The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-16
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 The Love Story of Keturah Allen.
BY FRANK. H. SWEET.

ses ssse :F=S S<SS|S den, missi6nsry to Japan. is coming to Meadowvilie. and Is going to lecture to the Missionary Society next week, ana Is coming here to stay. What do you ,nink oI that? Going to stay here with
 Keturah rose quickly. and then sat down. aud began to ply her needles With desperate energy. She did not even no- tice that she was knitting back over the same needle.
 What do you mean. child she gasp ed. in voice that she intended to be cair'. How do you know
 Why. what . woman you are," laugh missionary work but you go off into the fdgets. Catch me ever getting so SUCK on chaity as that. But It's true. Your brother was at the station when he got off the train this morning. and ne tn- vtted him here. I was In your brothers store and saw him. and he's just spien. did" enthusiastically: "six feet high and more, and carries himself like regular soldier. Your brother told me to hurry back and let you all know he was com then she burst out with: Tm going to set my capy for him.. I'm just sick and tired of this poky place. and I always did want to go to Japan and China. ana those foreign countries.
 Child, child." remonstrated Keturah. he's more than twice your aEe."
 Only forty-tive,I S said the girl; .oIssr per so. That's just the right age in man"
 Maybe he's married. child.
 "No he ain't. for your brother asked him. He keeps house. and has Chs- namanS to cook and do his work. My sister says l must look sharp. for he's the best catch there ever was tn this town. He's awful rich. even If he IS missionary" Sfe was silent again Tor some minutes, tapping her foot compla- gently against the rustic york of the arbor Then she looked at KSturah with sudden interest.
 "He said he used to live here when he was young man. Did you know him. to remember most everything.
 He went to school with brother and me-" said Keturah quietly He used to live in that house across the street: : believe he was considered a very nice young man then"
 T should think so." scornfully. "At any rate, he's the finest man ever saw. But there they come now" and she hur- ried away as two men turned in the gate and came leisurely up the gravel walk toward the house.
 Keturah did not rise. But half an hour later she was conscious. without looking up, that some one had left the house and was coming directly toward the grapevine arbor.
 "Keturah?' and she rose calmly and gave him her hand.
 l dIu kldu tO Sct yVus ShdA hes, 'hS said; its been long time since you were here." ,, : .un,. hustled into the arbor and bore him on to look at the flower garden.
 The next few days Keturah saw very little of him. Florence had him in charge most of the time, making poor calls, wandering about the fields, or on travel and missionary work. But on the fifth day Florence was obliged to go to
 her dressmaker's. and while she. was gone the Rev. Charles Rarden found vine arbor where Keturah sat knitting. She greeted him quietly. and made room for him on the seat beside her. T haven't seen as much of you as hoped" he began gravely. as he sat down. ,,
 There's been considerable going on." she said.
 "Yes, have been trying to get chance to speak with you alone, but this Is my first opportunity. Do you remember our last conversation-before l left?" She did not answer. but her needles began to click more rapidly. Ut was in this very arbor, you remem- | Der, twenty-five years ago. I asked you to go away with me, and you said that | your father was growing old and needed | you, and that it would not be right to leave him. Keturah, will you go back with me- now? Your father is dead, and your brother is provided for. No one needs you here.'
 The knitting fell to the ground un- needed, and a warm. rich color stole into her face.
 But 1 am getting to be an old woman now, and you are in the prime of life. "Ah. indeed?" quizzingly. T am forty five and you are forty-three; Just the same difference between us as there were twenty-five years ago. Will you go back with me?'
 But still her conscience made her de- mur.
 Would not a younger woman do you more good, Charlesf'
 T want you, Ketnrah," the grave voice growing earnest and tender T wanted you twenty-five years ago. l want you now.I shall want you always. Will you go back with meY Yes"
 At the dinner table that evening the Rev. Charles Barden looked across at h.s host T believe haven't told you. John. that keturah is going back with me" he said composedly
 No? You don't mean it?" and John Allen looked from one to the other in incredulous amazement. Then he rose hastily and shook each of them by the hand. T don't suppose it will be any use to object" he said. jocosely, Ike turah Is of age and knows her own mind.''
 And from her side of the table Flor ence looked across at Keturah and made grimace, and then went on calmly with her meal.