The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-01

She sat and waited. Surely Rex would think 1t was she and hurry in. he does not look bit like his father, she thought as she watched the cars and people pass the door. Finally the outer door opened and a man entered. He was small with dark piercing eyes and iron grey hair. Any one to see me, father2'' he asked and his eyes fell on Marion. ''The lady there" and the father pointed to Marion. Marion could not contain her surprise, neither could she escape, she only arose to her feet as the young man approached her. You are not Mir. Hardeman?" she said and her voice sounded weak, harsh and faint like one speaking through a tube at long distance. The young Hardeman noticed the disturbed state of mind she was in, father, tell Mace to build fire, a slight fire in the furnace, the younger man was trying to occupy himself with something and at the same time appear attentive, and Marion was endeavoring to compose herself and speak and tell her business here. The janitor entered, Marion swooned, build a Ire, Mace," and the man spoken to looked at the blanched face of the girl he had taught to love him under the assumed name of his employer, with more calm ness then either of the other men pos- sessed. Marion was not the girl to stay long unconscious, she had a great deal Of self control. As she revived she said, 70 let me go. it was only face I saw that reminded me of a friend long dead. don't be uneasy, pray. I came to see if you would invest little capital for me, 1t Is not much. haven't the courage to Sink much the first time. it Is just a few hundred. l want you to buy cotton for me or wheat, there is a big profit in either or them, have been very sick and I can't make any money and I want to make some they are rising now, aren't they?' As she rambled on in this strain, the wires were clicking off dooms and the old man was inscribing unfeellngly the characters that meant wealth, poverty. disgrace to the anxious watchers.
 Rex Hardeman saw the condition tha girl was in, he quietly told her that she was unfit for business and that she must come another day to see about the investment. He also called a carriage despite Marion's protests that she was all right. and when the vehicle pulled up in front of the door, he assisted her in and even got in with her and did not get out till they had reached her home Her mothers surprise can be imagined, MT. Hardeman explained the situation as best he knew, and Mrs Houston was content with that till he had gone.
 Marion did invest the little money she had in wheat futures, they planned all that out in the drive home in the car riage. Hardeman, the broker was slight ly partial in his dealings with. this lady customer of his. and one afternoon he drive out to tell her how favorable wheat stood. He decided he could keep her a great deal better posted as to the mar ket by driving out in the open country. and one day the wires clicked that wheat had gone up five points over the day be- fore and Hardeman clinched the sale, and Marion was several thousands better off than she was the day she paid the establishment her first visit
 The people still talked of her engage ment to Hardeman. one friend remarked that he had changed since the first time she saw him, he seemed smaller she said and Marion only smiled and said that people often seem to change after the first time one sees them.
 Marion did marry Rex Hardeman but on account of i'll health the wedding was postponed until several months later than unsuspecting friends were told and they believed 1t. Her husband, the real broker and dealer in futures. never knew of the little affair with the janitor, and Marion would not have let him learn that part of her history for worlds; but he often remarks on the pecullarity of fate in giV- ing him wife the way in which it did. and Marion 0nly smiles, If she is in his