The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-31

overture She had heard recently from their mutual friend that he was to make this city his home, but she did not know that he had arrived. She was seized with apprehension. Was he going to get in this coupe? She would not speak until he did. He opened the door and started to get in. | She had turned her face away from | him. but she felt his start of surprise. Then she heard him say, in his we'll bred, modulated tones: T beg your pardon!' There! He had spoken first, and with little air of triumph she faced him, the light in front of the club shining 1, full upon her face as 1t had on his 1 moment before.
 You! Vivian" he said, in a voice that thrilled old memories and feel l ings. In an instant he was seated be- | side her. the door had slammed shut. and they were away. This is too good to be true," he said, joyfully. "I ordered a carriage from the liv- cry" she said. stiffiy. and they evi- dently thought it would answer for l your order, too."
 | "oh, that was the way of it," he said. Well, am glad of the mistake, | but, are you in much of a hurry? If not l am going to ask favor of you. It Is very important that I see a man on business who leaves the central de- pot at 7:s0. and there is just time to make it."
 "oh. certainly.@ she answered. cold ly. Tt makes no difference" Tt makes no difference, you mean, whether you ride one block or a hum | dred. Are you as indifferent as that, Vivian?"
 She made no response. Presently he i broke the silence. Did you know that I was living here, in this city, now, vivian7" No; why did you move here" Well. you know my father has more | to say about the business than I, and when he decided to move here I could not tell him that 1t would be very dis tasteful to Vivian Warne. was afraid | 1t would not be business-like consid-i eration to him" She resented his sarcasm, and he i&- terrupted another silence: T have been here a week. Vivian, and have walked the thoroughfares for glimpse of you.'' They had reached the depot now | and he stepped from the coupe, say ing he would be back directly. She | was conscious, even while she fought l against it, of a little feeling of glad | ness that he was going to return in her carriage instead of ordering an= other. She leaned forward and watch | ed him as he walked away so straight and stalwart His voice and presence had all their own characteristics. and, yes, she must admit it-she loved | him! And he had spoken first and was very conciliatory. He came back in a few moments, said something she did not hear to the driver, and was once more by her side. "I am afraid I did not accomplish much In a business way" he said, in | tones boyishly buoyant. T was so dis traeted lest you. the carriage and driv- CT should vanish while I was away" He chatted on for a few moments. | Suddenly looking out of the window Vivian noticed that they were driving neither in the direction of his club nor | her destination.
 This driver is so stupidr she ex- claimed. He must have forgotten the address I gave him." Probably he didn't understand it." | he suggested. 'I find he doesn't under stand word of English. He speaks in German" "Oh, then won't you tell him that | want to go to 1915 Fifty-fourth street? ITO Mrs. Van Altern's?" he asked. How did you know?' T am invited there to dinner to- morrow night. She is a friend of our family"
 T am going to take the place cards | to her now"
 And are you going to the dinner?" | he asked, Joyfully
 "Yes. but where is the driver go- insY'
 Well" he said. laughing. don't blame him. The fact is I told him to drive anywhere. Vivian," in a change of tone, T have not been happy this year. Have you?" "No" she half whispered. See here, dearest. 1t was a stupid quarrel-quarrels generally are. Let's rub 1t off the slate and-Vivian. do you | love me?"
 | It was an hour later when Mrs. Van Altern received her cards and a call l from her two friends. At dinner the next night Vivian found herself most l excellently assigned at the table-Car- ton at her right hand and an extreme ly deaf man at her left When the con- versation generally became quiet ani- mated Vivian could not forbear the lit-
 tie arrow
 After all" she said, looking rog-
 uishly at him. "I had my own way. and that is most precious to a wo- man"
 How did you have your own way7"
 Why. you said you would never
 make up unless I made the first ad-
 vances. And I didn't I never wouldw
 'Is that soT' he laughed tauntingly.
 Well. Miss Vivian Warne. let me tell you that you are certainly mistaken.
 You certainly did make the first ad- vance, and a most decided one"
 T don't know what you mean" she
 said, indignantly. You spoke frstw
 Yes, I spoke first, but not until you
 had acted in such way as to justify
 me in so doing"
 You are mistaken" she said, with
 rising anger.
 Don't get angry, vivian--not until
 I tell you something that I am going
 to on the way home tonight"
 When Vivian left Mrs Van Altern's
 with Carton for an escort a coupe was
 in waiting at the door and she recog-
 nized the driver as the same they had
 had on the previous evening.
 Have you engaged this driver for
 the season?" she asked, laughingly,
 when they were seated within.
 Yes" he replied. slipping his arm
 about her. 'I brought him with me
 from home. He is faithful fellow and
 a careful driver" What" she cried. This is not My private carriage" he answered