The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-04
HIS LAST STORY.
BY JULIA TRUITT BISHOP. (Copyrighi, 1905, by Daily Story Pr

 (Copyright. 1905, by Daily Story Pub,
 It was over. By the next day, the doctor said, she might venture to walk . little, with assistance; and If there were no untoward happening, she might possible return to the city "a week from that day. The doctor spoke almost with regret. He had taken great interest in the case. insomuch that he had been forced to guard his feelings, otherwise he would have thanked heaven joyously for the nearr by railroad accident which had sent home one parient worthy of his skill; fot he was learned physician in a country district where nothing hap pened. He went away now, with an upliftod look on his face, mingled with the regretful expression aforesaid: and the girl sat in the arm chair in the porch and gazed abroad.
 Six weeks before she had been car ried awkwardly to that same chair by the head of the family which had taken her in: and being left there. had called faintly after him:
 T see hammock under the trees. I believe I could rest there Please ask that hired man if he will carry me out to the hammock.
 The hired man had heard and turned and came swiftly toward her. He was dressed for the fields. but there was a massive strength and a tender gentie- ness about him, as he lifted her and carried her out to the hammock. lay ing her down so that her ankle was at ease. and tucking the cushions under her head. 3
 'Ts that all right h" had drawled in the soft tones of respectful sym pathy; and the girl had smiled.
 You are very kind, she said.
 That had been six weeks ago, and still she was in the arm chair; but she was near the end. A few days more and she would go back to her work, to the endless turning out of copy for the Sunday papers, to the occasional little story, sent on its rounds among magazines, and perhaps finding a lodging place after awhile These weeks of enforced idleness had eaten into her very life, 1t seemed to her, for now the little money she had saved was gone, and she was in debt. and there would be months of saving before it could be all paid up. And yet--only d weeki She must go back and begin work--she must give all this up--in one little week.
 She looked abroad over the fields, where the quails were piping in the stubble. Far away across the tawny plain dotted with golden mounds. where the sheaves of wheat were piled. came the whir of a reaper and the cheerful voices of men. going up and down behind it. At this side of the feld-she looked at him last--a man leaned idly on one of the fenceposts. his arms folded over the top of it. The girls eyes rested on him frown- ingly. and the color rose to the cheeks that had grown pale during the weeks of pain.
 q might as well-once more," she nurmured; and sent the little boy at play in the yard to call the man who was leaning on the fence post.
 He came striding on; tall, alert, sun Drowned, his great straw hat on the back of his head. The mere sight of him increased her sense of helpless irritation and she turned her face away for moment.
 Really. have never seen hired man who had so little to do. she com mented presently.
 'Nrhis does seem to be kind O off