The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-26
THE ADVERTISERS
 DAILY SHORT STORY

 him! He told her this that night between the first and second acts of "L'Aiglon. | T want you to be my wife. my com rade." he said, in his low, even tone | found a woman whom I thought coult be both to me, and until l met you tha seemed doubtful. I believe l appreciate | you. You have been casting your pearl. | before swine: have been associated wttf | those unworthy of you. l shall make l | my one study. next to my profession, tt | bring out what is great in you. know that you care for me and l only wan vour assurance"
 She turned the leaves of her program ana her mouth tw;tched convulsivcly. Sc he knew she cared for him. Such is man.
 You understand there was some ont else" she began.
 ..I care nothing for what has been Whatever procers has made you wha; you are must have been good one. always knew what l want. and l want ycn; Wiii you be my wife; Hallie? .?,u,, m the eyes. In her heart the name oi Carl rang ins.stently.
 This man beside her. mentally accomp- nshed. good to look upon and with the dignity of high thought. was asking her to be his wife; and yet. with the per verseness of fate. she knew that all the joy of living lad gone with her farewell t0 the other man. She compared the two ss sho sat there in the thoatcr. Carl Saunders. the idler undsciplined and spoiled Extravagant of time and goods and carried away by his ever-ready sym pathy, he swung through life easily. needless of the deeper problems of liv- ing. When difficulties confronted him he was frankly and helplessly puzzled. It was this boyish incompctency which appealed to the material instinct of wo- men. Hallie Doyle realized his limita- tions and loved him for them, at the Uria
 The curtain had swung back on the battlefield scene A soft haze hung over
 ''yes. 1t is smoke, I was right, her peculiar!'
 There was an uneasy stir through the housa Mademoiselle Secard paused and looked about her uncertainty.
 What is the matter?' asked Hallie alarmed. 'Is there fire?'
 AS she spoke the curtain was suddenly rung down, and an immaculate man in evening dress was addressing the audi ence assuringly. There was a slight con- fagration back of the stage. The speak CT was scarcely heard. Women screamed and some tainted. There was a rush for the exits. The smoke began pouring from the heavy drop curtain. Halle and Rheicard were standing on their chairs.
 Tt is nothing serious.' he said raising his voice to be heard above the din: Don't be alarmed. We will wait until these cattle regain their senses.
 Hailie was coughing with the smoke, but she was unperturbed by it.
 "Hallie. l must go behind the scenes. An interview with Secard at such time would be invaluable. You will not be afraid? Just stand quietly where you are" All this he was compelled to shout. for the confusion had increased.
 For a moment the girl looked after her escort bewildered. She could scarcely realize that he meant to leave her alone mans mentality appalled, her. Then some one from behind her jostled against her chair and she fell forward. catching the back of the seat in front. She crouched there between the chairs to keep from being trampied on, and lay very quietly while the place became black with smoke.
 The place was quite deserted. Pres entlv she saw two men talking excitedly midway up the aisle. Hallie staggered toward them. Simultaneously they saw her. and both uttered her name and sprang toward her. One of them was Carl. She saw him only and reached out her hand to him. calling his name as she had done that day at the car. For a moment they clung to each other like children: and ignoring the other man the danger of their stuation-everything thor lips met which sealed the sudder reconciliation. A fireman was calling tc them roughly. The other man had dis appeared.
 As they stepped into carriage some distance from the line of engines sur rounding the theater. Hallie broke the silence for the first time.
 "He was Rheicard; you were talkln: with Ernest Rheicard.'
 T found him searching for you as was doing" said Carl. "ln Heaven name. how came he to leave you?'
 How came you to know I was in the theater?''
 q had been watching you from th' back of our box all evening. Hallie, yot , were going to marry that man. l saw 1t in his face and in yours. Tell me, were yoIl-could you be guilty of that?
 She did not answer. Carl put his head out of the window and gave some direc- tions to the driver.
 where are we going?' she asked help Iessly He drew her toward him tender iy. ''To a priest Hallie. I always meant it so only I didn't quite know it. You see I was so satisfied just to have you with me in the old days that l did not think 1t possible I could lose you Are you satisfied to go dear?'
 He reached out and turned her face to the light. dropping his hands Imply as he did so. with an exclamation half of awe. half of adoration; for in that moment the woman came to a full real ization of the greatness of her love: her face had caught something of the su pernal, and the man fell back abashed at 1t.
 sTER BARRINGER." by Sara L. Coleman.