The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-16
Our Daily Short Story

Hans 1t. Mabel; no luckl.. said a til they hear from old Jasper. Con- tound h the luck, There goes the straw vos. svso seoss,n.y Ins rsPsd ,ss will. have some hot biscuit. i anyway way
 with this blamed taIlow stun instead of butter. I'm sick of this pinching our mouths all made up for luscious strawberry shortcake-one or those with the berries all mashed up so you cant see the crust;-like we used to
 Suddenly 1t occurred to Muiford that he would give more for one of those old old fashioned strawberry shortcakes of. A vision of his boyhood days rose in his mind and he could fairly smell and taste the rich, red mess. Then he realized. with start, the fact that he was listening. and he turned to move on. ,
 The door burst open and the young man burst into the hall with a small pitcher in his hand, evidently going for some milk.
 Mulford again caught the aroma of the" new bread, and formed a sudden and desperate resolution.
 T beg your pardon, sir" he said
 but was an involuntary listener to a part of your conversation just now. I am bachelor and once lived in the long time and 1t is many years since had anything good to eat. Could I, without offense, suggest that I would feel 1t great personal favor If you would permit me to furnish the neces- sary ingredients and to have a share in the feast. haven't had a decent strawberry shortcake for 20 years" The young man flushed hotly, but hnfnTa T do not presume to say this as an
 offer to assist you; It Is proposition | ary." He smiled in that persuasive
 way which had helped him in so many
 replied: Ail right, sir; ri take you you at at your word. Come on and get the stun So presently Muiford found himself
 on getting the biggest and finest ber- ries, and In the most unheard-of quan- | tity- Then he insisted on getting a
 saeE tRe ine most 9sss sntter eoe and and | other things as he saw them. As they | went back to the apartment, loaded with bundles. Mulford smiled at the thought Of the picture he presented. He had learned during the shopping that the young mans name was Mil I ton Wenham and the young woman Wdo hAo SlStoF. 1eIt OTpnanS without ! means. they had come to the city, where he was working in an office days | and studying law at night, while Mabel was taking in sewing and devoting her afternoons to perfecting herself on the piano. with a view to teaching Their ambitions made the most rigid econo. my necessary.
 Such feast as followed certainly never happened before or since Ma Dei took the intrusion in good part and Mulford, with the grace of a polished man of the world, put all at their ease. AS to him, he swore to himself and to
 them that never before had he tasted anything half so good. That evening ne went. home better satisfied with himself than he had been for years. This was but the precursor of many dinners at the Wenham flat, Muiford
 was forever sending up something to serve as the foundation of feast. He got to hunting the markets looking TOT good things. Gastronomy seemed 10 nave become his ruling passion. But ner Mabel would play and sing and they had the most delightful sessions O<e sunday Mulford took them ali or1f 70 the beach, and after this many lit- tie excursions followed. He began to plan theater and opera parties and An
 loved their enthusiasm which raaIiy was quite contagious. MelA of course, theragwas but me snoinB I'he reader has seen it corn lng all along. And when, one day. Mulford took Mabel in his arms and asked the old. old uuestion and s.,., anu the lovelight in her eyes, he knew fbat ms days of unrest and bitterness were over and that new vistas openad o,,t i
 the great sunny world. '-