The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-21
Our Daily Sbcrt Story

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 How manlike," she mocked. T hay often thought that the masculine ad l vantage most worthy of envy is tn comfort you men get out of a cigar Tea is mighty poor substitute, an, I'll need something stronger when {! get home if assist in the concert to night"
 The man started. Her light word
 and the phrase when I get home
 brought realization of the difficult! of telling her that there could be fo them no getting home;" that ever then they were as a man and a wo
 man dead. He tossed away the cigal
 and drew his breath hard.
 'Is there anyone for whom you deep
 ly carer" he asked, with seeming ir. | relevance.
 The woman lifted questioning eyes They widened with terror as he ans. wered.
 NO boat can venture out" he said gently, and"
 She understood and reached bIindIy toward him as for support. A great wave broke over them and he put out his arm and drew her close. They were drenched and cold. but her eyes were against his shoulder her fair hair was blown across his breast, and he was seeing the reality of his young ideal with crystalline clearness.
 They stood silent for a little time, she still within his arms, for the wa ter was fast coming up about them. and 1t was with difficulty that she kept her foothold. A great agony lay in the eyes she turned toward the hid- den shore. but the corners of her mouth were firm. The man recognized in her a bEavery of spirit akin to his own.
 T want to tell you something" he said at last, and his tone was of a strange, deep tenderness. Something that out in tho world. where you are wife and another woman bears my name, could not say. It has been coming to me since you first looked at me with trust in your eyes and with the touch of your hands I knew. You are the one woman whom. with the best of my heart and brain I could love-"
 The woman drew back little, yet she did not express surprise.
 How can you be sure?" she asked quietly. You don't know me. That am not crying and shrinking from death appeals to you, but life is made up of small things. and the shallows of my nature might repel more than this depth has attracted you. Men are so different. They cannot for the sake of some great virtue overlook little congenialities as we women can and often do."
 The man was unbelieving.
 Tt would not be so. feel it. have always laughed at this talk of affini- ties My experience has not fostered the Idea. but now I know that all my life I have wanted-you. And youT' he probed. Has life been satisfyingf'
 Not altogether" she admitted. Tile is well enough after the manner of his kind. my husband. He Is fond of me and-kind when he thinks of 1t, and yet"
 T could have made you happy" he affirmed, with confidence.
 The forcefulness of his gaze drew up her eyelids, and, in a long glance each sounded the depths of the oth- CTS soul.
 Perhaps" she hesitated.
 The water swept up with violent rush. They chung to each other and projecting craig.
 Tell me-" he urged. when they had regained their breath. ''The world is nothing to us now-even our heart beats are numbered. Let them, our last, know the truth. You could love me?"
 Her eyes answered. He drew her nearer.
 Kiss me-" he said.
 For a long breath their lips clune together and the veil was lifted.
 They stood silently waiting, the wa ter coming fast and strong.
 Then suddenly, as its coming, the storm cleared. A boat was put out and sent plunging across the heaving waves by the willing strength of men coming to their rescue. They watched its approach with dull eyes.
 You may think me a fool" the man said, hesitating at first. then speak ing with impetuous force, but on my soul I'm sorry that they're coming"
 The woman laughed, but there was the tenseness of unshed tears in her accent.
 T think you are very foolish-and that so am I, for--for I'm sorry, too" she confessed.
 T may see you sometimes?" he sug- gested, but the woman shook her head.
 Tt is far better not" she said.
 You have so little faith in me-" he 
 The woman told herself that the blend of his eyes and voice was the sort likely to make sad havoc of good 
 Perhaps I have so little in myself" 'he replied, and they spoke no more intil they reached the beach and their l anxious friends, where they touched l ormal hands and parted with conven- ional words.
 The woman was a brilliant figure at he concert that night, playing gay ipples on her violin and dancing lightly. The man smoked innumerable igars and left on the late train.
 They never saw each other again Also they never forgot.
 And it is not the shadow of search ng that is now dark in the woman's yes.