The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-24
Our Daily Sbcrt Story

in tones that thrilled with the conviction of the thought. "I sincerely believe that no woman can ever be absolutely positive of mans genuine love until he has been put to such . test"
 "Ah, Howard" and she spoke in soft. tender accents, as she inclined toward him until her sweet breath almost fann- ed his cheek. You would stand the tess. wouldn't youf'
 Marie" he looked fearlessly into ner eyes. "do you doubt?"
 No mo-" she breathed, as she permit ted him to gently press her hand. "but there are some men who could not"
 Not men," he answered, ernestiy. At that moment Freddie appeared, woe be- gone and almost inanimated. ''Ha, ha." uuitely laughed Mir. Lamont. "Freddle Is possibly among those who are scratch ed."
 Mariel laughed also. but with iit>e
 mirth. She now really felt for him. Freddie. not as inanimate as he appear cd. remarked, in passing them:
 "Aw, possibly I'm providing the amuse- ment. don't you know. Not so deuced l de trop, ehl" and he disappeared in the cabin.
 So it was the voyage continued until fairly within the harbor, in sight of the classic old city of Cairo. Freddie sulksd and drank his absinthe and whisky. Mrs Travers purred, for everything was go- | ing to please the fondest hopes of an affectionate mother or an ambitious par
 ent. MT. Lamont and Marie had every- thing as they could wish,, and the wed. | ding day. was all but set. | It was evening when the vessel an- | chored before the city. The quarantine | regulations prohibited 1t from docking | until morning. The few passengers were | on deck breathing the soothing air of
 the summer night and viewing the lights | of the old town far ashore. The lovers | were in the bow, seemingly alone. but
 not far sat Mrs. Travers, with the mothr- | ly instinct of ever looking after her own. Marie seemed to be very much intcrss- | ted with the lap of the waves against 1 the side of the boat, for often she would lean far over the rail and look down. | and as often her mother would appeal | to her to be careful MT. Lamont would
 also gently restrain her, but perhaps she
 was self-willed.
 l However, she did 1t once too often. The
 boat was old. the rail In places was rot
 ten. and suddenly there was shriek and
 a splash. and Marie disappeared in tie | murky waters.
 l The anguAshed mother shrieked for 1 somebody to save her daughter. There was great commotion on deck.
 It was dark. the passengers rushed h;tll- | CT and thither, while Mrs. Travers con- | tinued her cries of Save her! She is | drowning! Save her!''
 l Almost a minute lasped; it seemed an
 hour. when there was another splash.
 A man was seen to plunge into the 1 blackness below.
 He has her! He is holding her up," 1 shouted some one, peering over the rail. l HapUan'c ha l And the boat was down with all possi- ble sreed. The man in the water was making a heroic struggle. With one strong arm stroke he kept both afioat, while with tine other he held the half
 uncpncuious girls head above the sur 1 face
 | A few seconds more, and the rescuers | req ched them. Willing hands drew them
 over the gunwale of the life saving boat,
 and a shout of joy went up from the deck of the vessel above.
 As soon as taken into the small boat
 the man almost swooned, and fell back 1 in the darkness, but Marie unexplainably
 recovered and with hysterical sobs dragg- | ed herself to where he lay, and cried in | tones of joy.
 Howard! Howard. you saved mo! | You risked your life; you stood the test You are brave. you are noble. You love | me, Howard!'
 A faint voice, scarcely audible. could
 be heard in response: "Aw, ain't How
 erd. don't you know. I'm Freddie. Duecsd awkward, don't you think?' | The next week there was a wedding in
 old Carlo at the American consulats
 The debonaire MT. Lamont was not ther i not even as a witness, but Freddie was | there. and Marie was there, and they
 were more than witnesses, for they were | the whole thing.
 As an addcnda. it might he well to say that Mrs. Travers was as beaming as | if her daughter he'd captured prince.