The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-09
THE PARTING
 OF THE WAYS
BY ZOE RINEHART.

BN ZOE HIN NEHAATs | Copyright, 1904, by Daily Story Pub fishing Company.
 Behind the cornfield withdrawing day was leading. its gorgeous pageant across the west.
 In the field the corn was made" The homely sounds of the farm came 1 through the lonesome country silence, A young man and a girl stood at a branching of the pathway through the alfalfa meadow. Both had turned their faces involuntarily toward the spectacle in the west, Both looked | silently. Upon the young mans face sat the reflected vision of new heav- en and a neav earth.
 The girl saw only the corn field and above it a mass of brilliant sunset clouds.
 It did not occur to either of them to speak of the sight. They were country born and bred, and the aes- thetic did not play a large part in their lives. Besides they had seen such sunsets countless times before. As by natural. unspoken consent, they paused where the path divided itself into two. It had so long been the common parting of their way. It did not occur to him that upon this last evening he might have walked with her to her own door. It did not occur to her to regard his not doing so as a lack of gallantry. Yet the morrow would see them separated by the miles of corn field and meadow that lay between that spot and the State university.
 They belonged to the class of folk over whom simple habit holds sway. even in the crisis of their lives.
 Tomorrow the young man would go up to the university. and the girl would stay behind.
 It was he who broke the silence. In the transhRuring light in which they stood. it was as if the mind of the young farmer spoke through the lips of some crude, glorious angel.
 Well. I must be going on. promised mother to get in from work early this evening"
 Yet he did not go. The girl stirred, and in her voice agitation struggled with the calmness of her ordinary tones.
 'Yes. you must go on. There's no use in our standing here, so goodby, Abe" and she held out her hand hur- riedly.
 Be good to yourself, don't study too hard, and don't get any bones broke playing football"
 Abe laughed. "Oh, no danger of that, Susie" Then he suddenly grew serious. The lines of innate nobility in his face seemed to strengthen and deepen. He had taken her outstretched hand in his own, hardened and rude by the work on his fathers farm. The 1 girl. after an instant. would have withdrawn hers, but he held 1t fast, gently but persistently. His tone was low, tender with the | tenderness an emotional nature gives to the human voice.
 Susie. little girl. youn remember me, won't you? You'll not forget that this college business is only to make | a better fellow of me, to make me a little more worthy of the best little girl that ever lived. Susie, you'll re- member?" The girl shivered slightly and tried to draw away. Then she gave ner- vous little laugh. | "oh. Abe" she said, with attempted l playfulness. You'll meet so much nicer girls than me up at the univer' sity. You'll forget all about me before the first vacation comes around.
 He silenced her reproachfully,
 No, never. Susie. never Haven
 always said you're the girl for me Haven't always known it all oul
 school days? Now, Susie, haven't l saiC
 so?"