The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-14

the thought of the bitter humiliation
hanging over the mead OF the unsus-
pecting. He knocked roughly and q
clear voice cried: Enter"
| A small room made merry by fire.
light dancing in bookcase doors.
A desk, and at the desk woman
with gold glasses and strong stopped
| shoulders. 4"
Are you NJ. Boswell" Bronton de-
manded DULY. for the drum was deaf
ening him. Strong and sweet. strong
and sweet"
Certainly" The rising injection
suggested an enquiry as to whom he
might be. As though at roll call Bron-
tons heart answered that II was
pleasant in here after the, chill and
din outside, that the fair-sweet face
and the strong hand standing at pause
even the deep chair by. her desk
seemed good to him. He remembered
that she had called him, dear many
times and It seemed very good. This
woman with the glad. gray eyes was
his friend. And he promised himself
that after this when things went
wrong he would come here and sit
in this chair and look at the FIRE and
listen to the scratching of her pen and
all would be well with him. Then
the infection In her Certainly" made
itself felt and he replied to II placidly
Il am the young girl you have been
corresponding with"
Miss Boswell removed her glasses
and looked at him thoughtfully. Every
manly line in his well-marked face;
every tired one. She spoke kindly:
Pardon me II The saving sounds
harsh. but when a bearded man Of
30-odds announces himself as a young
RfrI he all th> oAo
of insanity or intoxication."
I am neither drunk or crazy" and
he sighed contentedJv.
Nor young girl?"
NO. Nothing but a man who" he
paused to drink in tho deep peace of
her presence and she completed quitely
\ who has seen n wild day on the floor
May be you will not mind resting a
bit while finish This sketch before
the color fades" She pushed bell.
Only ten minutes" Her voice trailed
away. her shoulders stopped again to
her rapid writing. Not too absorbed
to call his attention to the tray the
maid placed on a corner of her desk
Coffee. oysters. hot rolls. cold ham
Bronton had eaten nothing since break
fast. But I shouldn't eat your salt"
She swung her pen crosswise to
shove a, cup toward. him. ,q,y = az /,
mo salt In the coffee. Drink II.
You need It." And Pronfon surrender
ed his tired soul to her soothing. II
was good to be here. and nothing else
mattered Good to be here. watched
over by those kind. gray eyes. mini
stored 70 by that strong right hand.
soothed by this sunny silence. This
was the woman he had needed all his
life and he had found her
The ten minutes ran into a silent
half-hour, and after he had finished
his supper Bronton lay back In his
chair resting, unconscious of the oc-,
casionaI shrewd glances flashed upon
him from behind those gold glasses,
A rustic of paper, a. brisk well broke
the spell Bronton drew deep breath.
ut Is all right" he said, contentedly,
I'm Lottie."
She took off her glasses and looked
at him. II beg your pardon7' The
tone made him set up. He explained
quickly. 'Lottie, that v,u have been
writing those strong. sweet letters to.
I'm Lottie C. Bronton!" He pulled out
a card. go '.-,.-, =
The gray eyes went through him
like cold steel.
Pardon me IL the saying sound
harsh, you are also a scoundrel.S >
'Scoundrel? I! mo, no. thought
you were man. spt.B -, .,.-. -
"A year ago" 4. ~, ~ Il - -
ct know. But--but--oh,, Lord. I
| didn't heed the distant drum I went
| on believing you to be man"
AN uncommonly scaly oneT'
"Oh, no. Wait. Oh. might as
we'll tell you the truth. thought
you were n scamp and meant to
show you up" .-
"And you showed yourself up?" A
flicker of fun warmed her ewes. Bron-
ton laughed. joyously and laid his
hand on her shoulder.
own UP. Have you never doubted
my girlhood?"
TT has occurred to me occasionally
that II you were glrl you were the
craziest one ever created" 80
"Ah. had you. too refused to- Heed
the distant drum. Don't you think
you are about as deep in the mud as
am in the mirer'
mot at ALL"
Then give me a hand to help me
out. Please. Molly. I'm tired. Dog
tired"
7 know you are. So am I. Let's sit
down"
Bronton sat down retaining her
hand This is what call being COM
Portable" he said.
This is what I call being incor.
rigible.' Molly retorted. withdrawing
her hand to the arm of her chair
Bronton stretched out his arm ana
laid one finger across the back of her
hand Heed the drum" he admon-
ished in tone OF deep satisfaction.
Heed the drum. 1t is beating reveille
for your happiness and mine-and II
&c lfSfo