The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-11
-FOUR DAILY SHORT STORY <


 otherwise you would waste all you mon ney--besides it was the only wa, 70 Keep Alderbrook in the family. Hs agreed with me-althoug I think ht was sorry--it must have seemed { shame to him to miss such an oppor- tunity. He added that flirting was { necessity to him--that is why, l think he Is away just now,''
 Inaeed?" Langley said. his tone ar interrogation.
 Pretty nodded. echoing-.Indeed Yes, Mrs. Wortham--your divinity has opened Grasmere-came herself the day before yesterday-so MT. Yer. non couldn't stay away longer" Who says she Is my divinity? And how do you like it?-seeing you have appropriated me" Langley asked, col oring in spite of himself He felt all at once young and raw, and ridiculous --and was in a temper over It. He wanted to shake Fretty--shak e her hard, She was testing of course-but how beautiful she had turned the ta- pies on him. Quite unaccountably he found himself trembling his hands moist, his face, he knew, high-colorei --and all without any reason
 It could not be that the bare sugges- thing. the creature he loved to tease- as his wife, the mistress of his home and heart. had thus overcome him. For hve years at least he had thought or Georgfna Wortham in that position she fitted it so beautifully, and was quite evidently ready to accept it.
 always answer mothers letters Tor her-remember you wrote her abut Georgina two years back at with the faintest touch of malice "As to my liking her--what does it matter ? l have nothing to do with her-only
 You are quite resolved? To take me. II mean Sr I.an0lav H1 downcast.
 Pretty looked pensive. Tt seems one must do one's duty, however dis- agreeable" she said with a little sigh.
 Langley erected himself. Tn that case, suppose you kiss your crown of martydom," he said, putting his face close to her lips.
 Pretty sprang back-as far as their dancing eyes: Next year T wili Sf.e be ouite wte time enough for that You see I am going away in the Fall, to be finished at the Winslow scchool Mother in- sists upon it, and I myself think it best Ishali come back a fne lady me enough hope to do the family Georgina in all that timer"
 Certainly not, Langley said prompt ly- You will have 10 take me now or risk losing me altogether. And hate finishing schools and all their works. If you go through the mill won't have you--that's 1atT
 Pretty snatched away her hands. laughing heartily. "l. hat an actor was lost in you. Cousin Langleyr she said. You had such ring in your voicei l wish Tommy Hartwell had been with in hearing"
 'tSol You want the heather to rage. you minxr' Langley sald again i'm her hands; then the ring corning back to his voice. stronger than ever: Pretty, I know you were In fun; but. please. dear. let's make 1t earnest. l want you nobody else I have been wanting you ever since came. without having sense enough to know It."
 How about Georgina?" Pretty mur- mured, turning away her head so Langley might not see the mounting color in her checks
 Langley laughed triumphantly. May I be vain enough to speak the frozen trutn?' he asked, his lips very close to Fretty's ear. She turned a little more away from him, saying very low
 No! I can guess 1t. Georgina won't have you; therefore you want re to salve your broken heart"
 of course! But how did you guess it?" Langley asked his heart thrill ing at thought of Ter care to save another woman from slurring He had meant to tell her what he knew for the truth - that, while Georgina would have accepted him for his position and potentialities, and given him comrade- ly help throughout their joint career, her heart was by no means engaged. she being of the equable temperament that spends its widest devotion upon Itself Moreover there was Vernon. All along he had suspected some kind ness-even more - between the pair | They might have each other and well come. Pretty, sweet, slim, red-haired