The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-21
THE SCENT OF THE ROSES
BY W. Y. SHEPPARD. Copyright, 1904. By Daily Story Put

BY w. Y. SHEPPARD.
 Copyright, 1904. By Daily story Puy.
 Col
 When Chumpsky left home and Mrs. Chumpsky that evening, 1t was with the avowed intention of attending . lodge meeting" #
 Don't sit up for me Agnes" he had said. Tt may be rather late when return we are to elect our officers for the coming year, you know" =
 As a matter of fact. Mrs. Chump- sky did not know, but, like good wife, she promised obedience to her lord and master. So with 6 feeling of security pulsing in his breast Chumpsky made his way. not to the lodge but to the rooms of a certain MT Blackwe from whence, a full hour later, the two of them issued. clad in green dominoes and masks. A car riage bore them rapidly to the hall where the great masquerade ball was soon to break forth in all its gaiety and splendor.
 Nothing else helps man like taking a night oil occasionally Chumpsky explained, addressing his own conscience as we'll as Mir. Black well. "Of course, with women it Is different. They are satisfied to stay at home. They never feel any of that restlessness that desire for a little innocent excitement without which man cannot exist"
 To this Mir. Blackwell murmured a ready assent, and Chumpsky's con- science chimed in.
 The ball was indeed a gorgeous af- fair. Conscious of the security of their disguises and carried away by the gay spirit of the occasion, formal ity was thrown to the winds. Men and women danced with whom they pleased.
 For a while chumpsky stood back and watched the revelers swing and sway across the polished floor. In their gay abandon there was some- tihng fascinating. For a whole year, ever since his marriage, home and Mrs. Chumpsky had taken up his every thought But as far as the pendulum swings to the right so far win 1t re- turn to the left. Chumpsky felt him self swinging back. An uncomfortable desire to dance, to be one of the mad turned to cast his eyes about for g partner, couple swayed by. He could not help but notice them, so gracefully they glided over the floe-. Every turn wrapped the long domino around the woman's form. fascinating Chumpsky's eyes. Three times while he stood there gazing, spellbound. sns circled by. The fourth time they stopped almost in front of him. scarce ly two feet away. He heard her mur- mur something about an ice. and the man bowed and glided off. That was Chumpsky's opportunity. He took ad- vantage of 1t What he said he never knew; but, divine sensation. there he was gliding across the floor one of his arms about her waist. one of his hand clasping hers, warm and soft.
 It was true that Chumpsky was born susceptible to feminine charms, but even if his blood had been colder than the coldest 1t would have tha wed into warm living wine when he felt the glow from iier shoulder, pressing against his breast, steal slow ly. yet irresistibly. over his whole live ing.
 May be 1t was the wine he had drunk before leaving Biackwelrs room. may be 1t was the spirit of the occasion. may 1t be with the ricn heaty odor of roses that waited up to his nostrils every time the long black domino swung and ciasped itself around the superb creature he held in his arms. be what 1t may. Chumspky was intoxicated with divine intox- ication. And from the fullness of his heart his lips spoke. Heavenly sensa-