The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-01
z OUR DAILY SHORT STORY

paper and pen. and sat down at thc | table
 harsh. forgive me. have said too strongly, perhaps, what I believe to be true. and all want is to spare both of us the pain any failure of yours would be sure to cause. Think 1t over | we'll. dear. before you decide. | What I came to tell you to-day IS that our house Is all done--the last workman has left. am inciosing a | key---there are only two--and beg you will go there and think 1t all over at least once before you decide | finally"
 He inciosed the key. and on his way out handed the envelope to the butler to "be taken up to Miss Alicia" l As for Alicia. she had gone straight to her desk and had written the fol- l lowing note
 My Dear Mir. Courtenay--I have de- cided as I promised I would by to- | day, about the concert tour. You may depend upon me for your soprano. | And as I have been the only one to | object to the longer trip you planned. | withdraw my objections to that also | Under your management I feel sure | we shall be successful
 | sincerely, | ALICIA LEE FAIRALL."
 When she had heard the closing of | the outer door she gave the note to the butlar and took from him the en- velope Bob had left With 1t in her hand she went slowly upstairs and sat down before her grate fire. She felt her anger melting away. and by the ache in her throat knew that tears were not far off. She tore open the envelope. hoping to find some stimulous to her indignation. but at the gentleness of the words and the l sight of the key to the home she and Bob had so eagerly. carefully planned, the tears can with rush, and bury ing her face in the arm of her easy chair she cried herself to sleep.
 Press notices of "A concert to be Il given in the near future by the best amateur talent the city af- 1 forded" began to be frequent during the next few weeks. Then came the program and pictures of the princi- pals. Alicia was oftenest mentioned. I/and one Sunday paper contained her picture, a theatrically posed. full length affair, with her head over one shoulder and with her lips as if speak ing. Bob's heart sank and turned sick. She did mean 1t. then.
 As the time drew near he thought he would go to the cconcert. and when the night finnally came he dressed l early and fidgeted miserably till time | e mind he had himself driven to the door of the little new home he and Alicia had planned together. Bob let himself into the house with his Key, which he always carried. and walked through the empty. desolate rooms which by now should have been fur lnished and ready for the brides home coming. He roamed clear through ths house, drawing the shades and light ing all the chandeliers tiii every room | was blazing with light. Then he turned them all out and lit blazing fire In the dining-room grate. and sit ting down on the high settee built in- to the. niche by the fireplace he closed his eyes and deliberately conJured up the presence Of Alicia
 He was almost asleep when he heard the front-door open and close and tns lcIickof high-heeled slippers on thu bare floors. accompanied by the un- mistakable swish of a woman's silker skirts. Then he heard a match scratched and an impatient exclama- tion as something was dropped. Then with his heart pounding violently. he laid his head back against the settee and feigned sleep.
 l He heard the steps come to the din ing-room door, heard Alicia's voice say ''Ohp In frightened. breathless sur prise, felt his heart beat almost tC
 
 recede with rush to the hall an' the front door open. He was about tt call 10 her when he heard her say tC ] some one on the porch
 "Tell Mir. Courtenay am sick or Idead-or buried. Anything you like only that I shall not sing tonight Then the door closed again and Bet immediately went to sleep. It seemed ! to be A very sound sleep, for he did not open his eyes. though Alicis coughed three times. But when shs could stand 1t no longer and shook . his shoulder he woke up with a most excellent look of surprise on his face
 'Ts it too late?" she asked breath lessly..
 Looking at her as if dazed he pulled ] out his watch.
 ] "oh don't mean for the concert, mean" but Alicia could get no fur. ] ther, and dropping to her knees beside the settee she leaned her head against his arm and cried,
 q guess it isn't too late for a we'd ding" said Bob. 'but we'll have tc | hurry
 : ] (copyright, 1906. by Ruby Douglas,