The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-26
AS BY A NARROW CHANGE
BY ETHEL M. coLsoN.

bx EIA3A M. NOGSOG'
 (Copyright, 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Co.)
 The two men, oddly enough. delivered each his ultimatum on the same evening
 Alice" said Jim Benson. addressing the woman he had loved silently for fif- teen years and over. "I won't wait any longer for my answer, and I won't take no I'm coming to see you again to- morrow morning, and if you haven't told Miss Laura that you're going to marry me- I will.
 "It isn't as if you didn't love me-" he continued, taking advantage of the sur price and amazement that held her speeches.. 'You do love me. dear, and you know It, and you know that know 1t; you know I've known ft-humbly-for years. I've never dared say this before, but you'd have let me ask you the ques- tion I've always longed to ask, and may be said yes to it years ago if it hadn't been for your sister Laura. Now, it's worse than foolish for us to do without or wait for our happiness any longer just because she objects to my personal ap- pearance and family. I'm not handsome, I admit, and I know I don't show up well beside her friends and associates. but then-Fm not asking her to marry me. And you'll forgive me all the short comings cant help T know. You never did mind appearances as much as Miss Laura, I've the greatest possible respect for your sister dear" as Alice flushed hotly and regarded him with dawning in- dignation; 'I think she's a wonderful wo- man, and love her for the care she's tried to take of you. But she doesn't really need or desire to claim your en- tire life, Alice-and I do!'
 Ii was the longest speech Jim Benson had ever made, and it left him breath less. He looked at the woman before him for long moment of tense silence. as she blushed and quivered girlishly, her wide eyes soft and alluring. Then. suddenly. he caught her close to him. an kissed her cheek
 Then. with a murmured reminder of tomorrow morning" he was gone.
 .'Well. you miserable idiot!" he apos- trophized himself on the way back to hIs hotel. there's hard job over Talk of wars and battles! San Juan was noth- ing to it. I'd rather face a whole army of Filipinos than do that again. But after tomorrow morning"
 And he lost himself in happy dreams.
 Said Arthur Huntley, addressing his nervous Image in the mirror;
 tYou're a wretched coward. man. but vou'u do it this evening! It's now or never and it mustn't be the latter. Think og vour foolish, cowardly waiting! Think of how 1t would seem to have some brayer man secure her. and never know what might have happened if you'd plucked up courage to ask her first! As it is-who knows what she thinks of your waiting. even If she has caused it7 And if she should say no"
 But he utterly refused to consider possibility so dire and dreadful. Life without the long-held dream of some day having Laura Starrett for wife would be scarcely worth living. He felt that the question he had for three years lack ed courage to ask in face of her deter mined opposition could be postponed no longer A groundless rumor in regard to her tacit encoura cement of another man had filled him with forebodings. Yes, certainly, he must speak.
 Three ties. five collars, much time. and unlimited effort at last turned him out sufficiently neat and immaculate to seek her presence Once In it, he was shy and embarrassed as she had never seen | him. Her womans intuition told her | that the decisive moment SO long post | poned was close upon her. With the | departure of her earlier callers her last | hope of respite vanished. He took her hand as one who will not be gainsaid. Dear" he began. using almost the same words as had used Jim Benson an hour or two earlier in addressing Alicej "Dear. I must have my answer-and won't take no. I've tried for three years to ask you to marry me. and you Ve | nAvAF allowed it. Now feal that