The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-08
Our Daily $bort Story

cut of you out of my Writers Journal once when he was here." Lima flushed scarlet, remembering other things. She laughed a little, but with an internal sickening sense of loss. and heartily hoped the unknown pilferer of her picture might have a ltoothache and stay at home. He had
 slipped her mind entirely, when. three hours later, sweet and bewitching in her pink organdie, she stood among her friends guests. Oh! It was all very dear of Maud. But she would
 have given every pretty dress she owned to be out of 1t and away. Past fluffy crepe-de chine shou1- der. presently, she saw Mrs. Mayf1eld piIoting a tall, dark-haired, fine-look- ing man directly toward her. Even then she did not recall her hostess
 warning. A moment later, the group about her fell back, and Mrs. Mayfield
 presented her companion. whose name,
 however. Lima failed to catch. "Fred's friend. dear. Don't be too long getting acquainted. I want you
 both on the ices" said the lady as she slipped away.
 The stranger offered his arm, and Lima moved mechanically with him across the grass. She had caught one
 nasty glimpse of glowing eyes and icoHupreSseu lips that nalI frightened her; a trite speech died in her throat, and she dumbly suffered herself to be led.
 stranger. impulsively. at safe distance from the others, what is your opin-
 ion of man who jumps at conclu-
 sions, and then rushes madly off with out even testing them? Miss Radford -Lina" a"-his voice softened with sud- den, shaken gentleness-"can you con- ceive of greater blunderer than I
 have been?"
 A swift terror took possession of
 Lima. Who was this-a well dressed lunatic? or She paused and drew away, facing him in the light of the
 overhanging lanterns. With a deep breath, he reached out. taking forcible possession of her hands.
 God knows what I've suffered all these wretched months" he went on.
 unsteadily. For 1t was only this
 morning I learned from Mayfield what fnonstrous mistake I'd made. Tell
 me. dear. that shall not wake in a few minutes and find 1t only a mock ing dream, after all"
 With a smothered. hysterical cry, Lima snatched away her hands as he would have lifted them to his lips, quick change, that cut her to the heart in spite of herself. passed over his face, leaving 1t white.
 How dare your' she quavered What are you saying to me, an utter stranger?"
 He stood quite still, bewildered. When a man has written a woman such letters as mine to you, he hardly merits that titles does he, dear?" he asked trine huskily.
 The lighted lawn surged round Lima. She put out one hand, grasping noth- ing.
 "Your-letters?" she gasped; and the
 next instant the audacious strang- | CT had his arm around her, drawing
 her back into the friendly shadow of
 the naples.
 My letters. of course" he was as
 surfing her. with a suspicious break in
 his laughing voice. Why, Lima, did
 you not realize 1t was I-Dwight Hiu-
 mans self? Oh. darlingl have not
 hoped in vain, have I?-thoush vou
 were so cruel as to let me go on be-
 lieving all those months that you were
 the wife of another,"
 l "Go and fetch Lima and Mir. HiI,rnar
 will you. Fred?" said Mrs. Mavfeid
 half an hour later. Her eyes danced
 when her husband returned, with a
 face of comic dismay. You daren'tT
 We'll. Grace and Farley will do. I'm
 going to make Dwight a present of
 that mutilated copy. of the Writers
 Journal"