The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-17
A TIMELY LOAN.
BY. EVA WILLIAMS MALONE.

tcopyright, so2 by Daily Story Pub. Col .ss:ix x a < x @ $ $ s % $
 "rve felt 'em. said the other dryly. 1, Now. see here. old fellow. if you don't quit putting in.. you are going to nis. | General Gordon's speech this evening for I'm billed to finish this yarn befor, we get up from here. Where was I?" With Miss Gladys, presume"
 "Yes, l remember. the night the Tank came in on us We were all In the par lor--Lieutenant Preston. Chalmers an, lot of us boys Gladys ". was .,h i9oktns ssa q homespun dress, that I'd been plotting for an hour to get her out on the yer anda to myself. Just as l had succeedea' and was in the seventh heaven. m n, dream of blis was rudely disturbed by Pete, Colonel Bascom's body servant, rushing across the lawn and crying out Git in de house, Miss Gladys. fun de Lawd's sake! Dc Yankees am T hadn't said a word that would bind Gladys to me, or me to her; and thiS was no time for wordy proposals. jerked out my watch, hands2me oia. slipped it In her hand. If I am Killed. It Is yours--if I live 1t is ours; and. without another word, l mounted my horse. as did the others. We escape d a a across the Appomattox: You know the story of the days that followed. Peters, burg fell Richmond fell, Lee capituated and--the end" .hE The two comrades seemed looking back ward through the mist of years-invol- untarily they grasped each others hands for an instant. then the speaker went on: >"Before I started, penniless and almost to Colonel Bascom's and found 1t a ruin. The house had been burned, the family and slaves were scattered, and l tried in vain to get some trace of them. It ua linaS. hut what could fel- low low do% '''
 Swallow it." suggested his comrade.
 "Yes, swallow 1t; as we did the rest and try to remember that we were men nessee, and worked to build up my law practice. l wrote to Gladys, to Colonel Bascom. for l was hard hit. old man; but l couldn't hear . word; A s'1Id coupie ,os Q. to Philadelphia. l went by way Of Pc, tersburg."
 Ills companion cleared his throat omi- nously. but the speaker took no notice.
 Il had done my best to make myselr forget that Virginia girl; but somehow her image wouldn't fade like the others had.I don't know whether I meant 10 no, ase aRneHsf Rnow sometsine set @ seemed to me to Petersburg. And, would you De- Heve it, the very first man I met as started out of the depot was Colonel careWorn. nasSSm but 'i the sanIe genial gentle ~~-~
 man.
 Bless me! he cried, almost squeez- Ing my hands off, Is It really you, cap tain? We heard you were killed in the fighting around Petersburg Dear me! How glad I am to see you. But, wait a minute; I'm looking for Gladys. Did you see anything of her on your train! came to meet her
 "Of course, I hadn't seen heri
 Just then someone touched me very gently on the arm an a voice-that voice said with note that was between a laugh and tear:
 Captain Williamson, allow me to re- turn your watch"' And I knew in a min ute that I hadn't forgotten-that l couldn't forget"
 An ineffable look came into the veter- ans face and he paused.
 "Well?" suggested the listener, rather impatiently.
 What is there to well about? It's time to hear old Gordon. There comes my wife to remind me of the fact. Gladys. my dear. this Is my old comrade. Lieu tenant McEwen, and he would like for you to tell him the time of day"
 By that same token she knew that the veterans had been diving into the past: and that the captains love story had .ome to the fore.