The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-04

he she cried in agony.
 At dinner Robert seemed unusually cheerful and considerate and at last she forgot grief or cause for grief and entered gaily into the spirit of badi- mage. even going to audacious lengths
 in her self-forgetfulness Robert smiled to himself as he took up the half finished sermon after din ner Never had his fancy held freer | rein, never had his thoughts scared higher. An hour and a halfs steady work brought forth a sermon that filled his heart with pride. Margaret must | share 1t first of all.
 In answer to his call. she came, the
 sweet mouth slightly dropping. the tender voice full of quavers. As he | read on and on, the blue eyes never left his face. the soft hand lying on
 the old chairs arm never seemed to note that a warm, brown one closed over and held 1t fast. The reading ended. self consciousness returned. With flashing eyes and quivering lips. almost rudely she snatched her hand away.
 At first. as the days passed. Robert had wondered vaguely at the placid life flowing on at his side; wondered
 first with faith and patience, then with strange unrest, how long 1t would go on. Would the sweetheart never | unfold itself again. Surely passion lay quiescent in the depths of those deep eyes, those dainty lips seemed formed for love and kisses. those beautiful. rounded, white arms seemed so we'll fitted to cradle close a baby form in it's downy nest. Latterly. wonder had
 changed to pain. Why must they walk
 side by side. yet ever apart? One day Margaret was brought home
 to him, cold and still. Then he knew hia If rn In daoA
 wife's grave. It beat warm and quick and strong, instinct with life and love and hope. All the fire of manhood, all
 the burning tenderness of the lover, stirred his being He would, ah. yes,
 he would clasp her close just once and lightly brush the dew from those virgin lips. Opportunity might never come
 again. Was she not his7 AL most his lips touched hers, the blue eyes opened and he drew back. No, no, she was not yet his, after all.
 Robert, where are you?"
 Here, Margaret"
 Like a child she clung, sobbing, to the strong, loving hand.
 Sweetheart. sweetheart" and the. man bowed in agony before his love. and longing
 Curiously. Margaret looked at him, half stretched out her arms, and quickly drew them back, a rising sob dying midway in her throat. It was of the dead wife he spoke.
 As the months wore on, gradually the little face on the mothers breast. the breeding tenderness in her eyes became vision by day and dream by night Was he wrong, or had the Madonna-like face taken on wistful look? Could 1t be the dawn of a new love?
 The old sweet joy of living pulsed in every vein. Little Roberts mother had loved him much in life. Now It seemed her gentle spirit brooder over him like a benedictlon. All the love, all the tenderness the boys heart had given the lost Alice, with the added weight of the love of man who mas seen much. felt much, suffered much lay enshrined in his heart. Ills proud, beautiful Margaret, win her ne must and would.
 Sister simpson was a wise woman and 1t did not take her long to dis cover that something was wrong m the relations between her most anu hostess. With infinite tact ana pa tience, she set herself to study the situation. At last the key was III her hand.
 .Monstrous! UnnaturalF' was the comment confided to her discreet nus band in the privacy of their own room What can we do?"
 On the following Sabbath Brother Simpsons melodious voice discourseo eloquently on the beauty and sacred ness of the marriage relation Muen and his good wife were with the Cor dons, and it was with real regret their announcement to leave on rrioay or the present week was received
 An impromptu social galneT'hg oI the good, old-fashioned klna, Witn races, picnic dinner and boat rioes was planned