The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-18
THE WISDOM OF THE WISE.
BY STELLA BREEDING.

| 94 <34tAAR &A&Ak%*<&&z9- | t5issa Copyright. 1904. by Daily Story Pub. co, The old man sat in his corner. his silver hair and beard forming faint aureoie about his face. His thin, toll worn hands fitted ghostsike above kickshaw he was fashioning for little Errol. Steve was also in the corner. an open book across his knees, but he did not read; instead he looked into the fire | arid then across at MaFianina,
 And this is to be the last night" said | Steve.
 "You will let me know where you are sometimes?" Marianina asked. leaning forward eagerly.
 l together He was the first to draw back 1 The room suddenly became stifing. Errol ran up to the old man and cov- cred his face with soft. moist little kisses. The toy was hnished. Dear Uncle Lucien." she. cried in her imperious way. slift up my hair and put the beads around my neck" Marianina's face was bowed in her hands. Steve thought she was crying, but 1t was not so. It came upon him with . rush what beautiful woman she would be-. He was only IS and Marianina was younger; he had not thought much of feminine beauty before. He saw for the first time that her wriste were small and weli-turned: that the rich red of her cheek and the dusky brown of her curl- ing lashes made delicious combination.
 Marianina rose and flung back her hair from her face. The room had become close for her. too. She was 1.-the with the fugitive grace of closing childhood as she stood there in the ftful fire light f
 'steve, cant we take a little walk? It seems to me choke in here"
 He marked the place in hls book where he had left off. and followed her out into the feathery night They began to walk up and down the eraveled path. She turned upon him wildly.
 Just think, Steve, what the place will be to me without you! You seem a part of it. I cannot think of it without you. I was a mere baby. you know, when Uncle Lucien found you and brought you here. How shall miss you! Think of the books we have read together, the thoughts we have exchanged! Steve. do not the books say that the, world is cold and cruei?' sgf
 She clasped her little hands together. and her breath caught painfully. "Yes," he answered. but I will fight the world. I am not afraid"
 Steve, but you do not know; you will be alone. 1t will he hard, they will crush you down." F5
 He smiled. He was strong and straight as young Herraes.
 Il am not afraid," he repeated. T will work. work, work, and in few years will come back and take you to the places we have dreamed about, and you will be a little princess. The old home seems very dear tonight, but I am sure there are fairer places than this. Marianina."
 q am not so sure of that, Steve. Every corner here Is crying memory, every bush a thought. But remember, Steve, though I will not know where you are many times, l will be with you in | thought, always touch you in thought. But am afraid-afraid-" She buried heri face in her hands cry ing bitterly, and sank down to the gravel upon her knees.
 'Marianina-Marianina don't! he pleaded softly, as one reasons with a naughty child.
 He tried to raise her. his soft, black curls brushing her wet cheek. She tore herself away. still weeping. He knelt down beside her, stroling her hair si- l lently, letting his big. strong hand tell by it's gentleness what his mouth could not utter in words. Presently she rose and dried her eyes on her handkerchief.
 "oh. forgive me. forgive me. and this the last night too" she said.
 They turned and walked back. The lit- tie home lay low and dark in it's nest of vines and flowers. A slender cowl of smoke curled from the chimney. A my riad of little stars hickered coldly over head. and some birds in the distant trees sang an archaic duo.
 The last nightP' whispered Steve, squeezing her fingers.
 ''The last pight!' she echoed with al firm, energetic answering pressure.
 The door flung open and Errol. with her cloud of fair hair. stood in the door, way.
 "But he did not tell me that he loved me and wished to marry me-" Marianina i told herself in the middle of Ine night, l as she turned over her pillow wearily l ''But there is no need for words when | two beings are as perfectly in sympathy | as we. and he understood, she thought |
 Letters came at long intervals from | Steve, and were not of a prominently l