The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-07-13
A NEMESIS.
BY ZOE RINEHART.

BY FOE RINEHART. (coDDrfeht, 1905, Daily Story Pub Col He boarded the train at one Of the small stations He was alone. Most of the passengers noticed him when he entered the car, carrying his grip importantly up the aisle, and glancing briskly from side to side for vacant place. He paused beside a man who occupied the half of the seat in which he sat.
 Taken. Misterr' he asked politely. No, help yourself" replied the man and moved his valtse aside to make room for the newcomer.
 He settled himself and glanced eruund with a bright, satisfied air. He was probably ten years old A close observer might have noted cer- tnin pitifm traces of maturity in the small-featured face. But whatever hardness his yaung life had known, tpday at least some magic had been at work. His small form emanated cf1eeyfuIness. His gray eye that must once have been large and solemns melted and smiled irresistfbly upon whonsoever it rested. He was joyous ness itself.
 rne man beside him was looking out upon the flying lands. Hut appar- auSfy his thoughts were far away. Per- haps now they dwelt upon man he once had known, and again they may have clustered about womans face "a, woman he once-had wronged! Who knows.
 Suddenly he heard sound beside htm- sort of joyous ehuckIe. He turned. surprised and caught the boys gray. laughing eye.
 You seem to be enjoying yourself" Yes said the boy. and laughed agair, the same low chuckle. Then he added. You see. mister. I'm going home
 4 shade fitted across the mans face.
 "Home. he muttered under his breu... Then to the lad he said, "0o- ing home, are you? We'll, then. you and ought to. be prime eompan sions, for that's where I'm bound for--home ---ionc.'
 The boy laughed again. for every thing struck him pleasantly, like a joke He was really pining to talk. He was too full of great things that day to keep them all within the limits or his one small self. Yes" he bIurted out, I'm goin' home I guess there'lI be big doin's when I get there Fishin and huntin' ard ail kinds of Iarks."
 soh. l supposed you were just get ting home from a lark.
 The boy looked at him in quick dis sent. and then seemed to realize that an explanation would be in order.
 You see I haven't been living at home with Nom. It always made Nom sorry, but 1t couldn't be helped. You know we didn't have no money, Mom and me And when I was a kid, just d baby, l guess, Nom had to give me to some folks. cause she couldn earn enough for her and me. too. She always wanted to earn enough to have me come home. But it's hard for poor ,Haa he fl with a grave nod
 "But now you're going home to stay "
 Yes, Nom was married yesterday. he answeded smilingly
 Then your own father-ne died long ago. suppose"
 For the first time the smile died on the lips. and the age came out in the small face.
 "I never knew Pop That seems queer doesn't it? He went away a long, long time ago, and he never game back. It was only little while after Pop left that l came, and Nom says if 1 hadn't come to help her bear her troubles then, she'd have died But what can a baby do? If I had been him, do you think I'd have"
 He stopped A noble shame for a fellowman's failure was in his face. The man started slightly and turned away his head. Suddenly the boy threw out a ciinched hand
 DO you know. Mister" he cried. in a quick, strange fury. I've thought oi it often and often in the night. and wished I could see him. If he were alive. I'd like to tell him how wicked he was to go away like that. wouldn't have cared. But her-it hurt her SO. It made her cry nights ant days. And she never forgot 1t. Oh he broke her heart. and for that hat' him-L hate him!'
 The man shrank as If the weak fierce little hand had struck him. "But he's dead," went on the boy more quietly We heard long after that he was dead.
 And she--and you-had a hart time to get along
 Yes, as told you. Nom was poor and was only another burden. Mon wasn't used to earning money. ant she wasn't very strong. At last sh' had to give me up. Some folks tool me. and when l got big enough -SIaed for my keep"
 The man looked at the small frame with It's signs of labor too harsh fol its strength, at the hard little hands the hollowed, childish chest. A pans shot through him.
 And so she is really married" h, said as if speaking out the train O his thought. For the boy the presen and its joys crowded out the bitte memories of the past. He smiled again.
 "Yes. and we're all goin' to live vo gether. Nom says I'm to go to schoo now like other boys. And he says shall hunt and fish and swim all like Oh, it'il be jolly. reckon" He laugh ed happily.
 "Siss so good. Nom says he's tn best friends we've got in the world
 And she is happy with him-sh has quite forgotten?" said the maI huskily.
 The boy looked grave. T thinl sAe's happy-yes. But I'm not certaii that she's quite forgotten. l suppos women remember things a long, lonl time." he said. wisely.
 T think she must remember, an think of him sometimes.' he went or flor I heard her whisper to herself Tzs is dead. he is dead-why not Then she came, sudden like, and pu her arms around me. And she said il a queer way. My boy, shall we let thi good man who loves us take care of u alwaysT It took my breath away. only could say. oh, Nom, the fishpond the bird-dogsv Nom laughed, but saw tears in her eyes. And she sait Then we will, dearie. we will An so I'm going home" he ended with happy sigh.
 Several miles nashed bH before the snoke again. Tha hoy was Rlent fo