The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-04
A FRIVOLOUS MARTYR.
Rx DONALD MrrEs.

Copyright. 1908. by Daily Story Pub Col s.artiins headlines in The Morning Can an. Aotsncea the rrtusn to the States Of Flo Web ser, the vanasviIls favovits. rom . saccessfu tnrssenent in the Kiendike Her fortune wal variously estimated with prolific wealth ol adjsetIves. Scores Of young actresses read thu grnpAic accounts of webstsr's sucess; how chasnois bAes cf gold were showered ct hel feet. as she sans end danced to audiences o rough millionaire miners on the rude stage fl the cold country. They devoured accounts c nee ricturts sdue life and illustrated Sunday spe csAis, ptetured her wonderful dog teams, thu fastest in the Kiohdike, and her s1eds iader with costly furs.
 one morains before thsse stories were begin ming to ind themselves In editorial waste bss kets dubbed ''dend mattef," weary-eyed wo man stsppsd- from q hansotn bsfore the st Mercia Hoepftai, and disappeared behind thu forbiddfng black acors. The frowsy maid with in was piddsn to dsilver slip of cardboard bearing Che simple inscription. .'Flo Webster to Dr. T. Wilbur Baitoh. Baisch was . youns visiting surgeon, who spent most of his time at the nespisai and whose patients were ehiehs imaginary. 5 tlt5
 The woman waited smpasientiy in the stusfy office stfidfng lack and forth across the room, stopping sceesionaily besore the doiefui pic- ture Of . weeping eaint, er the grim features of c painted martyr.
 For sii tns shinsmsr Of silks. the jinsiins of chains and ehateiainss. and the sparkie Of diA- fnonds. she was not en imposing figure. The beauty she had once undoubtedly possessed had sucushbed to powder and paint. peroxide and champagne; but there was an expression In her face Of fndomitabis courage and strength, and hint of wonnaniy possibilities
 She thonsht of her heraided success. and smiled bitterly. fhe old happy dave before her adventurous journey were constantly before her. She had gained wealth in the Interim. but the price had not brought happiness.
 When I come back with fortune. Jack. we will shafe is. you and [. but ws cannot live on expectations" She had sAfd this the morn- ing before leaving the States to Jack Batch. then stsussiine nsedicat stsdent. and . fa- mliar figure ct the stage aoor of the oaiety. Flo wcAstef vas sip Of sirf in those days. the toass of ths tnsn sbout town and the idol Of the gallery teys. she had danced herself into the hsArts of theasef.sosrs the evening Of her first appsafanee. Fiattefy and attention had not tutned hsF pretty sssd. however. rroe. Immediately gone out to hAndsonhe Jack Batch. man of whom men spoke contemptu. ousiy. and wetnsn proportionateiy admired.
 He he'd satd to her one morning iorg ego. long brsath: If hsd the price. Flo. would marry yeu tofn6rf6w. but"
 She dia not take into account that unfinished sentence There and thsn she had resolved that he shoaia ''havs the prsoe." :.
 After aii," she sighed. coming back to the present, 4 heVe brought him . fortune-after alir' She laughed bitterly In the faces of the doiefui saints; then recognising familiar step in the corridor sAe sunk in . large dasty chair. instinetivsiy choosing c theatrical pose.
 ''F1o!"
 "Jack?"
 The sAms handsonae, honchaiant Jack. look. ing not ( day cider, stood before her. She feis his eriticai eyes Sf her. and shrank in her chair. as she thought she read the curiously haif-indifferent expression. A sob rose in her throat, but she braveiy chol<sd H back. ffs saw only hafdIfMDed woman in 6 studied astltuds. wiso erssted him with that alr of worldly wisdom, which men condemn in wo- men: There was scarcely Q resemblance in the woman before him, he thought. to the joyous. impulsivs 6isl he had known and loved. But