The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-07-28
Our Daily $bort Story

All at once the man grew more serious again. You have never seen me. but l have often seen you. but without knowing your name. do not know your name even now" Tt is Elizabeth Mart'
 meditativeiy. Her name had never
 sounded 70 swsstiy in her ears be-
 And mine Is Randolph Jordan" h. added after . pause. and am
 "A poet.-of courss you are . poet! might have known it."
 He laughed and biushed. From my
 From the glamour of poetry that is about you. guess"
 They were client for a moment and then the man resumed. Do you re- for us to bs talking to each other in this wayr
 T know 1t, but do not realize 1t. seem to have broken away from all bounds and from all traditions. But poet is not subject to conven- l tionalities. If you choose to honor me with a visit can but bow to your will. A poet is . sort of prince, a king to whom lesser mortals must do reverence. What 10 your will, sir. or, l should say. your majesty?" She felt little giddy. as if she had taken too much wine. She won- dered if she were not carrying her testing too far.
 My will is----" and in his tone was a new sound. . thrilling sound. the ac- cents of the master. but he paused and softened into . beautiful smile. Her heart had bounded at his ringing words. and she had almost feared what he might make her do. but now she great quiet again, and happy in his smile.
 But before I command you I must
 request. and before request I must explain"
 He was silent again. as if reviewing and marshaling hts words. T am . poet. I am also Q man of an independent though small. fortune. am able to live the life choose and I, live the life of a poet. live as much as possible with flowers and
 birds and beautiful things. But do not think ] am an indolent dreamer. work hard at my poetry and I work with my hands for the love of work. have a cottage and garden. and l both I care for myself. study. too. long to know. to know everything. do not bother myself about money. or about fame. or about social distinc- tions. For society I seek the humble and the poor. am not a philan- thropist nor a social reformer. Some
 work out his own destiny in the place where he is put. and do not venture to meddle."
 He paused abruptly. Well. that is | enough about myself. that and what
 you can see. And now l must speak
 about you. have known you by sight for over year. l have ad-
 knew that I should find you a per-
 son of unusual congeniality. I knew that you had more sn common with
 me than anyone else have ever
 seen."
 There was a strange. insistent burr about the mans voice. It seemed | to have a mechanical effect upon Miss | rather white. and felt an attracting culver. like that which comes from ] the handles of an electric battery draw ing her towards him.
 T could not meet you in any con- Ventional fashion. I am poet and I | did not care. I did not even care to
 know your name. I knew just you.
 you, yourself. and I cared nothing
 for name or social distinctions or
 conventions. I knew a time would come and when I saw you yesterday coming back to the deserted city I
 knew the time had come. In some far
 away place our souls were made for
 one another, or in some other world we knew and loved one another more
 strongly. more sweetly. more passion ately. than comon men can know. I
 knew you must love me as I love you when once I came to get you. And now I have come. have come to tell my love, have told my love, have told 1t unafraid, for the guiding voices have spoken truth and you love me-" He paused, rose from the chair. | stepped to her side. stopped. took one of her hands in his and looked gently into her eyes. *4.z:~. Do you not, Elizabeth7' | Yes" she murmured. dreamily.