The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-15
THE ADVERTISERS
DAILY SHORT STORY

That aggravatng word was just az
elusive as ever, hoveriag about me in a
nebulous uncertainty; tantalzing, teas
ing, half-reveallng, pAfpabie, almost tan
gible, almost graspabie; in vain-feeting
-neeing-fiown.
1 wandered about-a ghost. l could not
sleep. could not rest, and an old chun
of mine, meeting me on the street, and
Look here. Billie, this wont do: come
in and have one with me-
/ did not understand his reference, but
Followed hi'r-into an srrpressively, bra.
zenly, gIaringly. decorated habitat. ]
looked musingly around, but had little
hope of finding my word there. The
tobacco smoke palled in thick stratums
ana srbstraturhs Of Realistically curling
clouds The sound waves of the rfbaid
Jest and oath agitated the stagnant at
mosphere. and through the haze Of this
bestial dissipation I heard the voice OF
my friend asking:
'.Whatll you have, Billie?
"a word" I replied, absently.
The courtly. portly gentleman who OFF,
ciated behind, the highly polished throne
Of alcoholic Indulgence gasped. and won
deringly asked: -
NO" replied, still half-absentiy.
with a little water added my friend.
"No. FIRE. exclaimed. Indignantly.
The eoIrtiy porty gentlemen asn ,nye oxer
confidentially. he hoarsely Whispered:
'Where'd you get. it? Loonatick?"
Author, great author. (My friend. in
his desire to impress the G: P. gentleman,
ably) All authors that way: this ones
in trouble: he lost a word and Is looking
for it,
We did not linger in the sulphuric at
mosphere of the c. p. gentlemans COM
m6ntS,
Matters did not mend. and one night in
sheer exhaustion 1 fell asleep and found
the word in dream. but; on! the Dill
terness of it: twas impossible for me to
recall 1t the next morning. .
NV sister, who Is a good Baptist.
thought l was In bad way. and after
much effort succeeded. to my subsequent
establishment. in persuading me to atteni
a religious revival than in progress at
her church All through the revival ser
vices / was thinking of that lost woro.
There had been times when l had expe.
rienced the relief of cessation from the
agony of such thought; but powerfully.
persistently, mistakenly. the consloera-
ton or my quest forced itself on me dur
ing the exhortation services.
The preachers words fell at first IN
heedingly on my ears, but soon. In spite
of myself, I listened. because Of the in
sistent monotone of his warming voice
because of the very pcrtent Of his admon-
ishing utterances And suddenly. start
lingly, enlightening. impetuously. food
ingly, overwhelmingly. there rushed.
surged and beat In on me the compre-
bension, the realization. the materializa-
ton. the absolute knowl VIE that ios'
To this day I am ashamed for, self
uncontaining, self-uncontrolling. jumped
I'D in a frenzy Of triumph, shouting with
jubilant exuberance:
1t! At last it's mine, it's mine, mine.
mne."
ing. congratulating: embracing; l we
final success. and. indeed. considerably
alarmed at the miraculous knowledge they
seemed to possess of my Utmost thoughts
"Oh! brother, how do you feel now
DO YOU feel the Perfect Peace?' in
ouired another with junction..
I've been searching for the word so
long" ] cried excitedly.
The Lord be praised, you've found II
at last, and the angels are rejoicing.
Suddenly I was enlightened and gasped
despairingly:
''ft's a word!'
Oh! brother, lA us pray!' and the tears
streamed down their faces as they alter
nately prayed and sang hymns of Hal
ielujahs! I essayed again. doubtfully.
hopelessly:
II only found a word"
Yes, the Precious word and they
all pressed closer around me. and one
old lady. poor dear soul. cried fervently
you look SO much like my own wild,
dissipated son, I must kiss you,' and she
did! and I FLED.
The word? Why? Mere words are pleri-
tiful. vet are they also literally, ana
Iiterarily, precious; necessitatingly spar
ing us, and rigid circumspection In Sc
lection. and as I've about reached the
limit in describing the quest. / vow I've
not one left for the word itself, and.
ANYWAY. the art of telling story Is in
knowing what not to tell.