The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-26

vehicles. He should be late--half ar
 hour late. What would she think oi him after
 He did not let himself get further. Al 1 last in peculiarly impenetrabie jam
 he sprang out impatiently and darted
 to the footway, getting well splashed Tor his pains. to find the next minute
 that the jam had suddenly resolved It.
 self Into an orderly procession, so he
 had lost time. and gained only mud
 So he came at last to the appointed
 place. with his nerves on edge It did not reassure him to wait full ten minutes In an obvious parlor, full of | rosewood and brocateile horrors, and ] miscalled brio-a-brac, A picture over
 the mantel fascinated him---a wohian's
 picture. with triple chins lying within fleecy upstanding lace run. and a frowsy mat of very short ringiets.
 tumbling almost into the eyes. One Tat, hand. stiffly extended, gleamed with rings--every manner of rings. A ma | levolent turqr ie was held between | thumb and forefinger. as if being ap- praised. The light was dim. although both the tall windows were unshutter- | ed
 Mallibone stood staring upward and listening to the humping of his heart. He heard nothing else until a high fafsetto voice said a little way behind him: So you too are fascinated by our heirloom. It is a good beginning" He turned to see the heirloom's counterpart-the same frowsy ringlets, bottle nose. and stiff. chubby hand. The chins he could not see, for an envelop- ing ruff, not of lace. but full and fluff fy. quite swallowing neck and shoul- ders The woman was reasonably tall more than reasonably plump Her gown fitted like wax-indeed there was something like waxworks in her pose and attitude.
 T am Rose-R Royal. Confess shatter your ideal' she said, holding out her hand It was g1oved, very tightly. Somehow Mallibone managed to take 1t, pull himself together and stammer out: You do Indeed, go beyond my ideal"
 As he dropped the hand he felt like dropping himself He was limp through out, and cold and sick. The woman half turned from him. motioning him to chair. She herself stood a minute. as if uncertain--then began to shake and put her hands over her face.
 Mallibone sprang up awkwardly and made step toward her, but drew bask, dazed and uncertain. He wanted to fly but manhood bade him stay. You you won't mind I--hope-I-I--am little overcome--you know you kept me waiting" the lady said at last in a choked voice, from out the fnuffie of a silk handkerchief.
 As she stood Malliborne noted that the courts were dyed. It needed but that to decide him--he hurried toward the door, with no pretense of excuse. or explanation, conscious only of the impulse of flight
 His hand was on the knob when he heard a soft thudding sound. and under 1t uproarous siggles Then came AL lisoTi's voice. saying: Turn again. Whittingham. You may not be lord mayor of London town, but you may have a good laugh" and as he stayed his flight to, look he saw the wig and ruff and glasses lying on the floor where merry Allison had thrown them saw Allison herself slip off the false bottle-nose, then run behind an aggres- sive screen, and come back fully clad, but free of her padded crysalis.
 She dropped him little courtesy and said roguishly:" Poor dear ose-Royal. You are very ungrateful to run away from her--afte, the trouble she took to be--someboCiy other than herself"
 You don't mean--you can't" Mall libone began. seizing both her hands and making to kiss her.
 "But do mean-and can--Im Rose- Royal-who but me. always had a taste, a talent almost for making up." Allison interrupted. Also for rhyming though kept it dead dark. But 1t got the better of me now and then and was afraid anyway, if I didn't let 1t, some day I should do some aw- fully foolish thing. I like to be sense- ble most of the time-writing verses helped--it was a sort of escape valve you know"
 "But--but why didn't you tell me?' Mallibone Interrupted. still holding her fast.
 Allison dropped her eyes and flushed | until she was indeed rose-royal as | she answered.: How could I? The | the rhyming was-all because I loved | you
 Mallibone wanted to kneel to her In- | stead he took her boldly in his arms, | and said, dropping kisses upon her soft | hair: T have been blind indeed. but | now I sec Copyright. 1906. by W. R. caldwell.)