The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-27
Our Daily Sbcrt Story

had iabored Jacob-iike, and in vain. was working among the flowers herself, lit- tie paler than usual: but she started up with a cry at sight of him.
 "oh. Luke--I didn't know what had be- come of you" she stammered. Have you come to help me with my flower beds?"
 post casually with his hammer,
 Not this time," he said lightly. T promised the young lady that's moved into the Lacy place-Miss Katie Brant. you know-that I'd help her with her rose arbor. You've seen her. haven't you? Great Scott, but she's a pretty girl! San Peterson says she's a regular belle up at Carleton-all the fellows crazy about her. feel a good deal that way myself" added Luke. giving himself over to large invention.
 There was no reply. Rose was bending assiduously over the flower bed. Her iong-serving and oft-rejected lover tap ped idly on the gate post.
 Well. good-by. There's a lot to do up at Miss Katie's.'' he called presently. and went on his way. The demure little maiden stood up and looked after him: and, returning to the flower bed moist ened 1t with tears. How was she to know that her slave. long given over to fetch ing and carrying. had left the road ab. ruptly 100 yards away and was at that moment stretched full length under a tree reading book which he had brought in his pocket? No, demurA little Rose could never have imagined such depths of deceit. She had never deceived any body-never. in all her life. She could not have been capable of such double dealing.
 Still, it is undeniable that the flower beds suffered. What was the use of try ing to have flowers if one could not get them bedded out in time? Luke had helped her with this every year since she was quite girl What did he mean by beginning things if he did not intend to go on with them? demanded Rose of the unanswering flower bed.
 Days passed, when Luke was undoubted- ly away at the Lacy place. helping Miss Kate-how Rose disliked that name! At any rate he was not at home, for Rose, being compelled to go there, however un- willingly, to return a book she had bor- rowed months before. learned from his mother that he had not been at home for some days. Yes. he was at the Lacy place-with that town grill
 But at last ,one morning the cheery whistle sounded up the road again. Rose, ment to look for something perhaps for old Silas Duke, for it was his gray mule q footsteps which had reused her a mo- mert ago-was suddenly deeply absorbed in setting out geranium. The only fault with her method was that she entirely forgot to remove the pot, and was put ting 1t into the ground, pot and ali, when Luke paused at the gate.
 Sorry I can't stop and help you" he said, with polite regret; you're setting out the pot, Rose!--but promised Miss Katie"
 T didn't ask for your helpr' retorted Rose, the demure one, fiinging pot and plant away across the flower bed. 'I don't want you ever to help me again. Go and be a slave. an fetch an carry for that town girlv'
 and walked Into the house, leaving Luke to pursue his way to the big tree and the book.
 Never before in such a brief time had Luke made such an acquaintance with literature
 As for the little maiden whose ale. glance he had shaken of, there was not secret place about the house where she could hope to hide her flushed face and fearful eyes from her mothers sharp glance; so she would cen betake herself to the oAe woodland haunt which had been all hers since she was . tiny girl-- the haunt which no one knew but Luke the man whom she hoped she would never see again. So she slipped out of the house. through the orchard, and fled thither, sobbing as she went and not taking heed to her steps. And so run ming, she came to the nook and found a young man lying at his ease there, on the dry pine needles, with an ope book be- fore him.
 The girl stood poised, between flight and staying, her brown eyes wide with startled inquiry. The young man was on his feet in a moment, the book flung down unregarded.
 T thought-I thought you'd gone to-to the--the other woman's?" she sasped, presently.
 "I didn't so at all,' he replied. I've never been there but one day"
 The color began to come back into her face. She looked down, with a little air Priscilla might have worn when she felt herself under the eyes of John Alden.
 "Then-why didn't you come and help me. Luke?" she breathed, softly.
 Because" he said, steadily, I'm tired of bein' made a convenience of, an flung away. I'm not goin' to fetch an carry any more"
 She recognized her own words, and looked up at him timidIy. This was a new Luke-a Luke she had never seen before. He had delivered his ultimatum. and took up his book with a grim air of finality that made her feel as though the world--her world-were slipping away from her. She stood trembling, her ing ers- interlaced.
 Luke she whispered. shyIy, "what must I say-to make. you come back again?'
 ''If you can say-with truth-that you love me and will be my wife without wasting time in any unnecessary foolish ness, might consider it, he said He had spoken half-scornfully. knowing full well that when 1t came to the issue she would try to put him of as she had done so many times before.
 She stood, palpitating little rosy crea- ture amid the soft spring greenery, her fingers locking closer.
 i've loved you all the time, Luke-even when said mo-" she whispered, improv- ing on the copy. And I'll marry you whenever you wili-but I'll have to do some sewing first she added. appeal ingly.
 The pretty girl at the Lacy place hap pened by the merest chance to be looking out of the window, and so was conscious of LulSe's approach long before he reach ed the house. She went out to meet him, exceedingly pretty and smiling adorably.
 Well, I thought you would never eomer' she cried. by way of greeting. You see. your work is ready for you. I wouldn't let anyone else touch the vines"
 T didn't come to fix the vines,'' he said. with that simple directness which less direct people sometimes found irri- kANgve. arnka fO Eaw paferaon he,