The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-28

with his mouth open.
 Why de yeu leek at me Ike that, Ga- hrel7'. she cried "I am no ghest Ana why dc you walk so fast7 l have been running after you as hard as can Ana wasn't that Francis Bethune In the wagon with Mr. SaRdersf"
 Did you run hard just to ask me that! Mrs. Absalom could have saved you aii this trouble" The mention of Betnune name had brought Gabriel to earth again. "Yes. that was Master Bethune, and nc has grown to be a very handsome young man."
 "oh. he was always good looking" said Nan, lightly. Where are you ana Cepnas going?"
 straight home," replied Gabriel.
 Well, I'm going there, too. l heard Nonny" (this was Mrs. Absalomo say that Margaret Gather had come nome again, and then I remembered that your grandmother promised to tell me story about her some day. am gong to ee@se her today until she tells 1t.
 So Nan went home with Gabriel; was there before him, indeed, for he paused A moment to say something to Cepnas. She ran along the walk. took the steps two at a time, and as she ran skipping along the hallway she cried out; Grand mother Lumsdenl Where are you? on, what do you think? Margaret Gather has come homer' When Gabriel entered the room, Nan had fetched stool. and was already sitting at Mrs. Lumsden feet, holding one of the old ladys hraai' but beautiful white hands
 Here was another picture, the beauty or which dawned on, Gabriel later-yoatn and innocence sitting at the feet or sweet and wholesome old age. The lad was al- ways nroud of his grandmother. but never more so than at that moment when her beauty and refinement were brought into high relief by her attitude toward Nan Darlington. Gabriel was very happy to be near those two. Not for a weary time had Nan been so friendly and familiar as she was now.
 .sMargaret Gaitheri Margaret Gaftherr Gaa,rieIs grandmother repeated the name as if trying to summon up some memory of the past Poor girlt Did you see her, Gabriel2 And how did she iookr With a boys bluntness he described her physical condition. ''Oh. I'm 50 sorry for her And she has a daughterF said Mrs Lumsden softly. 'I will call on them as soon as possible And then If poor AaF- garet is unable to return the visit the daughter will come. And you must be here, Nan; Gabriel will fetch you And you, Gabriel-for once you must be polite and agreeable. Candace shall brush up your best suit, and if it Is to be mended. l will mend it."
 Nan and Gabriel laughed at this. Both knew that this famous best suit would not reach to the lads ankles, and that the sleeves of the coat would end little below the elbow.
 II can't imagine what you are laughing at" said Mrs Lumsden. with . faint smile. q am sure the suit ts very re- spectable one. especially when you have none better.
 However. the affair never came of The dear old lady had no opportunity to send the invitation until long afterward- Nan was compelled to beg very hard for the story of Margaret Gather. It was never the habit of Gahriels grandmother to i'm dulge in idle gossip; but Nan had the art of persuasion at her tongues end Wheth- CT 1t was this fact or the fact that Mrs- Lumsden believed that the story. carried a moral that Nan would do well to d. sast, it would be impossible to say. At any rate. the yoingsters soon had thair desire. When it cAme to an end Nan was almost in tears.
 'Tt happened. Nan. before you and Ga briel were born said Mrs Lumsden. Margaret Gather was one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen. and at that time Pulaski Tomhn was one of the handsamest young men in all this region. Naturally these two were drawn together. They were in love with each other from the first. and finally day was set for the wedding, They were to have been married in November. but one night in October the Tomlin Place was found to be on Are, The flames had made eonsid- erabls headway before they were dfscov- cred
 well, it was impossible to save the house. It was all the neighbors could to prevent the spread of the flames to the nearby houses, All Of sudden Fanny TomHn-"
 ',Reu mean Aunt FaAHy?' interrupted Nan,
 YYes my dear, Ali of sudden Fanny Tomlin remembered that her motheF's portrait had been left hanging on the walt Without 8 weRd to any one she ran into the house. How she ever passed through the door safely 1 never could un- derstand, for every instant, 1t seemed to me great tongues and sheets of flame were darting across 1t, and tapping and licking inward You may be sure that we who were looking on, helpless. held our breaths when Fanny Tomlin disap- peared through the doorway. Pulaski Tt mlin ran this way and that, ike one dlstraught Twice nc called her name, and his voice must have been heard above the roar of the flames, for presently she appeared at an upper window, and cried out, What Is it, brotherT Come down! Come outr he shouted. Pm afraid can't she answered, and then she waved her hand and diSappe arsd after tryinR vainly to cIcSe the blinds.
 But no sooner had Pulaski Toxnhn caught a glimpse of his sister, and heard her voice. than he lowered his head like ar angry bull. and rushed through the flames that now had possession of the door. l. for one. never expected to sec him again; and I stood there frightened, horrlhcd. fascinated, utterly helpless
 We waited an age, it seemed to ma. Major Tomlin Perdue Of HalcyondaIe. who happened to Ee here at the time. vas walking about wrinSng hs hands and crying I2i-e 2 cAssd Up to that moment l had thought h2rn 70 0e 2 hard and cruel man. Suddenly 1 heard Major Perdue cry, Ahr and saW hin leap forWard as aid enlma! .eapg.
 Through the doorway. which was now entirely covered with roaring flame, d blurred and smoking figure had rushed bulky saape!ess Ggure. 1t saemed-and then l. cola psed and fell and lay in the midst of the smoke, almost within reach of the flames. But MaJor Perdue was there In an instant. and Ie dragged the shapeless mass away from the whitening heat and stiding smoAe. After this. he had more assistance than was necessary or dosiraH,e.
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