The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-14
Our Daily Short Story

| in that Bohemian throng. I saw 4t once that you were born and ntted TOT a better sphere. It seemed to me . wrong thing that you should De coms pelfed to make an exhibition Of y0ux charms in subordinate. role in ord4k to obtain the mere necessities of iifo. thought that I couldl offer you . houe and pleasant surroundings, in whlc4 your true nature might develop ana expand, untfammeied by an uncouG>- nial environment and the hard necog~ sity of husbanding a wretched weeklH pittance.
 And then thought of myself--ok | my lonely, foveless age. I thought lk would be pleasant to have one 50 fair and sweet and beautiful to look upon and call my own. Do you know, Ag~ i mes, in my time have been famous1 I achieved fame both by pen and sword. have never told you much of my lif9< | but if you read the history of the civil war you will find that my narne was not without prominence among oIIicers of the Federal army. And in my lI~ brary at home you will find upwards of a score of voIumes-~~essaye. poems, stories, philosophical treatises--that wrote years ago. and which had many readers in their day. have had my share, child, of popular applause. But now I am forgotten. Looking back over long life, cannot point to any
  or say that I was loved by a single fa1- low creature. thought. Agnes. that [ could make you happy, and that In time you might learn to love me. But it was all a mistake<-the foolish dream of selfish old man. had no right to tie your life to my declining age. Xou have been kind and good and forbear- ing with me. but 1t was not we'll to look to you for love-"
 "oh. don't say that. my husband dearl Indeed--indeed. love youi"
 You do?" the old man cried with joy. and folded her in his arms.
 Submitting graciousiy to the em- brace, the woman forgot the handsome lover pacing to and fro impatiently up- on the bridge.
 Presently the arms relaxed theiE clasp. the old mans head dropped ups on his breast and Agnes Marslaad found herself clinging to the iifeIess clay of him who had rescued her from drudgery and want to elothe her round with luxury and beauty.
 The big-hearted man. who had fought for his country and thought and writ- ten much for the advancement of hu- manity on its toifsome pilgrimage to an uncertain goal. having outiived the gratitude of his generation and the memory of his fellows, had realized his cherished dream at last, and died ,hap- | py in the knowledge of a woman's love. before another came to wrest from him the prize so hardly won-
 He had gone over the border. H&s was free, and happy
 
 Fremont sprang forward eagerly to meet the woman advancing in the gathering dusk. He would have claGp-f ed her in his arms, but she waved hif1 back.
 T cannot go with you she said. My husband died an hour ago"
 She waited. but as the man did nctI speak she added:
 T am free now"
 .'Yes.'
 "And--so are you--CharIes."
 But, Agnes--your promise7"
 His death absoives you. It would be no conquest worthy of the winning powers of Charles Fremont to gain a itg'
 Raising her arm, she pointed to the Canadian side. Fremont turned upon his heel without word and left her. She watched him until he was over the border
 Then she went back to her dead. ana wept.