The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-26
Our Daily Sport Story

thoroughly prepared and able to avail him self of 1t. His performances had startled the engineering world and his resources and mastery of principles surprised the older en- gineers. Then, of course, opportunities crowded upon him and he rose rapidly. un- til at last he assured career before him and felt his feet upon the rocks Of safety.
 the friends of his boyhood. Then did he feel that he could go back to Helen and lay his heart and his achievements at her feet. Then did he permit himself to go back and hear the old father say, Well done" and to see the light of pride beam in his moth ers eyes.
 Now. all this had taken much time. Ten years had gone by since he left. lad of 20. to do battle with the world. He had not taken time from his strenuous work to so much as visit his old heme. Indeed. he had no desire to do until he could take with him the laurel wreath He had cor responded with Helen. but not very regular iy. and had kept out of his letters all the tender sentiment he felt because he felt that she must come to him only as the crown of success. Nor did he feel justified In paying court to her until he had proven himself worthy. Now he hastened to her with all the consciousness of his deserts and eager for his bliss.
 But the absorbed young man had forgot ten that the years had brought their chang es and their experiepces to other people as well as to him. What, then. was his sur prise and dismay to learn before he had fairly arrived at the home town the uni- versal gossip that Helen Ashton was about to become the bride of Herbert Neiman, the heir to the Neiman millions. At first he was full of unreasontng anger and rushed off post haste to accuse her of fickleness and reproach her for broken faith. But she received him with such evident cordiality and pleasure and her clear eyes looked so honestly into his that his purpose failed
 Besides, 1t was a very different person into whose presence he was ushered than the laughing, mischievous. vtvacious girl Of l6 from whom he had parted ten years ago. As she came toward to greet him in the full glow of young womanhood. tall. serene, self poised and beautiful as Greek goddess, he felt a shock as from a bucket of ice water, and instantly 1t came to his clear in telIigence that while he had been growing in his life she had been growing in hers He realized also that he had established no claim upon her excepting in his own con scIousness. He saw the injustice and self- ishness of his years of silence. and he saw the poetic justice of the losing of the main prize of his efforts. after all as a result of his blind pride.
 More than this. as he talked with her he felt the power of her personality and be- gan to wonder If he was not presumptious in aspiring to this beautiful creature. de- spite all his success.
 In fact. as he walked the floor that
  own accomplishments when viewed relative ly. Why, indeed. should this glorious creature, upon whom the luxuries of the world would sit we'll. choose life Of ordinary domesticity when the treasures Of the world were laid at her feet? After all, his success meant only the privilege to keep on working hard. tunneing more mountains, baffling more of the difficul- ties of nature He never could hope for great riches. Indeed. he never had covet- | assured of. but palaces and yachts and leisure and travel and princely luxuries he could hope for if at all. only after many years more of work and then only by changing his mo- tiyes and his ideas and his methods On the other hand there was Neiman with all his millions inherited from both his father and mother. invested In securities which brought an income beyond the nope of spendinR-he could give her every hearts desire and permit her to shine as she was meant to shine With him she | could become but part of his life and radiate only his achievements With Ne man her own world opeped before her. Elm merson admitted this to himself with great bitterness.
 | Manlike he accepted his conclusions as | established facts. and even in his repent | ance failed to declare his love He show | ed fl plainly enough and raiied to her at | scrutable and teasinKly coduettish. Elm | merson was driven distracted by her and inc love he had felt for the girl sweetheart l he had left seemed puny beside the great l passion he conceived for the woman he | found. - .,. | he asked savagely one day.
 | .'yhen he asks me-maybe." she re- piled.
 Are you engaged to him?" he persist ed
 That's rather impudent" she replied.
 .Well. if you are not. 1t is all understood | reckon" he went on. disregarding the | danger signals in her eyes. The Lord l knows don't blame you What has pooi devil like me to offer you excepting oe- cent living and a heart full Of lover | Just then a servant announced MT. Nei- | man. =.
 che said audaciously, as she arose ana turn | ed toward the door.
 | Emmerson Ieaped to his feet and started
 toward her Just then Neiman entered
 tall. cadaverous. his dead white completion
 accentuated by the monocle he affected ana
 Mtss Ashton receiy ed him warmly. whil'
 Emmerson sank back Into bis seat with
 surly nod.
 Neiman was to take her to the opera, s'
 it seemed. and soon they went. leavini
 Emmerson still sitting gloomily in his chair
 .'Curse the luck What did she mean '
 he muttered. "Have I missed still anothe
 chance? That fellow looks like he Is goinI
 to propose tonight"
 l He was TlBnE Ou the way AOA-S H' | carriage Neiman formally laid himself am | the Neiman millions at her feet. When they returned she found Emmer . son still there. greatly to her surprise
 Well" he said, T thought would wal | and learn the worst. Did he ask you" "Yes." she replied demurely. flushin | deeply.
 And when are you to become happ | bride? ?" he persisted.
 She walked straight up to him and look | ed into his eyes mischieyously- whenever you ask mss you great goose. she said.