The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-06-20
THE SALVATION
OF DENNISON
Ry Herbert ELS.

Copyright 1904, by Daily Short Story
Pub. Coz
Dennison staggered down onto the
street, his head whirling. his cheeks
hot his heart faint. He glanced to-
ward the cool water in the river with
sigh almost wistful.
Why not end II all anyway. Was the
fight worth the candle? 1t was ten
years since he had enjoyed any ration
al pleasure. Day and night, night and
day of unending and relentless worry
and strain--that had been the history
of 4 decade. OF course. he had played
for big stakes with little or no capt.
tai to start on. But he had not been
altogether unsuccessful. He had jump
ed from goal to goal with marvellous
rapidity. No sooner had one point been
achieved than the proceeds, moral as
we'll as physical. had been staked on
further achievement. The world look
ed upon him as a marvelously success
full young man, but the world did not
behold the precipice over which he pc
rennially hung.
II seemed now that the end certainly
must come. A slip here--not his fault
-e disaster in a distant state. a tight
ening of the money market-all things
impossible to foresee, and he was
pushed lard against the wall. 1t was
not so much the thought of losing all
he had gained in financial way. He
felt he had the strength and courage
to begin over and he knew he could
make a better living than he had ever
had time to take. It was not that. 1t
was the bitter thought of failure, the
sneers and criticisms of the men on the
street-that was what he shrank from.
He grittcd his teeth as he often ha 4
done before in supreme moments. 1t
was not sll over yet. He yet had time
to make turn before Wednesday
week. when he must face his banker.
his principal creditors and the mon
who had backed him in his enterprise.
And he had a card or two left to play.
He walked on unheeding place or time.
his eyes set and retrospective, his
face drawn and haggard. His
poor tired, forced brain was trying its
best to heed the lash he applied.
Then strange phenomena occurred.
Coming out of his trance for a moment
he looked straight into the flashing
t-black eyes of rollicking, saucy
school girl. who was regarding him
mischievously. The eyes were full OF
life, intelligence. vitality and were
framed by the daintiest oval face, the
dainty red on the olive skin telling OF
perfect health. Dennison had been SC
absorbed in his thoughts that he had
not been conscious of his surroundings
and consequently when he looked VI
was bearing down directly upon the
girl. She had noted his absorption and
had planned mischievously, to give hin
little shock. But ne had looked ur
just in time and found himself lookins
into those splendid black eyes.
strange thrill went through him. The
physical effect of the face he saw an6
especially the eyes, was most definite
and powerful. For an instant he was
paralyZed. then sheered rapidly to the
right to avoid a collion. But. alas fol
the best laid plans. the girl had plan
ned all along to dodge him on that
same side. so the result was disastrous
He succeeded in preventing Aead-ent
collision. but brushed so violently
against her that he knocked her books
| from her hand and scraped her watch
from the bosom of her dress where II
was pinned.
He sprang quickly to pick up the
| books.
"A thousand pardons.'' he exclaimed
flushing deeply. There is really nc
| excuse for man walking down a pub
lie street in a trance. I am an idiot
Pray forgive me-"
one SlOOu uSDuuTely WdLCnlng MIN
struggle with loose leaves and scat
tered papers and all the debris to be
found in a school book while he sput-
tered away at himself. Then he found
| that the watch was broken and had
stopped and insisted on taking it to a
nearby jeweler to ascertain the extent
| of the damage. It was found to be
| slight, and while the jeweler was re-
pairing IL he remained and talked to
the girl. His business cares had rolled
| from him and he found his brain en-
gagged in new and delightful problems
How was he to further his acquaint
ance with the girl; how prevent the
episode to end his contact with those
brilliant eyes
Girls had bothered him little durl.4g
the past decade. He tried to conjure
| from the memories of his youth aid
| and resources for his present plight
| For he felt that he simply must not
let the girl get away from him He
did not know why. He did not STOP
to analyze the matter at all. He simp-
| ly felt it was a physical fact The
| first effect of the eyes and face had
been deepened when she opened her
| full. red lips and spoke. showing two
rows of unbroken pearls in her mouth
The watch being repaired he insist
| ed on walking with her. carrying her
books.
rs it quite proper, sir?" she asked
Indeed IT is" he replied. earnestly
Then he went on desperately telling
her his name and business-a name he
knew was well known throughout the
city. She accepted the situation with
the careless abandon of the shoolgirl
Her feminine intuition told her that
he was a gentleman and his blunder-
ing earnestness amused her. She saw,
too, that her charms had impressed
him, which she could not help but
like being a woman.
He learned that she was from a
small town in the west and was stay
ing with an uncle in the city in order
to enjoy the advantages of the city
scohols; he also judged that the uncle
was somewhat of a crank and tnal the
girl was afraid of him. He learned
also that her name was Hattie. Ar
irving at the corner nearest her ONE
she dismissed him positively.
'Auntie would have a fit If she saw