The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-23
THE WAYS OF FATE.
BY LULA !. POWERS.

E Copyright, 1905, by Daily Story Pub
 s'Ten o'clock" said Emogene Gray, giancing at her watch as she tmpa- tiently walked up and down the little platform, in front of the dingy country station What perverse fate sent me here to this out of the way place any, how? This extension cuts of forty mfleg put then 1t would have been better to have gone around, as the tratns are so irregular that one is lia- blo to come at any moment or 1t might not come until night. In that ease shall miss the connection and. be too late for the wedding" She looked at the track which wound down Q sandy bottom and up a hiu slope and lost Itself among the green of the pines. and then at the struggling village houses, turning at length with sigh Of impatience and entered the bare lit- tie waiting room. The only other passengers was a deaf old minister and his partly blind wife.
 i The former sat upon one of the long benches which were tackled to the wall. his hands folded before him, the picture of patience while his old wife dozed In the corner, Everything was stili and quiet, and at length the old minister spread his handkerchief over his bald head and was soon snoring iustily.
 Emogene went outside and walked up and down. After time she sat down upon the edge of the platform, and had just given herself up to re- Slection when a firm step upon the platform aroused her and she looked ID. The tall handsome man who had just stepped up on the platform was in the act of opening letter. as their eyes met; he crumpled the letter and pushed 1t into his pocket
 szcmogene!---Can 1t be possible!' he exclaimed. going up to her and taking her hand in his.
 X flood of crimson swept over her face and left 1t pale Why, Robertr she exclaimed, a glad light leaping into her eyes. For an instance they were both silent. It has been said that people forget--that hearts grow eoid---even learn to hate; but when kindered soul meets soul, no matter how deep the gulf between the wild sweet joy of the heart springs to the eye AYour hushand!" he at length found voice to ask, where is her"
 Dead" drawing her hand from his end turning her eyes away
 He took her hand and drew it through his arm as they strolled out under the trees which overshadowed the road. The old minister who had reused from his nap ead looked out the door, "Humph!" he muttered, "a meeting of old lovers-but 1t Is the way of youth, and humming the air of an old love song he went and sat be- side his wife, and drawing her white head over upon his shoulder kissed her
 "Your coming into my life, Emo gene was an inspiratiop-a vista of Joy, followed by deep misery and an- guish. We cannot guide our hearts; they spring from us without our will or consent I knew from the first that you were the promised wife of anoth- CT. and yet my heart went out to you, and fancied at times that you cared for me also. My uncle and aunt had no tenderness in their natures. and cared for little but making money. had been left an orphan upon their bounty, and my life was never happy one. You went away with the rest of my aunt's summer boarders, and after time I heard of your marriage. My aunt's keen eyes read my secret, and she taunted nae. telling me that you had but amused yourself at my ex- pense. My heart could not bear hel taunts, for 1t was full to bursting, SC left the farm and went out into tho world It was tough old battle, and many times I thought of you and held on, even though I knew that you were dead to me. A year ago both my aun and uncle died and as they could no take their money with them they w!lled 1t to me. Now,., sweetheart. tel me of yourself"
 "You know" she said sadly, that too was an orphan and owed every thing to my husband-s-that man mar ried. He was years older than Il bu he was a noble man. Two years aftei we married he had some financial re verses and the worry preyed upon hin and in less than Q year he left me, ana since that time I have acted as gov erness in numerous families. Now am on my way to attend the mar riage of an old school friend"
 Quite a colncidence." he, said. hi face growing white. T too am on m. way to attend a marriage"
 Well. that Is singular she said What worries me, though, is that if am not In time shall offend an olS