The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-08
Our Daily Sbort Story

week. I presume. along with the in imitable Browns biil.'' Andrews smiled and shook his head as he slit the paper on a fresh box of cigars.
 His friend kept his eyes pretty well | on Andrews face, trying sharply to make out its radiant significance, un- observed.
 Presently, the sleepy valet came noiselessly in response to his mas | ter's imperative ring, and reappear- ed almost immediately with the cock tails.
 l The next fifteen minutes slipped by in comparative silence. Preston was divided between a desire to press the question and some instinctive sense of prudence not to. Andrews was do- ing his best to muster the requisite courage to commence. Finally he said:
 T suppose you have no idea, old man, why I was so particular about your coming here tonight?' Not the slightest" Andrews cleared his throat and took fresh light with assumed delibera- l tion. For such a staid lawyer In bus ! ting half simpleton in this new role of ardent lover.
 Preston laughed and grabbed him by the hand. Congratulations are in order, I see,' he remarked, regarding the other with half-sympathetic. half-accusing glance.
 Andrews flushed furiously and at once became painfully digniaed.
 You are right" he said. Con gratulations are in order--and num- berless ones at that. It is not often that a man--that a woman"
 Preston interrupted him with an in- dulgent gesture of protest. T understand he observed in Q pacifying tone, T happen to have been in love myself once.' Put you never realized--' T realized the whole thing Dick; l married her" His expression under went swift change. | Andrews contemplated him in si- fence second. When he spoke, his voice was more subdued. T never knew he said. Preston smiled a little bitterly at his friends abrupt solemnity. 1 "Oh. she didn't die," he hastened to add. better if she had"
 Another silence. Preston was the | first to break it. T did not mean to he draepins in skeletons" he apologized, T wouidn't for the world throw a shadow across this new joy Of yours. But a fellow l sometimes-' he broke off and turn ed away
 Andrews bent and laid a sympathet- ic hand on his friends arm.
 "Of course not" he said "thsre is nothing that can shadow my hanniz ness, but-I am sorry for you all the same"
 Preston dismissed the topic. and when he looked toward the other again. his face was quite cloudless
 When is 1t to come off?" he nues- finnaH ha azine on table beside him.
 Not until my return. l am leav- ing town tomorrow for an absence of eight weeks. During that time, Lucille will be in Now York arrang- ing for her rousseau and the great event"
 Preston made no response He felt his lips grow positively numb and the color ebb from his face It was ab- sGrd. of course, but somehow, the name had struck him like slap in the face. Certainly, it was not such an uncommon name-there were prob- ably hundred Luciles in the city,
 After little, he collected himself and rose 10 go.
 Andrews rose too and held out his hand. T wish I could take you to see her right away" he said, but as | that is out ot the question, I'll let you | look at her photograph anyway" l TIC PIouuccu the picture with tremb- ling hands and exhibited it prideful- ly.
 You don't blame 'mc?' he asked.
 as Preston stood gazing as though ! transfiXcd al the likeness. l 'HoW-could--I?' he managed to get out in sheer desporation He caught l lis breath in a little sharn spasm as l he placed the photograph carefully on | the table.
 1 Had Andrews been less infatuated
 there might have been room In his perceptions to notice the others tense | excitement. As it was, he couId OnIv attribute Preston's apparent feeling 10 | some of the keen admira ton which | blessed him so entirely ] What is her other name? Ton