The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-03
A Flurry,of Conscience.
BY D. H. TAIIMADGE.


 Copyright. 1902 by Daily Story Pub. Co.) Tho Rev. Mir. Sllyerness of St. Mark s Church swung slowly about in his leather covered chair. and extended white, gracefully towards a narrow. uncushioned seat at the end of the desk. T am glad to sec you" he said some- what perfunctorily, Can be of any service to your
 Then he waited. tapping his fingers uscrdpf. until the caller completed a com prehenSive survey of the luxurious apart ment, ats tast resting his eyes squarely upon the ministers face
 Il don't suppose you see anything fa- mihar in my phiz," he drawled, smiIing- ly; but if twas father instead of me reckon you would"
 The Rev. Mir. silverness glanced again et the chromatcaly printed card upon the desk. and his countenance underwent a transformation. In . Hash there passed through his mind the memory of a village among the hills and Of little white church, his first charge.
 Then you are the son of William Gill bcrt?" he exclaimed. grsasptng the young mans hand again. 'I really am glad to see you now. Why. my dear boy--oy the way. how old are you anyway Twenty-Five"
 Then you must have been-let me sec --ten years old when left Bornley. You had no beard at that time. Little wonder l failed to recognize you. Tell me about the folks. Is your father still subject to spells with his back? Does your mother suffer as much as she did with those dis dressing headaches? What of the An thonys and the Drowns and the Fenners and the Burlingames and the other old friends? Does Miss Burlingame continue to provide a bunch of roses for the pull pit desk? She never failed to do so. win ter and summer. when 1 was there." "No." rephed the young man with the readiness of the unsophisticated. Miss Burlingame doesn't bring flowers to meet ing now: hasn't for long time; not since you were there. guess. She's always at service, though, and she sits in the family pew. The rest of the family iS dead. And the Fenners have gone west and the Drowns have"
 Yes" interrupted the minister. The Buriingames were a fine family. l had not heard of their passing. Miss Buriing- ame sttl occupies the big house at the end of High Street?'
 All alone. Nothing will induce her to sell out and move into a place nearer her about her at different times. I've never taken much interest in her myself" You would not. of course. Doubtless you consider her back numoer-=a has,
 Yes" the visitor admitted; she's pre.- ty old"
 T wonder she has never married.''
 We've wondered, too. I've heard tell though. She had q proposal of marriage once when sine was young. but her folks kicked up some kind of row. and the man went away and never came naek. She's been faithful to him ever since." And who was this man-this faithless bruteT -. for sure. Mis- Brulingames real close bod folks say twas Hiram Aylesxorth, who went to California; others say twas Jsmes Stillman: still others say. twas you; You can take your n ShNce.
 St.. Marks sank back in his chair, con- tempaating the grinning visitor with as- tonishment-
 it. because its too ridiculous. but they do say it. And since you've become great and have your name in the papers almost every week they've knd of come to settle on the story as a steady thing. It makes q real luscious nersel to feed to strangers. l suppose if H. Aylesworth or Jim Stiliman had became famous one of them would have been the hero an- stead of you.'
 There was silence in the study for an interval. Then the minister spoke of oth- CT matters. An hour later Ne accompa- nied the young man to the door.
 Returning. he drew the unfinished man. uscript towards him, then pushed 1t away. and closed his eyes.
 The idea, the very idea. of coupling my name with the mysterious love affair of Martha Burlingame!" he muttered. Did I ever give her the slightest pre- text for believing that my intentions were serious? I think not. I walked home from prayer meeting with her on several ocasions. Let me See-one night we talked< of foreign missions. and l com plimented her upon her labors in behalf of the heather. I remember telling her that she was admirably qualified to be- come the wife of a minister of the Cos pei. I may in my youthful enthusiasm have enlarged somewhat upon the bless edness of a womans work in that con- nection. But she was possessed of ordi-
 Fridays story, LOVE AND A GHOST,