The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-11

Sadie smiled gravcly. Mark Abingdon
 was not without kind 0: clcverness; his
 talk. cynical, crisp and often daring, sel-
 dom failed to interest her quick wits.
 May l smoker" he asked. Sadie nod
 ded. As he took out his cigar case and
 lit fragrant Muria. she studied him with q certain keen. almost painful attcn- ton. He was polished, tactful, experi-
 enced, we'll bred. still young, and the bluest of blue blood ran in his veins. What girl would not be responsive in
 some degree to the presence of such a suitor? Even Sadie could not deny him distinction and good looks.
 Mark Abingdon blew out his vesta and fhrew 1t over one of the canvas rail- screens that inclosed the deck into the river. He himself was studying Sadie. shrewd gay. red-lipped, dark-haired and dark-skinned, yet with the clear, fine complexion of Il true brunei beauty, ana
 Il slender elasticity all her own. Sadie Les
 land, her fathers fortune apart, was just the woman to fascinatc the selfish, sensu- ous. world-weary man at her side. V His glance dwelt upon her with cold. yet profound passion, and she felt it, as women do feel such things, without an- alyzing it. Perhaps it is better so. 'Yes,p went on Mark Abingdon, with uraWlnS HIS ClRdr iTOTi HIS HpS' bduy Jane is rather terrible, isn't she? But she doesn't suffer from having no heart; what troubles her is having too many nerves. I am afraid I helped to shatter a fairly large selection of them in my time. My mater died when l was at Harrow and she's been a sort of step-mamma to me for years."
 "A pretty trying post, fancy. where you were concerncd." said Sadie Leland dryly.
 "I darcsay it was" admitted her com panion, flor, to tell you a secret, Miss Leland. though I am as easily to he led a' i the pfoverbial lamb, nothing on earth ear 1 drive me. Small wonder that my aun | failed whcre-where another woman might have succeeded.
 Sadie's pulses beat stroke or two
 quicker. The tone in which the last word! had been spoken was noticeably serious With great deftness Mark Abingdon haC turned the conversation into q tell-tals channel. 'T suppose" he continued, that I have been rather rolling stone. But, do vol know! Miss Leland it's been as much bnt
 luck as anything, else. If I had only hap pened to meet some clever, charming
 woman-like-like yob I believe I should have settled down with the best will il | the world"
 He had leaned forward, and though h' 1 was talking with more tact than fervor l his voice had gained note. which coult l not be mistaken. It was not only fortune that made her desirable possession; sh' | had beauty and youth and their flower had captiyated his sensuous. selfish spirit 1 Tt -isn t'&very fashioEab ble to fall in loy, i=.newadays,H he added; but the mos I hardened bachelor may meet his fate a l last and I have met mine,'
 l His fingers sought her own. Sadie,
 he said cant you see. don't you under l stand? l love you!'
 1 Sadie Leland did not answer. Her eye were fixed apparently upon vacancy, an' l she swayed slightly she sat in thu | wicker lounge chair. Suddenly she drew ; l long breath and put her hand to her side 1 Mark Abington's brows contracted He | set, white face was more of rebuf l than any words could have been. Yet th | abruptness cf tho change in he" domean or vaguely charmed him.