The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-01
a @ A RECTIFIED MISTAKE @ As

, he7" her mother would ask. ''Why. mother, it is young MT. Hardeman, to be | sure," Marion replied, but a fear welled up in her heart, 'I have never asked hin | his name," she said, but I call him that and it is all right or he would tell me. | If he is a nice man and that is who he is, 1t is all right, for the Hardemans are as wealthy as anybody in this city" That was the advice her mother gave. but Ma rion found out who he was the next day
 You are Mir. Hardeman?" she timidl: asked as he was walking the accustomed block with her, for she was almost afraid that he was not. Sure" he said laconi- caIly, and he gave her one of his pecu- liar smiles. She felt relieved on that score.
 One morning he wanted to know if he might call on her. she told him yes and he named the day. 'I declare, Marion her mother said in surprise, as Mario told her about 1t, 'I always knew you were too sweet and pretty to marry any ordinary man." "I am not married yet, mother" Marion replied. but she won
 dered when she would be to the handsome brunett. Mir Hardeman. He came, came again. soon he was no unusual sight at the Houston home and the mother wa delighted; he talked of father, or the' business, of his home, of their pahk dc- count; he did 1t In a very unpretentious way, but it left the happy impression tha he must be unspeakably rich.
 Finally it became to be well known tnaI they were engaged and all or the heisn borhood in which Marion hved talheu oi u,bat a good match she was making.
 Her rousseau was nearly done. Prep- arations were going on at brisk rate The wedding would take place in few weeks. It was during the bustle that usually proceeds a home wedoihs' thal Marion one day took down the receiver to talk to her alliance. She wanted lo tell him to meet her down town ana when the number was rung in, she caileo TOT voung MT Hardeman. When she heard a business-like austere Volce over the phone, she asked in her sweetest tone, sTs that won. Rex?" "Yes this is Reginald
 Hardeman.'' His tone was harsher still.
 "WelI Rex this is May Marion sald by way of beginning, but she hearo nlIh exclaim as though the sweetness or ner voice irritated him. 'Who?" She decided that he must be worried, maype wheat had declined, Rex, will come by your of5ce can't I?" "If you have anything particular to say you can come oy my office it is on Exir Street, you'll know the nIace." "He doesn't know me" she said to herself as she arranged her hat to go, "it is the first time l have had chance
 to see what Rex really does, won't 1t be fine, he doesn't know l am coming and 1t will surprise him
 She boarded car and sped away Pleas ant thoughts occupied her mind and gave very preposesing appearance to her face,
 not that she loved the man she was to marry so well as to be supremely happy in the contemplation of the great love he bore her. but the ever prevailing thought of what the world though was
 with her, and she knew that her ap-
 proach marriage was considered very swell.
 She entered the establishment. It stood
 at the corner of a very public thorough fare. but the gaze of passers by disturbed
 her very little. Some knew that cotton
 was lower and wondered if the beautiful
 woman would loose by it. Rows of men
 were lined up eagerly watching the bull | letens, and they did not notice the swish
 and whIrr of silken skirts as she ap- nroached an old man bending over the books "Excuse me, sir, she said, can
 see MT. Hardeman?" T am hep the
 man resnonded, eying her accurately:
 ''The young MT. Hardeman' mean
 Marion faltered. Tn minute" he re-
 nIIed and went to the phone and called
 2 numbaY. Marion did not know the an-
 swar hui the old man told whenever it
 was that there was lady to see Rex.