The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-20
THE ADVERTISERS
 DAILY SHORT STORY

For several moments the man remained silent. nervously biting the end of nii small. black mustache, and gaxing per
 n:s X. sa the .poas ssasr asms. ws: h
 -sHasel." he said, "I came here te show you that distance or time has not furnished my love for you; S;s,s. Ss%s hsos sos save me that night in June. i've years ago, under the naples in Iowa. came here expecting to find you with the same old welcome; the same old smiles; tn' "You have been disappointed" sh' asked, without looking up from the mo- uonless water of the pool. T have been disappointed; he sepne1q;; ieq; earth. faint flush. spread slowly over her face and her lips parted. once or twice. before she spoke. Finaiy shs said: T do not believe you love me-" the man repeated At least, I do not be- ueve you love me as you once did.
 For an instant the woman L raised ner tks ' twin IIn aIimmers of defiance and denial in them. But the man. blind with pas sion. saw only the gleam of defiance. Then her eyes wandered to t tne yaney ,ane3 and sho remained silent. conscious that the man broke the stiffness.
 Hazel" he asked, very. softly. "do you-love me as you did?
 Her eyes flashed darkly into his.
 "There Is doubt in your mind that no simpie words of mine can ever re- move." sue replied. You have presumed to pass judgment upon me before have been given even the formality of a trial. plead guilty to. the indictment"
 And you" .
 Refuse to give you an answer. ! prefer to adopt the policy most wisely followed by the accused the world over
 "The l,' he said, warmly. "since you do m: denv the accusation. 1t must be The woman raised her eyelbrows ward., as to say. "As you please. sir.
 Bl. shc d.d not speak. .Hsr ,nti1ued silence irritated the man as no words could have done. He blt by tu. ms. Her head was bowed slightly,
 50 that the sunlight, glistening on her nair. gave 1t the appearance Of q crown st barnished copper The beauty aId Of a.,n 1t .krohhinr in his heart. he turned away.
 iIied the bucket at the spring. and start ed slowly dowE the path, leeaving her sitting si,enrlv under the trees. gazing after him. her face flushing and her eyes fl. .shing bT:ef uy
 Wuen he reached the bottom of the hill. the man placed the pail of water on a bench beside the door of her home and beyond. And then, with savage swing he started toward the town, two miles away.
 Not once did he glance back. But had he done so, he would have seen the wo- the winding. fern-choked path. her hands outstretched toward him. a gleam of sorrow and remorse upon her face. the light of affection in her eyes. and name his name-upon her lips.
 But, never pausing, never once slack ening his pace, he pushed onward, tho sting of lifes bitterest sorrow in his heart.
 cottage stood between two giant pop lars, a little girl sat upon fence post reading from gorgeously colored book: And as the man walked past, he heard the childish treble faltering over the words:
 Jack and Jill went up the hill To fetch a pail of water.
 Jack fell m down and qSRs IrHRs his crown eAnd Jill came tumbling after" the child repeated; and Jill came tumhlins
 Suddenly the man paused, and, turn | ing, looked back-far up the road to
 where house nestled at the base of l a hill .,. "Yes," he said to himself. Jack did 1 fall down. I wonder-I wonder If she catae tumbling after. live acted a fool I'll go back
 He found her leaning over the gate watt nlng him as he came up the road. her lashes all gllstening with grief s
 dew. but her face shining in welcome. and her eyes glowing, softly, tenderly, warmly. like the stars in an August night. He took her hands in his and she smiled up into his face. NG," by Evelyn Raymond.