The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-16
THE SUNLIGHT PIERCED
 THE SHADOWS.
BY ANNIE BRAsHEAR.

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 Copyright, 1904. by Daily Story Puo. Col
 The graphophone had been placed on the table. and the family had gath. cred around to listen to the new music
 which Mir. Leigh had brought Tor the entertainment of the girl sitting m the shadow of the curtains.
 For once he almost regretted ms popularity in the family. for while his heart was one moment agitated oy
 hope and the enxt dulied by rear, ne was anxious to learn the rate wnicn awaited him. He had asked the nano
 of the girl in marriage, ana tonigh' ne
 was to learn his fate. For awhile the
 family listened, then turned away.
 Mir. Leigh said:
 Wait a moment, Mrs. Hardy. Here Is one selection which l am anxious for you to hear. It is, to me sin- gularly sweet song, and the saooest romance is associated with 1t. l have friend in Dallas who is dealer Tn graphophones. Che day he told me
 the story of this song. Its author was q brilliant musician. and this song was written upon the occasion or ms acceptance by the young lady ne loved. and afterward lost. He allowed | my friend to have several plate made. but it was never published. This plate was given to me"
 He screwed 1t upon the graphophone, and prelude, soft sweet, thrliiing beneath the touch of master nano' floated through the room, and voace beautiful and vibrant, sang the tri- umph of accepted love When the sun- light Pierced the Shadows. No one noticed the cry which burst from the lips of the girl near the win Axxr.r tr with the sem Mment of the words and music. They seemed to feel the hush of evening, to listen to the murmur of
 music among the pines, and to hear the soft trickle of water over pebbles as it hastened to forest lake. They saw the vision of a girl, dainty, sweet and fair, standing in the shadows of the pines. the glory of the setting sun falling around her. giving her promise to the lover by her side" Tt Is indeed exquisite. said Mrs. Hardy, as the last notes died away. we are indebted to you. MT. Leigh. for a great pleaure.
 Then in respone to her words: Come papa, come babies" husband and children followed her from the room.
 With face pale with emotion Mir. Leigh turned to the girl:
 '.Alice. will you not give me the same promise which was whispered when the sunlight pierced the shad- owsT
 Her face was hidden, but her form shook with sobs He knew that no sympathetic emotion has thus affected her, and his hope was poisoned by a deadly fear, but his voice was as soft as that of a mother comforting a sorowing child. as he said:
 Will you not trust me, dear, and let me help you in this trouble which do not understand?'
 That is beyond all human power"
 Then yielding her trembling hands to his clasp she said:
 Dear friend. that was my song. written for me. sung for me, by my lover.
 T was the girl who made that prom ise beneath the shadow of the pines. It seems so long ago. was not a poor teacher then. earning my daily bread. homeless. alone. but a rich mans niece, whom he always said would be his heiress. One summer when the winters gayety had left me in need of perfect rest. I went to a sanitorium in the pine woods of Car olina- It was there that met Harry Sinclair. When I went away was his promised wife. My uncle married, died. leaving no will. I was thrown upon the world. I came here to Cal vert. Tex, and friends secured me a position in the public school"
 What of the man? he asked, stern ly. Did he dare--'
 Hush. hush she implored. He was true to me. Business called him to, Europe before my uncle's marriage He was lost at sea. My sorrows fol- lowed each other in quick succession: