a sudden grasp after the scat flame back into her face again; but he was before her; and there the topmost one had nothing whatever to do with bending tree and glimpse of water un- Reverend Rickard Moore. though even he could see it f1attered him.
 "I was making that for your aunt. said the young iady, blushing furiously. "No I will not-at-ieast-Rickard
 Mrs. Lynn was sitting in the half dusk of the vine-clad porch that evening. when he came in and went up to her falter- ingly,
 Aunt Helen" he said. T know you were not thinking of my marrying for years yet~perhaps never7but Grace ana 7Ir love one anether-and have told Tom and I hope you won't be unwilling, auntie."
 Mrs. Lynn was obliged to press both hands to her heart.
 Why. Dick Moorer' she cried, much scandalized. "r thought you went to win wife for Tom! Well. I suppose never shall understand any man alive! But no doubt it Is all for the best Go and bring Grace-and I'll have to forgive you, l suppose And she stood on tiptoe to kiss the boy she had raised - - r==s;zz==5=z5z=z-= -