The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-11
Wben Polly Cold tbe Grub
 A Christmas Love Story
By Lula Judscn. Bessemer. Ala.

sSst@sN<<esssNs<&s<skN<U<u<u E CTS and I offered to drive her. a.o II declare, Sis. I have never thouaAt r that box since.r
 As she listened to thfs recital, Ar Mays heart swelled with indIgnat111 anger, relief, and joy Fortunatelv fS@ her brother, the latter emotion for tE6 time prodominated.
 But where is 1t now7" she manaee0 to ask. 7T
 Tn the buggy in the carriage house. I suppose" he said, laughingly..It fS too bad. Of course. it Is too late to bother about it tonight, but promiso to get 1t for you the first thing in tho morning."
 Indignation was rapidly becominn was the use of making a scene for PAft to retail with great gusto the next. morning at the breakfast table. Anua May was a quick thinker and knew there was better way.
 s"A1l right" she said, indifrerent1xs turning to her book. but she could no4 refrain from adding. dry1y: Tt ce1s tainly would have been nice of you .to have given 1t to me this mornlnie@' However. brothers are cal1ous creatnf9Gs so Phil went on up stairs whist1inx- As- soon as she heard his door close, sne. arose. She had not the slightest inten> tion of waiting until the next morni1n for. that box. She would not wait ono
 minute. She knew very we'll whex6
 the key to the carriage house hun9
 and where there was lantern which
 she lit with eager fingers. Outside tho night was cold and frosty and the moon was shining bright. She ran softly across the yard unlocked the door, and In a twinkling was seated on an ovSxs turned wheelbarrow. the lantern be-I side her. and the box on her lap. Tear~ ing away the wrappings. she remove4 the cover. X
 "Roses" she breathed--''bride rosesf~ Tn their fragrant depths she found v
 small box containing the engagemene ring and a handsome locket, and, ben& of all. there was a note.
 "Sweetheart." she read, T can't stan4 this any longer. was . brute. Pleoee forgive me and take back the ring. Oh how love you! Yours always. ''Roger.s 'ohw cried Anna May. "Oh-h-h.s She put on the ring rapturousiy. kisse1 the locket, hugged the letter, and alto gether acted as fondly and foolishiy as women will continue to act as lon9 as they live in the world and there is c
 man left to love them. Mixed with heB joy and relief there was also a feels ing of the keenest sorrow that the box had not reached her in the morning. growing anger at her brother, and fix~ ally silent astonishment. Polly told me-" she thought in won> der. she must have been telling tho truth!"
 Finally she took up. the lantern and precious package and after. re-1ockin&
 the door, started for the house. If only InI hat would have made. Christmas night, and she and Roger still apartI True. everything would be made right in the morning, but in the meantime--Anna May had never suffered from Q paucity of ideas, so she began to devise a move She might telephone him! And prob- ably arouse both houses. No, that would never do. Putting down her lantern, and keeping in the shadow of
 the house, she passed around to the front. Yes. there was still a light at the Brownes. Some one was up. If l only she could get a message across just so Roger could go to sleep as hap- py as she was! As she looked she be- came aware that some one with a l lighted cigar was walking up and down | the verandah. It must be Roger him- self If only she knew! Would 1t be very improper to call to him! Up and
 down he slowly paced. keeping well in | the shadow. What a chance! If she were to speak he could not fail to hear her. Not a soul was to be seen on the streets. and it was as quiet as the grave, and as light as day. She began | to shiver with excitement and cold. | She knew she was about to do a fooi-
 ish thing. but nevertheless, taking
 heart, she suddenly stepped boldly out into the moonlight and walked down to the gate.
 l "Roger!" she called softly. | Instantly the figure stood perfectly
 still Horrorsi If 1t should be old Mfr. Browne!
 "Rogerw she called again. little louder.
 1 Then with bound he was down the I steps, and crossing the street on q run
 had opened the gate.
 | "oh!" she gaspeds it Is you Roger. did not get the box until this very min- ute. Phil forgot it,"
 | It was fortunate at this juncture that there was no one looking but the man
 in the moon, and he considerably hid
 his smiling face behind passing | cloud.
 T had to call you" she explained as
 she chung to the lapel of his coat. | T should think so." he returned. Great Heavens! what a day" | Wasn't it awful? Polly told me- Why didn't believe her! That is the
 strangest part of 1t. Only to thinks she said solemnly. her eyes full of won-
 der-"Polly told the truthr'