The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-04
Our Daily Sbort Story

 ing at the station"
 MT. Parsons!"
 The conductor made a slight motion, which. however. was significant. It said that he had lost his chance, and that there was nothing for him to do but retreat Blake hesitated a little, then threw his half consumed cigar through an open window and took the seat opposite. He would not return to the smoker until he made another at- tempt. It would be absurd to come all this distance and be frustrated in such a manner. But the imperturbable calmness of the face opposite showed the wisdom of not pushing matters too fast.
 SThe time between the stations seem ed intolerable. and the waits ct them, almost without end. But at last and before he dared risk any further entan- elements with Major Tom Parsons, he heard ormond called, and saw the Ma Jor and the conductor go out on the platform, where the conductor took two of the cigars from his pocket, and passed one to his companion. Then. the daughter not having arrived, the two men seated themselves on a box and commenced smoking. Ten minutes later there was sound of laughing and chatting, and two girls came leisurely from the direction of the hotel and after stopping for some minutes at the platform steps for final admonitions and good byes, one of them crossed to where Major Tom Par sons and the conductor were sitting. A little later he boarded the train. Blake's face was clouded3 but as the girl came through the car toward him, he could not help seeing that she was tastefully dressed and nice looking with bright, laughing eyes. Then he was on his feet, his face full of dismayed recognition. He had once firted with this girl, outrageously he thought, and then gone away without an explanation or lettef.
 But the girl had recognized him also. and was advancing laughingly, with outstretched hand.
 Why, If 1t isn't just my MT. Blake" she cried, and from what papa said about a Republican monster coming down here to devour our trees, I ex- pected at least a giant with fiery red hair and cavernous mouth. Papa," over her shoulder, "its only the little Rob- bic l once told you about, whom fiirted with so scandalously when vis- tied the ishermen's hotel seven years ago to see Mrs. Davis. Poor fellow! how woebegone he did seem that even ing after he proposed and then slipped away to vanish in the big cruel world Perhaps he was scared at my prompt acceptance"
 She turned back. motioning Blake to his seat and then placing herself be- side him with matter-of- fact self-pos- session.
 You look just exactly the same, Mir i Blake, except for the mustache," she went on approvingly. You were a nice boy"
 Thank you" miserably. His face had been alternating red and white now he raised his eyes desperately. You are a thousand times improved, Miss Willie" he said, that is, I mean if such thing were possible. I never never connected Major Parsons's daughter Willie with the little girl I met at the hotel--and about that--that disgrace ful hight--I-I-wasn't making believe. Miss Willie. It was dead earnest on my part and that was what demoral- ized me. My guardian was a lawyer, who was a hard man and who didn't believe in allowing me much pocket money. ThsAs ev0ning after you were so-so good to. me. I went out and tried to think the matter over. I had A re- turn ticket and just enough money to pay my board bill, and not a dollar more. We had arranged to fly to Eu- rope you remember, and did not have money enough to pay our fares to the next station, and I was in deadly fear or my guardian It was the act of A coward, I know, but I-I--slipped into the house and got my things left the money on table to pay my board bill. and then seurried through the pine woods to take the night train" | He paused and glanced sideways at l hA n-committal. He went on, deject- edly:
 Do you know. that act has been flashing my conscience for seven years Many time the thought of it has gone into my dreams and I have awakened hot and miserable, IL"
 The girl laughed out now, aloud. l Poor fellow" she said. q didn't suppose It was as bad as that, and yet remember you did seem rather in earnest. I often wondered how-but then you were only IT. and Is. Chil- dren do get into some awful serapes. don't they? And what Q long time ago 1t was. You have developed into an in- dependent, prosperous business man. and l have been to Europe and all over. as the American girls say. It's very funny"
 Blake's expression was becoming l more assured
 And you are not angry with me. irrevocably?" he questioned. | "Of course not, you foolish boy. We were only children. You need not feel worried about the cargo of spiles Papa does just what I tell him. and you shall have all you want, at your own price,"
 Blake threw up a hand, protestinRlv. ! Hang the spiles!" he cried vehe- mently. T was not thinking abaut them. May I-I call and see you, at your home, mean?-
 This time the girls silence was long, CT. She was regarding him with an odd expression in her eyes. Why, yes, I don't know but you may, If you like she conceded at length. You used to be a very nice sort of boy, I remember"
 INTERESTED IN TOBACCO.