The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-29
THE WOMAN'S PART.
BY NELLIE CRAvEY GILMORE. (Copyright, 1903. by Daily Story Pubfl Co.

BY NELLIE CRAVEY GILMORE. (Copyright, 1903 by Daily Story Pubh Co)
 It was poor little house in itself. to be sureronce white with green blinds the paint now almost faded out by the rains and suns of decade. But the trim box hedge that enclosed garden of scar let creeper snapdragons, hollyhocks and innumerable blooming roses; the we'll kept gravel walks with their purple and green border of Violets; the tiny pond, dappled with silver-white ducks; and more than all. the sweet-faced woman who stood at the window, redeemed it in one minute from absolute plainness, transfig it the next into positive beauty
 Presently a man rode hastily up to the gate, threw the bridle rein over the pom mel of the saddle, and dismounted. He lifted the gate latch with impatient fn- gers. and passing hurriedly through, strode briskly up the walk.
 At the foot of the steps the woman met him with outstretched arms.
 "Oh, Dick" she cried. f1inging them about his neck, ''the waiting has been an intolerable pain. I could almost cry for joy now that you've come, even if- if it isn't true, after all Is it true?" She calmed suddenly and held him from her tensely. her eyes clinging to his in sudden agony Of questioning.
 Tt is true" he replied. and his glance fell away from hers abruptly.
 Her arms dropped in a limp. nerveless fashion to her sides. For the moment the power to move seemed to desert her. But in 8 little while she pulled herself together. and a beautiful smile. such a one az Harrington had never before seen on a woman's face, crossed her features, changing, rejuvenating illumining them.
 -sIA Gil entity she drew him after her to one of the twisted-oak benches that stood here and there among the flowers. They sat down, still in silence. the sun on the grass making a dappled carpet of green and gold at their feet.
 The woman was the first to speak. "When did 1t happen?" she asked. in vain attempt to appear calm.
 Some months ago; he was hunting The shot that killed him vas purely ac- cidental"
 And the man"
 T did not learn his name"
 But you are sure-sure that it was he? There can be no mistake-no-noth- ing?'
 T am as perfectly sure as you could wish me to be. Alicia" he returned.
 She glanced at him quickly, a little furtively. and some of the color faded from her cheeks "Why. Dick" she cried, her voice breaking a bit, you don't seem glad, dear; not half glad enough-not, oh, not a hundredth part as glad as IT.
 Harrington shifted his position trife his arm went. with the old habit of caress, about her shoulders. He bent swiftly and kissed her.
 My darling" he said, gravely, words are the poorest expression of ones feel ings. Don't you know that?"
 After he had spoken another silence followed. Pink sunset faded into dusk, and gradually the stars. a million points of blue steel. stippled the black back ground of sky above.
 We've been very happy together, dear, in spite of all. have we not?"
 The man drew her closer, so that her head rested quite naturally in it's old position against his shoulder Very, very happy" he responded, his voice low.
 Alicia stirred little uneasly. and presently looked up into his face with q sort of strained eagerness. Do you regret-nothing?" she asked, tentatively.
 Nothing"
 Home frlends-not even your fam fly"
 He shook his head. They do not know" he said. after q pause, that am here. They think-''
 And if they did know?"
 He started; the movement was quite involuntary and in moment he had controlled himself 'Tt would be all the same-to me-" he answered, firmly.
 Aliciat sat perfectly still for long time her face alight, as though she were drinking in some new joy. Then with a happy little cry, she threw herself sud denly into his arms. oh, Dick" she half sobbed. If l should lose you at last, af- ter all these years of waiting" . Harrington's expression changed a bit; he neither moved nor spoke for some time But presently he put her from him with little hurried gesture and started to his feet.
 T was so taken up with-with being near you again." he explained. nervous ly. that came all round forgetting my errand."
 "Errand?"
 Yes. Now that-that this has hap pened, there are d great many things to De considered-to be-done"
 II know she murmured
 ''I must return to the city at once-to- night"