The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-06-04
Our Daily Short Story

I shock. 1t recalled to memory Celes-
tine, the French maid l had the year
we moved to Chicago, directly after
Mr.. Willingham's great deal in pork.
How grew to hate that woman!
I wonder how, as clever a person as l,
ever allowed a mental to gain any pow
er over me; but at the time 1 was
so nearly distraught with fear of dis
covery that / saw no other way out of
II except to accept her aid. Yes, sac
had me in her power and she knew
how to apply the screws and l dared
not refuse her jewels, gowns, or mon
ey when she demanded them. If Will
| bingham had been a less indulgent hus-
band I could never have met --er
demands. Indulgent but, heavensl
| how prosy and dull! / never loved
him, but 1 never forgot my duty to
him-but that once. And the other one
| Il dare not write of him, even after
all these years, Yet God is my wit
ness that one offense was the only
one.
1 regret that the image of that
wretched Celestine should have in
| truded between my new friend and
| myself. but how absurd to think of the
| two in the same connection; the one
all refinement ind elegance. born to a
high position, and married into nobil-
ity; the other, low-born and intrigu-
| ing.
June 30.--I am so restless and miser-
able. That resemblance grows strong
er the more 1 see of Mrs. lie Fontelle.
| Perhaps it is because l am now con-
| stantly looking for them that 1 see
| so many points of resemblance in ges-
lures, tones, looks. / could shut my
eyes when she speaks and see Celes-
| tine before me.
This uncertainty is r6ddening. If
| ~ pntlld hfa that this &c n CnISztinn
and she was sharp and unscrupu-
lcus for anything-who Is the father
Of the girl my son wishes to marry ?
Celestine fled from our roof with Hol-
ton, the banker, who deserted his fam
lily and carried away a million of 9TH
err peoples money He died in South
America some months later. but Celes-
tine and the money disappeared as
completely as if they had left the
earth. That was about 10 years ago
and If Antoinnette Is 1S-Oh. 1 shall
go mad!
Celestine had a most peculiar birth
mark, a small dark colored scar, cross
shaped, low on her neck. l must see
Mrs. lie Fontelle's neck. have not
yet seen her in evening dress.
4 July 3.-Last night gave and infor-
NAL dinner and the lie Fontelle's were
among the guests. M@. LIE Fontellt
wore an elegant gown of heliotrope
crepe, very decollette. My heart bea
like a sledge hammer as she ap'
preached me and held out her hand
There was a square court plaster, al
most undistinguishable, on her necl
on the exact spot where Celestinei
scar was situated
II came very near having to SEM
regrets at the last moment" she said
lightly touching the court plaster, IN,
maid carelessly dropped the curling
tongs and burned my neck slightly
But ! concealed the burn with plaste
and I was able TO keep my engage
ment"
managed to reply, but scarcel
knew what I said, (for ! believed tina
the court plaster concealed nothing
more than a small, uark, GROSS shape
scar: believed this was Celestine. pol
ished, refined by the company sh
had managed TO mingle with in tn
! years that the stolen million had bee
, at her command, but stiil Celestin'
! my craftey, INSCRIPTIONS maid.
/, lay awake until morning trying t
evolve some scheme for separatln
Reginald from this woman's daughte
fell asleep with the question ur
solved and was awakened shortly al
ter noon by Reginald, who thrust m
head in at my door.
Couldn't wait minute longe
3 mother. dear" he said, TO tell you I
e my great joy. Antionnette love n
!. and her mother says she will consei
: to our marriage providing you are Wa
= ing. SO please hurry over and assul
d her Of your Willingness. With a gs
= laugh the boy closed the dosF and ra
= up to his rooms. without the least fe'
that I would withhold my coDseu