The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-25
THE ADVERTISERS
 DAILY SHORT STORY

to himself"
 "Rshearsins an impromptu after-dinner called upon at banquet that evening" laughed the woman.
 And he has never liked me since"
 T Then o there's that Chicago man vou met at the club. Do you rememberY
 Do you mean that gouty old cuss who got up and left while was talking to whether a man who has divorced one wife and married another can hope to go to Heaven" T believe I did" Well. he had been three times divorced and was then living with his fourth wife,"
 "rhe dev--ths deuce! didn't know it."
 Certainly you didn't know 1t. any more than you knew, what so suddenly offended that young lady from Milwau- kee who was visiting the Misses Adams" " He raised his eyes to her amused face.
 What was 1t made her mad?' he ask ed. arxiously.
 You met her at a church sociable?'
 Yes"
 And she consented to your escorting her to the home of her friends?"
 What did you find to talk about on the way?'
 "why-er-lets see. Oh. yes. knew she was devout church member and I reasoned that she would be interested in matters of religious importance.
 So you delivered temperance lec- ture?'
 And said that saloonkeepers were the devils servants, or something to that
 Yes. why?"
 "oh. nothing. only her father owns a brewery"
 "A brewery? And I-I-O pshaw!" He showed his hands deep into his pockets and paced the floor again. biting his lips. I'm a fool"
 No, you're not a fool Ned" the wo- man replied. consolingly' rate Is Fl know it." he replied bitterly. and now you've turned against me- too''
 You have broken our engagement.
 "Can you blame me? Haven't been very patient with you. Ned?' "Yes. You remember the time my
 He turned suddenly and faced her al most def1antly.
 Now. see here. Nellie. I couldn't help | 1t because your frizzes blew off and landed on top of my umbrella: I didn't | make the wind to blow; I didn't make | the rain to fall so that I would need to ,a1zs. smbrsla dent Hs tose6 essa kno"
  Why didn't you say false? she add | ed. But that's just it. If you had known | they were false I wouldn't have cared so much. Anyway. Ned. you wouldn't | marry me-. | "Nellie"
 | You said you wouldn't" Why, Nellie. when did I say that?" | t'You might as we'll have said 1t. She | spoke complainingly. You said 1t al | ways made you laugh to see a poor helpless man with fat mother-in-law | "WeilT'
 Well, mamma weighs two hundred l pounds. but she's a dear good old moth | CT, anyway" And she covered her fact with her hands and began to sob. | Ned slipped his arm around her waist l Sweetheart" he said, remorsefully, " | never saw your mother. you know, ant I didn't-why, Nellie. I just dote on big | robust, healthy mothers-in-law. The! are always so good-natured, always nav nav such sunny disposition, always so jolly l Say, Nellie, dear. marry me and I'll neve do or say anything to hurt any one feelings. Hcnest."
 She smiled at him through her tears | Then she threw her arms around hl | neck and laid her head upon his breast | while he stroked her hair. | Presently she released herself and ga | down in a chair, while he stood, starlni innocently at something tangled in hi
 fingers. ,.i.o.,ra,v ., this-is this-your-your switch?"