The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-22
HEARTS--TWO PAIRS.
BY WILLIAM PERRY BROWN.

TIUpyTIEHfr IgU5, -by- DdITY- sIOTV Fub. "oh the vanity of menr' said Gertrude. Father Is vain. though over fifty. and bald. and--and-''
 Being widower. plus his iuigship, p Walt scarcely paused while kissing the pink tips of her fingers. as he took up the song. land the father of you how can he help h?" ''would I marry e widower who is both vain. cruel. and-aud--''
 Walt once more came to the rescue of his sweetheart; only he did not stop at fingers this time. Gertrude boxed his left ear. gently.
 q should say not," added he. seemingly an sfterthought. yet with tender empha- sis. Not while I am within Eunshot." Quit being silly. Walt. If you were more serious and steady. father. though vain. would not object to you: 1t would leave him more time to impress his own brand of stiffness on some other woman"
 ''Is hereaily that bad off" queried the lover vaguely.
 "He wants to marry. and he will marry some one. some day. He thinks he can marry anyone. Why don't you hurry and b@ rich 2" -Fr. a+ ,' -.es
 "I am: in you. My. title deed will be your marriage certificate. If Judge Green. being vain and cruel wants to marry--by the wayl Who will have him? Whom does he want?" Walt reflected with puckered brow and lips. 'I have it. Gerty. Make him think some particular woman.
 
 get him to commit himself. good and hard--dont you see>-'
 Gerty's manner Indicated that she did not see" yet. he continued
 "Why. she will Alslocate the vanity you find SO cruel, that that. oh well: he will realize there are others--eh?"
 Gertrude began to see. as in a glass. darikly. Walt continued further.
 ''rhe lady being outside of our plot. or joke. would be all the more outraged in feeling, over any bold. widower like ad- vance"
 1T do believe papa would do or say any thing. If he thought he had made an i'm preston. walt, you are a genius!
 Gerty saw clearly now. more so than he. She looked at her lover the one man likes to he looked at by the one woman. Then they put their silly young heads to- Eethe-. Unconscious of these pIottinRs Judge Green. in his library, had unearthed a faded photograph from forgotten corner while searching for something else. He regarded 1t with a reminiscent and not untender eye. Then he nut on his glasses and looked at 1t again.
 'I wonder it you ever married" he ruminated. Poor little girl. Guess vou look older now. You certainly were fond of me once"
 Presently he put picture and memory aside and took up the document he had been looking at. not even thinking of the matter again until. one fine day he read letter in a priIn. unfamiliar handwrit- ing. This he deciphered as follows:
 Dear Sir:-At the risk of seeming over bold. venture to write you. The many times you have looked at me on thestreet or as I sat hF my window. are not un- known. How could remain blind, Yet should not have ventured to address you but for the delicate tribute you havs so unexpectedly bestowed. feel that you are not insincere. and await vour arrival with sentiments, yes!-with emotions that perhaps. are hest left undescribed. Yours trustingiy Elvira BiKRs."
 Judge Green read the letter once. twice thrice; turned it about. in & helplessly ab- s,frd way; frowned. smiled. and finally took q turn across the room. iuflating his chest as he waxed self-complac4nt.
 "stnRularl he reflected. Litle Widow, Riggs, khe milliner Why. I have not seen her half a dozen times. A demurs de cIdedly passe little creature-p-s-s-h!- must he aail."
 Again he took up the scrutiny. as if he x,ere m expert on epistoiary forgery rath- er than fooiery. But the leaven was work Inr Some vague. unplacaable atom of re o5fIsction caueed him to look about for the ald ahala. hnA hA diA nat ftnd it: and