The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-08

are, but growing in complexfty until 1t put apart two who had pledged their love and had promised to meet each oth- CT at the marriage altar.
 And then the loneliness and pain of the girl The swift transition from the happy. care-free girl to the wom- an, with woman's heritage of heart break.
 Then other changes. The loss of home. of ease, even of friends. The going out into the world to learn the bitter lesson of fierce. uncompromising struggle.
 And always the silent heartsche. the yearning void, the regret for the love that was lost, the toll. the Loneliness, the longing.
 1 And the love that had not died that could not die. The love that es- arrangement and silence and hardship lad only made more tender a thousand fold.
 This was the common little tale. But Alice wrote it as If she dipped her pen in the dripping heart blood of the girl who was loved and suffered. As the surgeon lays bare the throbbing heart and thrilling nerve. she had laid bare a woman's quivering soul.
 She read the pages through hurried ly and shuddered.
 l "Oh. that should come to this," she whispered piteously under her breath. 1
 The editor looked up keenly after he had glanced over the manuscript.
 T rather think this is the sort of a story we can use,' he said to Alice. q fancy we can use anything of this kind you may choose to bring us. l Provided always. of course, you get the touch of the real thing in 1t as you | Icee fo haya done Tn | Alice turned away with q murmured I Thank you" Her heart was strange ly heavy just then with its old-new pain.
 That night she sobbed out on her pillow, T thought I was beginning to forget. Oh, T. thought I was getting braver. I thought I was beginning to Iforgetr
 | But the last instalment on her type writer was paid and her worn hat and gloves replaced with new ones. | The editor who had fancied the It, tie story for its touch of the real thing" had kindly accepted other sketches Alice had sent him. She worked steadily and wondered if, per- haps in time she might forget. She wondered if perhaps in time she might have something of the old piece of mind she had known fin other days and in far different circumstances.
 Then she felt sudden pang. and prayed quickly that she might never forget. Let me not be among those who lose. and. losing. wish they might for get" she whispered softly. It was at the close of a storm swept winter day. Alice crept back to her lodgings, weather beaten and weary. in the early darkness, after a toilsome search for copy"
 She ard gust of rain-laden wind were borne into the door together. In- side the hall she started violently, and grew white to lips and brow. l In the light that burst upon her he was standing there. The first thing that flashed over her consciousness was the sense of his strength as he stood, straight and handsome. of his warmth. of his comfort, in contrast to herself, ccld and weary and beaten. But 1t was only for a moment that she saw him thus. The next instant she saw the struggle in his face-the struggle between joy and pain. the struggle between yearning and re- straint, between hope and uncertainty.
 He took quick step toward her. | "Alice!' he said. Oh. the thrill in his voice!
 Everett" was all she could say, although she was striving with all her might for possession of herself. Alice, I've searched for you q year. could not rest without you. I can not live without you" His words were coming impetuously. If you have learned that the cruel parting of ours was right, if you are happier so. tell | me quickly, and I will go. It will break my heart. Alice. but-for your | sake-I will go.' It came over her with a great rush his presence and his love-his love that wanted her. that had brought him back to her across the years. She was cold and tired and heart-hungry. He was warmth and rest and love-satisfy- ing.
 She had not even need to speak, for | she herself was unspoken eloquence. A mighty wave of tenderness bore over them and swept them into each others arms. Do you know how ever got the courage to really come to your he ask ed her when they were sitting quietly talking over the years they had lost out of their lives together. No. how did you, Everett; but am I SO formidable?"
 "Dreadfully formidable" he answer ed. looking laughingly into her tender, flushed race. Then he suddenly grew
 
 each other was too sweet and strange to allow, as yet, much ievity between them.
 T have tried to live without you, but had given 1t up at last. In the meantime you had left the old home, and I had lost knowledge of your where abouts. But I determined never to give up searching for you. couldn't give 1t up if I had wished, although I didn't know If you would forgive me. if I found you.
 Then I saw a little story-a sad, sweet little story under your name, and, Alice it gave me hope. I vowed then to find you if had to move heaven and earth to do 1t. That was two months ago. and-well, sweetheart. have found you"
 But the story-I don't understand" said Alice. What was the story?'
 Everett drew from his pocket a magazine, and turned to a page. Alice gave 1t one glance. the covered her face with her hands.
 "Why, that, of course, dear. You aren't sorry you wrote 1t, are you, AL ice?"
 Alice looked up suddenly. But the name, she said. 'T always use a pen name, How could you know 1t was mine"
 "A pen name? Not this time. cer- tainly, Alice-'Alice Monroe'-I believe that was the name bestowed upon vo,.