The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-07
Our Daily Sbcrt Story

1 Had the flowers and lights gone to my head?.- No, he was true; true to his love for the composite woman.
 He put a quick, firm hand on each side Of my head and drew me slowly toward him with an expression that Killed all power of resistance But the spell was broken when a rose bough bent out of the dark shad- ow beyond his left shoulder and for one moment caught the light. Then we heard--was it sob7 In another Instant woman's figure crossed a patch of moonlight toward the house. ' He had not changed position except to quietly lower bis hands; his face had become. expressionless. I arose and he escorted me to our hostess. I was one of the first to leave the grounds. As I stepped into my car- riage he was standing in a half shaded aroor near the veranda. talking to a dark-haired woman and-yes, she was taking a handkerchief from her, eyes. I did not let him know I saw his sharp glance at me.
 Yesterday there was a wedding and a funeral. There were congratula- . tions and smiles for the Blonde; there were condolences and tears for the dark girl think sometimes the con- dolences should be at the wedding, and the congratulations at the funeral.
 He attended both; was gay at the wedding, grave at the funeral, and ar both impenetrable--to other eyes. | The dark Girl left but a few words to explain her dreadful act; someone did not value her love, and life was valueless to her. She gave no blame and-no name. Consequently everyone | diligently tries to learn the secret she had paid such a price to keep. And with her life. seems to have gone all | memory of her shortcomings. An, why not show such charity to the living! They wonder. now. that any man could have failed to love her. Often as they whispered they looked at him; but no blame. or piercing glance could draw anything from his calm, gravity: his | face shows only what he wishes one to see.
 Yet knew he had suffered. | ,s The Bride and Groom have returned. This was their first "at home" Stand ing beside her tall, aristocratic hus- band, the Blonde Bride was very beau- tiful, but lifeless.
 l. A quiet voice caught her attention: she turned to respond to the usual platitudes, but Philips compelling eyes pierced her indifference. Around his mouth crept that sarcastic smile. and it was not my imagination that painted a faint pink on her face, and a flash of light and life.
 Money, money, everything fairly cried aloud with 1t. Hot house flowers made the air heavy with suggestions of gold --or of funeral; perhaps that is why they stihe one, and why my mind went back to the poor dark Girl. She had not the self-control of this pale Blonde.
 I walked away and left when I saw him approaching.
 
 I am to marry that man and I shall not be happy.
 Strange when so clearly see into the future that I should take the step. Yet all will not be unhappiness; he loves me best. I shall receive more tenderness, more care, more thought than anyone else-moret than anyone elsei
 When I suffer he shall not know. shall see so much and he shall not know; but sometimes I shall see a diff. ferent thought under Kindness to me: sometimes I shall see the mental caress given to another; sometimes I shall catch a glimpse of the composite wo. man.
 I knew 1 could not love that man without hating him; and I cannot hate him without loving him.