The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-28
-:- OUR DAILY SHORT STORY -:-

lady interrupted. her eyes twinkiins merrily.
 Grierson laughed. Cry quarter" ht said You won't get me to admit I'm ! no match for you--that would be a
 bad precedent--but will say l know l whom I've had enough. Now. to get back to the beginning. what about taking me on as amanuensisf I'm sure gave myself character. having nobody else to give It." l Inan-u-ensis! That's a city word | I'm afraid of it." my lady said, dimp- ling sweetly.
 | Grierson shook his head at her, say | ing severely. At this rate the Com | plete Love-Maker will never get it. self written. Think how the world needs it. We ought to begin work on I it tomorrow"
 Grierson forgot the carrying quality of his voice, even when as now he ! spoke rather low. He further over- looked slim creature in half mourn- ing seated just beyond my lady. 1 Now the figure turned half about, saying with pretty malice: You could not have better collaborator. Miss | Clare. Arthur can give an example or nice definition of every style of love ! making yet invented" Then throwing ! up crape-bordered voil: You didnt expect to see me. Arthur know that 1 very well. Indeed, I myself am sur prised at being here--but Phil Darcy wrote me I had better come down and look after some--investments." There was a pause before the last word so significant it made my lady gasp. She turned red and whit. star ing helplessly from Grierson to the woman, and only by a strong compul- sion overcoming her impulse to run away.
 It was a great relief to see Philip Darcy approachiag--she almost ran to meet him, question in her eyes He answered 1t with a reassuring glance, and turned to the pair who stood eye ing each other uncertainty and in si- Hence, saying as he stood in front of them:
 T think. Clorinda. 1t will be best, on all accounts, for you tc announce your engagement to Grierson. Your scruples against 1t before you are out of mourning. of course do you credit but people down here are used to see- ing widows courted, married almost, in their weeds. And nobody really knows how long your husband has been dead whether 1t Is year or five makes no difference. I have just been telling Uncle Jack how the case stands" Docs he agree with your Grierson asked, his face averted. Philip laughed. Uncle Jack, like all the rest Of us. is amenablc to the logic of accomplished fncts,' he said. But don't think you'll find him very hard to fetch around--I told him also that Elinor was going to marry me early in the fall"
 Mrs. Clorinda Markle, relict of the late Solomon, was not without a sense of humar. She held out her hand to my lady, saying with a frank smile We may hatter ourselves that the Complete Lovemaker' is in two edi- tlons-each limited to q single copy. shall keep mine henceforth under LOCK and key. How about yours?"
 T don't think mine will permit It. self to be stolen,' my lady said, taking the offered hand. T have been en- gagged since was 5--if in fifteen years 1 Philip has not repented of his bargain 1t seems he is to be trusted to know his own mind"
 Clorinda tried to speak-to say some thing lightly fiippant but her lips tren1bled and troublesome lump rose in her throat. She took Grierson's nerveless arm and walked away, her head high, but her eyed dim behind her veil. Darcy looked after the pair com nasstonately, saying: She is too good for him"
 But she doesn't think so. Let us hone she never will" my lady answer ed eagerly
 Darcy looked down at her, smiling happily.
 Copyright, 1908 by F. c. Parcells.)