The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-30
A Modern Delilah.
BY MRS. MOSES P. HANDY.

BY MRS. MOSES P. HANDY.
 tcopyright, 1902, by Daily Story Pub. Cop .you have nobody but yourself 10 blame. Elvira," said Mrs, Hnh, ,,,,ossih,e know. perfectly well, that 1t is impossipie for me to give you another gown thls sea. son. but you have only to marry MT, MT. Weston in order to have all tne heM clothes, as well as everything else sou Ellie Hill tho one but her mother ever railed her Elvira), looked up from her novel with distressed quicker ot her reo Iips. a darkening of her bright piue eses, ,s
 sRut. mamma he Is so old, she saio .Nonsense. he is in the prime of life. He is not vet 50 years old, and might easily be taken for 40. i. .,a. the ..And I am just 20. Why Is IL tnat tne o,d men have all the money? don want to marry him, mamma haeeo You are very foolish girl. There IS not another in our set WHO WV.u 9Sn n,aaItb. glad of your chance to marry the weailn. iest unmarried man in the city. Just think. Elvira, how delightful it would he fo have an elegant house. your own car riage. to be able to % order atl ta 'ne nount the cost. and, besides to have husband WIG adores you If Mir Weston were disa- preeabIe I could understand it; but ne IS handsome, has good manners, anu ID ""
 
 .sYes. but mamma, l don't love him.
 Mrs. Hill sighed. Love isn't every thing, Elvira. l made iove,natcn, NI girl was ever more more m rove .han n, In, , was with your father. l married nm against the advice of my famliy, anu lived to know, before he died. that lt would have been better for me. and, "ha, was worse. for him. If l nad nsttht1 .o to my father and mother instead oi U my own young heart A penniless WIG is a fearful clog to poor man.
 There was silence in the room TOT a few moments, except Tor the ucHhs oi 1n clock Then Mrs. Hill spoke again. Ei' vira, are you engaged to Dick Norris
 No, mamma.
 ..He has made love to you, am sure; everybody Is talking about you two' mas he asked you to marry him?
 The girls eyes filled with tears or VeN' ation, How can you talk so. mamma?
 "Tell me the truth. Elvira, has he?
 No, mamma" The answer was scarce ly more than a whisper.
 s.Nor ever will. He cannot afford t' marry and he knows it, but he amuse: himself with you, as men do, seinsni! and you, foolish child. reject lover Wh' is all that any woman could ask ana wh' honestly offers you his hand as well a his heart Elvira, Elvira. you are break ing my heart. But Elvira had lied 10 sol out her distress in her own room.
 Ellie Hill was the youngest, and by Ia the prettiest of the seasons debutantes the most successful, also. although but for her popularity among the girls of her owl age, a debut would have been impossibl for her. She had come out under th' wing Of a wealthy cousin, who was gla' to give her a chance along with her owl daughter. and she had at once captivate the greatest prize in the matrimonia market man, who old enough to be he father, was yet young enough to be madlN in love with her. Her mother. struggling to make both ends meet with the marrow pension of a United States army captain widow, and coveting wealth and luxur. for her beautiful daughter, was fevertsh ly anxious for the match. She found Fl vira less ductile than usual. Among he admirers was one for whom the gr showed a more decided fancy than he mother liked. This was a young man well-bred well-born. but as poor as church mouse. He was clerk in law yer's office, with a small salary. and h. had, moreover. an invalid mother partl. dependent upon him for support Mar for him an impossibility yet he had cho sen as the special object of his atten tions, the only one of the seasons debu tantes who had not a dollar to her dot It required all Mrs. Hills talent to kee young Norris in check and out of Mir weston's way. Fortunately for he schemes the older man took her into hi confidence, and she managed him skill fully
 Give the child time" sine pleaded, "sh is only a child in many things, while S mature in others. This is her first sea son, let her have her fling before she set ties down. Besides. she Is so unword that she does not know how to appreciat the advantages you offer her. Whc was lie, and Mrs. Hin knew it. Eli
 Thursdays story, THE LOST TITLE. "