The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-16
Our Daily $bort Story

the last being a long illness and grim hght with death. I care for you, l have seen your love for me. have tried to yield to 1t, for I knew that you are noble. good and true. My heart has sometimes hungered for your tenderness and care. but phantom hands have always. and will always. thrust you from my heart. for I feel bound to him for time and eternity" You say that Mir. Sinclair Is deadf"
 Yes; the vessel was lost off the banks of Newfoundland" For a moment the love of the man struggled with the integrity of the
 gentleman. Unconsciously she had betrayed the fact that he might in time win her love. and save his hap piness, but by paying the price of eter- nal shame. His soul bowed in the dust Of despair, but his honor arose tri- umphant from the crumbling ruin of his hopes.
 Alice. can you bear a great shock7 Be brave, have something wonderful to tell you. Harry Sinclair was picked up by a fishing boat but was desper- ately i'll for months afterward. My friend says. that he sought for his lost love even as Evangeline sought for Gabriel. Then he heard that she was dead. Weep to your hearts com AoEb nOWs I VIII hCNCI tCoty hSNCS cease in my efforts. until lay this lit tie hand in his. I have seen him! If had only knownl"
 You have seen himi Is it possible? Oh! tell me all about him. Was he broken-hearted. sadT
 Well. no: he did not impress me that way. l thought him a genial. pleasant fellow"
 T do not see how that was possi- ble-"
 You must not be unjust. You loved him truly and yet you have always seemed like Gods smile and angel of light"
 His voice broke with suppressed sobs as he arose:
 "Good-by, my lost love, I will so away tomorrow. and when return, please God, 1t will not be alone"
 The shock of the news. the power of memory awakened by the imprisoned voice. which she had thought stilled in death, left her mind almost In a state of chaos, but the beauty of such un- selfish devotion impressed her as Loves divine self-abnegation.". As if whispered to her soul, came the words of the Son of God:
 Greater love has no man that this: than he lay down his life for his friend" and she knew that the sweet
 est hope of his heart had been slain by her hand.
 She stood in the parlor awaiting his | coming. Her face was like a lily
 which the frost had touched. Piteous expectancy was in her eyes. Her | hands were cold and nerveless. She 1 knew that MT. Leigh had returned alone, but what story did he bring? When he came the pity , upon his
 face did not escape her eyes. He Is dead" she almost whispered
 T can read the truth in your face" NO; 1t is worse than that, poor child. Sinclair was married the very day reached"
 Married. married! Oh! thank God!"
 broke up in flood of tears. Alter
 awhile she said:
 Listen before you tell me one word. He was my girlhood's lover. associated with the romance, music and sentiment of youth. If he had remained con- stant to my memory I would have | married him. Dudley. the girl loved him. the woman loves you. did not
 know until you had gone that I had sent you to find my doom as we'll as yours" "Alice. Alice" and he drew her to his heart Tn June I must go to Eu- rope. Tell me that I need not go alone"
 The family had gathered in the sit- ting room and the children went as usual to the graphophone. In a mo- ment the air quivered with the melody of song. Childish voices Joined in the refrain, blending with the fathers bass and the mothers sweet contralto.
 Alice moved to the doorway the portiers framing her slight form, and sang as no human ear had ever heard her sing. Then turning she laid her hand in his, and he read his answer in the dying cadence:
 T will wed you in the golden sum- mer- time."