The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-12
GRETNA.
RY NEWMAN ". N,GInn,
MN NEW MAN Ns MFWAktKAs Copyright. 1905. by Daily Story Pulp
 lishinE Company.)


 There once dweit in a little noun ! tain village. a cobbler whose weary toii was iightened By the winsome face anS os SudSnss dsSSnss Or ns cRssse and
 When Gretna (suon was her name) was but an infant, her father had gone tune. but never returned. His wifs and mother plned slowly away and died. but the child grew up under the care of the old shoemaker. her only iiv. slender. sad-eyed girl, whose pure mind knew no other creed thal her Erand- sire's teachings of strict truth and uni compromising honesty.
 One evening as the vesper tolled, they stood with bowed heads In the doorway of their humble home and when the intonation had ceased, re-entered the utilize the waning daylight.
 hand slowly drawing the wax-end daily becoming more feeble. and 1t pained the affectionate child to see him struggling SO hard for their support when his life was nearly spent;
 earn enough money to keep up both. how happy would be; but my clothes washing yields small returns." Pres 'n. Ees she sPGns tsa cob bier glanced at the troubled face before him. What iB 1t, dear?"
 Hast thou noted the strange gem tieman at the Inn, for whose linen
 "Yes. child; a stern, norose man." hsnd lay 'Hs sGM sSnins eoia aSI soin
 The old man gaxed In wonder. Take 1t back" he easped, "'tis mistake"
 go I thought. and told him. too. but he only shook his head and said that iN WAS mine.
 The cobbler turned the matter over in his mind for a few moments. then the money. all cannot be we'll when the pay so greatly exceeds The labor-or, If he gives 1t In charity, tell him we want no aims. Have l not fed thee
 The resentment which lad risen at the thought of being pauperized gave place to a tender remembrance of the Sa}' iGly 'ef in his Y lap % he sank R' Into npa quiet reverie.
 Grstna stole softly out into the street. I'll go to meet the stranger, money @ ge must H De De returned. se Surely I hs 'tis wrong, as grandfather says" :. Making her way toward the edge of tas,s, the village. she crossed the bridge, beauty of the rising moon's reflected light in the water. for duek had now turned to night. On the farther side OA IuO EtOOQ luo duClcut LTct, the scene of many a lovers tryst.. As Gretna approached it a dark form emerged from the shadows.
 You have come. little one" said a
 T have brought back thy money, sir, as my grandfather has bidden me"
 "Tush! Tush! Keep the coin" After voice now strained and trembling, hav- ing lost its former deep tones HChild, do you recall your fatherT'
 TSat tathe6 ad pidst saSg.a s6Sr kn9T rtbs1s h1T laugh followed the words. he, as we have, thought him-dead9" forth as though to stop her words, shook with violent agitation. In mute wonder she waited for him to speak, contpSSns pS ins ferrleIs siaeIs S1 emotion fort he said, Take this bag, 1t Is from your father Yes, he is dead-kilied years ago at the mines. Murdered by his best friend for this wretched lucre Btain?"
 A small. weighty mass slipped through Gretna's nerveless fingers to The girl stood gazing into the shadows, vaguely turning over In her mind what had just transpired, then like Q flash science stricken wretch was her fath- sr's slayer. Stopping, she touched the oag at her feet, and could tell by the eel that 1t contained money-enough 10 keep her grandfather in ease during lis last years.
 Suddenly she paused and a tremor 'an through her form. Tt Is money murder" she said. T dare not keep | t." Taking the bag by It's strings she l urned toward the river. holding 1t at | rms h length ss though polluted. At
 A faint splash-the glittering rings l hat sprang Into existence on the placid | urface seemed to have borrowed their which had just given them birth.
 Summer departed and the cold wealth waverInE spark of life was inally extinguished by the bleak De- ember winds. and he was buried be- leath the snow in the old charchyard.
 Lonely little Gretna bore her sor- ow bravely, though knowing she must oon leave the home which had shel- cred her since early childhood, to go VhitheT she knew not.
 On the day following the funeral he stood In the center of the hushed oom, among the tools and leather so ately. put aside by her grandparent. which his aged hand had held the 'rief welled up in her throat and, rest ng her poor. tired head on the coun- CT, she gave way to torrent of sobs. now covered walk arrested her atten- lon. She had just time to brush away he tears when the old bell over the GOT tangled violently and a young nan burst into the shop.
 "Gretnal GretnaF he shouted wild 7 excited. such a find. Thou couldst ever believe 1t. Xet see there! Behold he thing itselfP Speaking thus, he ropped on the spot where her head ad been a damp, muddy lump. It truck the boards with a metallic chink nd from a hole rolled several dull eilow discs.
 What is this? Tell me, Jasper, ghere didst thou get it?'
 ''Why, then, 'tis money, and the way came by 1t is strange. indeed. Early