The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-05
Our Daily $bcrt Story

round eyes. at the inmates, but his conversational. powers were very limi- ted. Jim was not surprised, therefore, to find him quietly contemplating his 1abors.
 Hello. Danny" he said, without teasing his endeavors to crowd a pair of shoes into space about big enough for tooth brush.
 Danny did not feel called upon to return Jim's greeting. He only stood. staring placidly and clutching' some thing in his fat, dirty hand. Jim work ticed that the child had something in his hand.
 What have you there. Dannyr" he asked.
 Pitcher card" answered the laconic Danny.
 Jim worked away for few moments in silence: then feeling that his posi- ton as host required some effort at sustaining the conversation. he asked. absent -mindedly. for lac was thinking of things more important than pitch CT cards"
 Where did you get it?" 'sMadge's room," answered Danny. Jim's thoughts came bcak with rush. Let me see it," he said. Danny si- lently handed 1t over and Jim looked at it. It was photograph of himself, which he rembered having given her He colored up hotly. Had she given the picture to the child? Perhaps she had sent it to him in this way as an intended insult.
 Did Madge give you this?' he asked Danny,Nso fiercely that the child's slow wits were quickened. | NO; she don't know got 1t. I'm going to hide it."
 what are you going to hid it for?' asked Jim. in surprise. .aCause it made Madge cry. I seen | her. She kissed 1t, and then she cried" ," Danny never knew how 1t happened I but a few minutes afterwards he found himself out in the hall. with a nickel clutched in his fat palm instead I of the picture. Jim sat on the edge of the bed, with the photograph in his | hand and his heart beating wildly. A little later. just as darkness was falling, Madge. who was returning l from a Saturday evening shopping ex- petition, came suddenly upon the hg- ure of Jim Benson, standing like statue at the corner of the street. She would have passed him with nod, but he turned and walked along be- side her.
 sTve got something to say to you. Madge," he said. Her heart gave | iump and she fumbled nervously with | the parcels in her hand.
 well, what is it?' she managed to
 say.
 .It's just this want straight an- | swer from you. I care lot for you, Madge, and l want you to marry me. Madge was trembling now. They had reached the gate and were stand ing in the shadow of the big lilac. bush. l But how about Ella Briggs? she l faltered. l .'oh, Ella Briggs, he-hanged! He nearly used another word not quite so fit for a girls ear. T don't want Ella Briggs, want you"
 l Vainly Madge tried to speak, put ner
 voice was beyond her control; an ex- cited little sob was all she could com mand. The next moment his arms were around her and the friendly lilac lbush nodded above them and hid tneir lhappiness from the outside world.
 Jim Benson did not take the Sun day train. Instead he sent telegram and when he went to his new position, I a few days later. he took his bride I with him. As for the freckled- faced I Cupid, who had played so important la part in brining the lovers together he failed utterly to understand why Madge had kissed him and Jim hao given him a big, round silver dollar hut that fact did not detract from his happiness. He stared placidly while Mrs Hickey's boarders showered rice ana good wishes on the departing pair, and he wondered if a dollar would buy a barrel of ice cream.