The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-02
Our Daily Sbcrt Story

came to her rescue and lent her | strength and speech. Martha put out l her hand in a friendly manner. at the | same time saying: How do you do. MT. Craig? Your sudden appearance startled me for the moment and IT. hadn't heard of your return to Sea- view"
 l Mortimer Craig stood with his hands in his pockets, not offering to touch her outstretched hand. Martha found her eyes attracted to his in a way she | half resented yet could not resist. He fastened his, dark eyes upon her and regarded her steadily for a moment. | So! While compassioned your dull, f tmonotonous life, you found amusement and occupation-the old thrilling game we all play at more. or less" He look ed so stern and cold Martha almost | feared him, but she could be brave; he should not sec how his desertion had Iwounded her.
 T don't understand what you mean; l and you have no right whatever 10 use that tone to me.
 You know very-well what I mean. How can you reconcile it to your con science to even enter into an engage ment with man you know Is your in- | ferior, one whom you do not lover Ad- init you do not love himw
 T admit nothing to you. do not recognize your right to question me In this matter" Martha turned to leave him. but he caught her arm l You shall hear me--that. at least. is my right now; later--we shall see. i, T am cold, MT. Craig, and am going home"
 Very we'll, I am going with you. l Would you come uninvitedT | They finished their walk in silence. l At the door of her home Martha turned toward him appealingly. My mother is | away, and I--"
 'T know what you would say, but I've made up my mind and nothing can change it." Mortimer laughed an odd constrained little laugh. l It had grown quite dark. but the room was flooded with a mellow light l from the wide. old-fashioned chimney. Mortimer stirred the embers and re- plenished the fire. No, we want no oth- | CT light" as Martha was In the act of striking a light. We will sit here" drawing up an old-fashioned settee. | For this I have waited all these long months, even years After all you are only a woman, Martha, and"
 Unreliable. why don't you say it? I know you want to-"
 Perhaps that is the right word. Yet l I intended to marry you" Mortimer had slipped his arm around her waist and held her close, although she strug- gled to free herself.
 MT. Craig have you forgotten my troth is plighted to another?" T remember only that you have been 1 a very foolish little girl to try to give your hand to one man when you love | another. No, you needn't try to deny it. Your eyes. your voice, your man. | ner all betray you. Before we go any Il fnr lnf una n the beginning I did a wrong in teach | ing you to love me. When left Sea- view I will admit, I never expected to see you again. although I loved you you were so different from the girls had known all my life. I recognized the social gulf between us. also knew my family would not receive you as a daughter. I was dependent upon my 1 father for every farthing. Often when you talked of the great and noble deeds | of self-made men-men who had risen from humble stations in life without | either wealth or influence; had over come great dificulties to achieve suc- cess. I felt very inferior. But I was indolent. My father had wealth enough for us all. and there was no need for me to do aught but enjoy life in my | own way.
 Then one day there came an awak-
 
 subject to the will of my family. For the first time in my life I acted upon my own judgment. My father threat ened to disinherit me unless I married a girl they had chosen for my wife. She had more wealth than I would ever have. and she was willing. With your image in my heart, I could not con | scientiously comply.
 Martha listened shyly. and once or I Rrn wrrv1f Ia hax rfndr hA loo ] ed up into his face.
 l q will not go into detail-it is enough to say I left home. and unaid- ed, am proud to say, not only achiev- ed success, but have made my family proud to own me. I am again In their favor, and. better still. independent to do as I choose, thanks to your in- fiuence."
 And you hadn't forgotten me all this timer"
 | Forgotten you? No, never. darling you have been my one thought that has urged me on to a nobler, better life. My education had not been neg | lected, and but needed something to | spur me on, and found that in you. I need you all the time. Now do you understand why I am going to marry you and why nothing can change my mind? Now. will you yield gracefully. of your own accord. or shall I compel your"
 And Lem?" questioned Martha. with concern.
 "Oh, Lem be hanged! He can take care of himself; besides. 1t won't take much to console him; his pigs and cows can do that" and Mortimer j strained her to his heart while their lips met in a long. lingering kiss. l