The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-12
Our Daily Sbcrt Story


 ase would lock Emily up in room if he VI Knew her speaking to Ben emith again. He further declared that she thing.
 That very night Emily and Ben smith met ana she told him of the major wishes and of the conversation with her iAtner, Ben listened, his face very pale, p.s ms lips set close together. Is all right" he said finally. l nave no family record; and don't Know anythng about my ancestors and l care iess' but, In spite of all of that, l am Detter man than Major Buck, and some aay will prove 1t to your father If we Dotn Hve. With your love to cheer me on can face the world with bold heart and sweep obstacles from my path as fast as meet them. And, no matter what anybody says, am sure of year love for all time."
 Nes. to the end of eternity 1t is yours" she replied. .s .aass ''And some day" he went on, T shall have the right to claim you for~fny wife"
 .xou have that right now."s she mur- mured. T would marry you tonight If youf wish it." s.,. .. @gf. He started to take her in his arms. but suddenly checked himself.
 Do not tempt me- he said. T wish to be honorable and honest and worthy of your love. but it is not always easy. To make you my wife now would be like stepping into Heaven-if I only had the right But must not think of such a thing. There is too wide difference be- tween us. T will not pull you down to my level but T. win grow up to yours. Some day win be worthy to claim you, and then will claim you. but must prove myself first''
 T will walt for you"
 T know you will. but you will not wait with the impatience I shall"
 Time passed and then by and by there began to come little scraps of news to the coionefs ears about things that Ben smith was doing down at town. First he had been admitted to the bar, then he had won a case of importance after fight that was marvellous. for keen man. agement. Then there were runiors that he was developing into great orator, and was forging his way to the top in political matters. But all this made lit- tie impression on the colonel, and he was still bitterly opposed to the idea of a family alliance with the Smiths
 Major Buck, although he had about abandoned .ail hope of winning Miss Emily, was not averse to making numer- ous and lengthy visits at the Clifton home. He enjoyed the coloners society very much. and he enjoyed the celonels dinners even more The colonel gave him a warm welcome always, for he still had hopes of having him as a member of the family.
 But after awhile the major ceased to make his visits to the colonel, and short Fly after that 1t transpired thet the colo nel was badly involved financially. When .the whole truth came out 1t was found that the colonel had been going security for the major for large sums of money. and that the major, forgetting his family honor. had gone away leaving his debts for the colonel to pay.
 The colonel wouA have lost everything If Ben Smith had not taken matters in hand, and, by resorting to coercive meas ures, induced Major Buck to pay his own debts This saved the colonel's posses sions. and at the same time it softened his heart toward Ben Smith to such an extent that he reluctantly consented for Emily to marry him. He probably con- cluded from the constancy of the two young people that this would inevitably happen sooner or later, and thought he might as well give his consent and have 1t over. Tt was. easy o9sees though, that he was by no rAeans pleased, and that he looked down on Ben as creature very much inferior to himself.
 After the marriage things drifted along in the even tenor of their way, Ben and the colonel seeing but little of each other, and the latter seldom mentioning the formers name. All the time, however. Ben was hard at work building up a law practice and making friends; and he and Emily were quite happy in their great love. They. found they could get along very well without the coloners blessing, although they would have been glad to have had it. a'S a+s ~. tt,4.-. E Four or five years passedsd then one day the news came that Ben had been elected to Congress. Right then and there the colonel gave inaaRd lackn0w1- edged that his idea had been aIl wFong5 and that, family or no family. Ben Smith was a great many and worthy to asso- ciate with even the Cliftoffs. Iii' fact. he became proud of Ben. but he would never recognize Ben's family. When he spoke of him he always referred to him as My son-in-law. Mistah Benjamin Smith, sah. a direct descendent of Captain John Smith, of Old Virginia, sah."