The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-28
THE ADVERTISERS
 DAILY SHORT STORY

Thank you So much." she repeated with tense civility.
 Not 'tall." he returned. lifting hls inch Iad man. wss Doniesan s was in sxefs spits of his predilection for blushing.
 Helen stared down at the little packet of mail and saw instead a small cottage furnished cesiiy with that hundred dol lars in bank. 1t was unfortunate nat hundred ,dollars, in that it formed i solid foundation for a temptation that must have otherwise remained chim- ericai: For an hour she struggled ten by ten room. 1fcn she laughed. an echo of that sighting laugh with which she had put away her books, and struck light. She had forgotten her mail!
 between her fe fingers s' I aeP pA4s. rst check check. Ambition leaped up wildly. Poor Duni- elan! Alas. for the doves of Aphrodite.
 Poor Donician? He eat on sawlos warm as Heaven. His breath came un- steadily, deep-chested, and quiverfng. His fingers still felt the touch of hers. Ills ears still throbbed to that uncon.. forgotten its civil repetition. Poor Dom ic-an! He knew nothing of that strong seated ambition that had ridden uncere- moniously over the pleasant things of paper with few figures in one corner. Had he seen 1t ne would not have under stood; yet 1t was the death warrant. signed and sealed. for his happiness. of such things: To him the fair-faced young teacher was as a dainty wild how- CT, half open in the early dew. He sat on in his warm dream of Heaven-born happiness toying in the resistless might of his strong-hearted love.
 Helen Nord was right. In these later days eagles are frequently sacrificed upon the altars of Aphrodite.
 ambition out in the forest that 1t might soar bold and unrestrained as the breath of the pines. Helen saw him coming to- ward her over the soundless needles. Strong and happy-hearted he swung god upon his brow. A strange. realizing fear seized upon the woman's heart. She sat down weak. inert. upon fallen trunk. and stared miserably at the dead straws
 Donician came on swiftly. He barred his head as he sat down beside her. Any mall for me today? she aues- toned, falling dismally in her enort 10 appear unconcerned. "No," he said softlys Had he kissed her the caress could scarcely have been more endearing.
 Helen flung up her head desperately. Her choice had come to her in barrow lines love or ambition. Aphrodfte de- manded sacrifice. Should it be dove or eagle? Alas. for the dove. The ambi- ton that had ridden rough-shod over all the pleasant things of life was not to be unseated by its poor, plaintive plead ing.
 Donician spoke with manly simplicity. T love you. Miss Helen. Tis right you should know"
 Thank you" she muttered incoher- ,ntly. She WAS plunging wildly agains, the strain of stern asceticism in her Hood. It seemed such a senseless sac, rifice--twt spotless doves for one wiid a1Ia Tlsn fha old srlamnr a0G1c upon her eyes. She saw herself as she would be-a proud, free woman. work ing her way up into the high white nghe' She tried to make 1t easy Tor nm we should not talk of such things you snd ]. M. Donician, she said. look ing beyond him lest she should see that in his wonderful eyes that would haun' all her after days. It was an unneces- sarv caution. He was not the man tc l bare his wounds.
 "I love ycu," he said. with Guiet in sistence "I can make you happy" Yes she returned, suddenly con, | scious of extreme weariness. fes.
 krow. But it must not be. 1-l have | other work to do.'
 Donician hesitated moment as though
 unwilling to believe that his glad dream was shattered.
 When two people love one anothe, | they belong to each other for all time.
 Is it not so?' he asked tenderly. ano
 his eyes compelled hers to meet them il | one Driaf, truIn-telliIiS SifiiSt. l NO. it is not so, not always" sh'
 stammered huriedly. Tt must not be.
 she started to her feet.> his hand checked her flight.
 Wait" he said, .''I will go.'
 She watched him move away. Farthe
 and farther his upright, swift-movln
 v5Is between the tree-trunks. Suddenl!
 she turned and fled, goaded by intoler
 able pain.
 And the pines were left alone in thei
 eternal serenity. chanting the re6uien
 over the fair white doves of Aphrodite.