The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-25
AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR
BY J. A. TIFFANY.


 Fifty -one--yes. this Is our room. Second turn from the elevator. l thought it was the third; but l must have counted wrong"
 She went into the parfor and closed the door behind her. The room was flooded with moonlight. and she need ed no other light Tor the present. She looked out of the window at the beautiful sea. which ray like q sheet of burnished silver stretching away to the dim horizon.
 With a sigh of content she sank down into the depths or luxurious sofa near the window Her bedroom door stood invitingly open. but she did. not feel in the least sleepy. T will wait for Horace," she said, Her husband had left her at the eIe- vator and had gone 10 play a game of billiards promising to come up- stairs in an hour. She would wait un- It'll he came, SC that together they might enjoy the witchery of the scene for a few moments, before re- tiring.
 Horaee had brought her here, be- cause he knew she liked the quiet of the place. She had been afraid 1t would be very dull for him, and she had been glad when they met Arthur Les" ter.
 Mir. Lester was twenty years her husbands junior-near to her own age; but he and Horace appeared to be great friends The younger man when Mrs. Travers had announced her intention of retiring and her hus- band had intimated that he proposed playing a game of billiards before go- ing to bed. They had all arrived that day-an interval of few b9urs sep- arating the appearance of MF Lester following their own. She was glad Mir. Lester had come.
 Mrs. Travers kicked off her white canvas shoes and slipped of her over skirt. Her kimono was hanging just behind the door, but is was too much trouble to get up for its She remained sitting on the sofa near the window, enjoying the moon light on the water for an hour. Then She woke with a start to find man standing over her.
 You Mir. Lester!" she cried. What brings you hereT'
 T might repeat the question were it not happiness enough to have you here without inquiring too curiously as to why you came"
 What do you men, sir7' -~ Tt was kind of you co come" | He was bending over her, half dressed, and he tried to take her hand in his. She repulsed him and sprang to her feet
 You call yourself my husbands friendr she said, scornfully.
 Hush! There are people coming along the hall." he said; do not talk so loud. or they will hear you. Be reaAonable--my angel" He spoke in a whisper, and his breath fell hot upon her cheek.
 If I am in your room. Mir. Lester, rest assured I have made the most deplorable mistake of my life. am positive the number on the door Is fif- ty-one."
 The number of fifty-seven. But do not talk so loud. pray you. Suppose your husband should hear you?'
 "I shall go to my husband imms- diately and tell him of my mistake"
 You have been In my room more than an hour. Do you think he will believe your"
 "Assuredly he will"
 Not after he has seen me. Don't you remember the lady in Shakespeare, who sacrificed her honor to save her reputation? Don't you think"
 But she was gone. She had snatched up her things and fled.
 She ran almost into ner husbands arms. He walked before her. and
 
 her to pass in. Then he followed her. turned up the electric light and stood with his arms folded across his breast waiting.
 She told him her story, and he lis tened with quiet incredulity. He left her to the enjoyment of the suite of rooms, and went and engaged another room for himself.
 Horace Travers was a proud and international man. He was not a man to make 8 fuss-not one who would shoot a faithless wife, nor yet a treacherous friend.
 He went to his wife the following morning and advised her to go to her sister, fntimating that he would try and obtain a divorce with as It, tie unpleasantness as possible.
 She said everything she could to convince him of her innocence, but vain. In her desperation. she even appealed to Lesters sense of honor.
 Let him get his divorce" he said and l will marry you"
 There was one other persou stay ing in the hotel to whom she felt she could go with her trouble--the Rev David Ballantyne. He had been q friend of her fathers. He was not an old man, but he had the calm and benignant mien that usually come on ly with the wisdom of years. He had Ileft the church in which he had been ordained to join a new strange monas. ] tic order unrecognized by any theology She went to him and told him hei