The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-26
THE CLOAK OF FRIENDSHIP
BY INEz HARRINGTON WHITFIELD.

(Copyright,- 1905, by Daily Story Pub
 lishig Conmpany)
 It was a golden day in October--her favorite month. Thinking of the au- tumn beauty reminded her that q man had once expressed one Of her own naiI thoughts in the words:
 Autumn is natures holiday, and all her lovers should frolic with her, gath ering rosemary for the winter"
 4 letter was handel to her. It read:
 Here. Today,
 Dear You--Does rosemary grow there? am on my way to gather It, and beg that you will learn It's mo ing places and be my guide. Saeure ', 5 lover and yours, A Man.
 With the open letter in her hand she walked through the garden be- tween rows of hollhocks, past peas of asters and fall daisies, stopping 10 pluck a long-stefn1ITcd, gold-banoed lily, and on through the rustic gate into the waving meadows beyond.
 The slender, white ngure oreW tns rays of the sun upon crown or vel Iow-gold hair, which rippled merrlly into loose. low coil.
 The gurgling sound of running water guided her footsteps to the rocky pank of A brook in the shade Of ahcleht trees On flat topped boulder she seated herself to reread the letter.
 Out of. the past came memories memories of the bitter-sweet days or vo,Ifh. of xperiences that brought de- fight. pain, joy and sadness. The bounding, rushing stream at her rect svmboliZed many, for she rememeered that she once was gay. That patcn or yellow sunshine, glinting through the brilliantly colored foliage, ana deiylhg the nearby shadows, was a picture or her school days; these freely swaylns
 
 strength of the winds, beckoning 10 birds and butterflies, they were college days; over there in that pile Of stones she caught glimpses of scarlet nzaIa q IappinG insects in the sun, beautitui In color, but still a crawling thing, sus- gestive of the illuslve pleasures who's . true nature lay hidden under a hash or beauty.
 Slowly particular events took form against the background of generall- ties, Her mind grew keen In retro spection. Her eyes became accustomed to the perspective, and enc by one she knew the meaning of all those thought : less days when beauty, wealth ah1 youth were hers by right Of natural possession, and happiness might nave been had for the taking.
 But what part of il all was the man! Now that the mysterious shadows were lifting, there glided into ner heart J delicious sense that he was all. mat he had been the center of every plc- ture. the spirit of each hope and aspira- ton, and the object Of all anticipation.
 Familiar intercourse from childhood had wrapped around emotions it's dull ing thickness, snsoul6eriug the fire Of passion and stunning the sense Of ap- nreciation. She caught her breath as she remembered the first rent in the coyering He came to say good Dye on the day he first left home to enter rollege-the interview was short and unpleasant, filled with the embarrass- ment of both. And the second? fes' that was the day when she went to college. and she had laughed 1t him Tor asking her not to forget him-laughed al hir1 and made him the butt of the tests of the others who had come to see her of at the station. The third was the time ho came to see her take her degree, and unable to keep to him self the desire of his heart, had asked for her love, and she had laughed again; but now she saw the hurt In his eyes and the sudden straightenlns of his big body as he said good bye.
 There was yet another time when he rudely tore away the familiarity of friendship and demanded what he called his own and she? ah, yes, she had sent him angry away and turned back to the friends of the gayest wln- ter she had ever known. And next she recalled it v.vidly-it was only 2