The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-24
A Dainty Bit of
 Fiction. BY NELLIE HOLT. Montgomery.
Montgomery.


 at this time 1t might have been black. meaning 1t was full of car smoke. The fates have certainly been kind in throwing us together so peculiarly and unexpectedly. and now that we are here there is nothing to do but to make the best of it. Yes, he said, when they were in corner to them selves. T certainly thought your hair was darker"
 And L. she answered, was sure you were taller"
 "rve gained fifteen or twenty pounds since you saw me last, and that de- | tracts from my height, l suppose-so you arc not glad to see me-sorry you missed your train?'i, And he tried to shake her hand. No not that, am" but before she could finish he had her in his arms. She struggled to. free. herself. but he held her until she was quiet. When words came to her lips, she said. ITO think I've trusted you to be insulted-you have, taken advantage of my being alone. and have come here thinking me woman of the lightning type. You are not a gentleman" .. He. let her go then. drawing his arms away as if he had ben stung. and, walking the floor. hands behind him, every word came slowly. You do not care then? I'm sorry. I did not have to come, hundred miles to parry bad mage with woman. You knew loved you, even though haven't any sentiment in, me-. He came back and looked down at her. q will give you a, lot in Enabem and we can build a home. I'm not as bad as you think"
 But the eyes were downcast. Tt seems to me you could not love wo- man you knew nothing whatever about-one whom you only met on the fro In Ja kad taf ~R Ger weakness and sho was disappoint- Fed.
 And you do not love me?' .Still no answer. She did not say. even though she was disappointed, how much she dared, fearing if he knew, he would not value her then. She only said T fear 'tis time for me to retire. am very, very tired, and if I do not get some. rest will look like fright in the morning, so I'll bid you good night
 She had Just fallen asleep, It seemed. when the porter tapped on her door, saying, You have only a few minutes to catch your train" Dressing hur- riedly, she came out to find him inn patiently awaiting her
 T never slept a wink last night. thinking about you,'' he said, had a great mind to go down and get on a big drunk-you treated me so mean ;. I'm sorry. indeed, if worried you" she said quietly. You will forget that you liked me when good daylight comes, for you may not fancy the col or of my hair them Her face was pale that the night before had been so rosy, and her hair-he was sure had been darker when first they met.
 You blush, very easily. do you not?' he asked after a while, as he gaZed at her tanned skin. remembering how red it I,aI hAa hn ieyia hnfnrn
 No. I can't say l ever blushed in my life"
 She felt he was wondering if paint and 'blondined" hair added so much to her looks in the gas light, and she was trying to find If beauty inspired his love or it came from d nobler feeling. She never told him her hair and her bushes were all that at times made her good looking, and were her most natural gifts. She did not believe he loved her now worn-out, sunburned and even. soiled.
 And I've come SO far to find you do not care?' Surely he was asking this for vanity's sake.
 50 I do not care. you think? Well, may be don't, I'm just disappointed that's all--that you should think I'd allow just anybody to treat me as you have" ...>
 She never trusted herself to say
 
 know. when she returned to her home. they parted. he to go back to his little town, and she to continue her journey. She had fully decided when the return trip was made to stop over somewhere, as the journey to New Orleans was such a long one
 She had been away for a month. still not a line had been received from him: his neglect she was sure was due to the amount of business he had on hand. He said tco, he had no sentiment, so feeling tho slight was not intentional she wired the mor1ing she left she would be in Union City at 7:30 p. m. How thankful she sent the telegram her.
 As she alighted from the train and gazed on the sea of faces about the depot it was impossible to believe that she was disappointed after all. There was not a familiar looking person in sight. She was at a loss to know what to do. Across the way was a telephone and feeling sure something terrible had happened she called up the hotel where he always stopped when in the city, It happened gentleman, was standing near the telephone and heard. :-~
 Madame" he said. T think I know the one for whom you inquired and if you wish I will take you to the place where he is staying"
 She hesitated. fo~ the idea of hunt ing up man ppeared preposterous to her. Seeing. however. that she must 20 to a hotel she accepted his assist ance, feelirg that after all he must have missed her in the crowd.
 Leaving her in the parlor the stranger went to look for her friend.