The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-16

 and that donation will probably be place, but only with congenial loved ones; and to realize afresh what the old chap meant when he said sorrows crown of sorrow Is remembering hap pier days An! those were happy days in this neighborhood before the boys and girls scattered at the call of town and business and-matrimony! The picnics, rides, drives, dances, all lost their charm for me when Claudia mar ried that stranger. Ten years ago to- night I, a senior in law, came home to find that mother had invited the boys and girls to dance. with a pre- liminary Christmas tree as a. surprise. Dear mother, so far as she could com pass 1t, our last Christmas together was the ideal cessation of ordinary pursuits for greater communion and love among friends. Yes. I am minus exactly ten Yule-tides and unless pros . poets change I'll miss many more. Well, the prospect has changed in one direction-Claudia is a widow. Had anyone told me she would be free year without my hunting her up. even in Canada, I would have hooted. Yet probably 1t is because I have never understood her sudden change and insult on that far away Christmas night: also because she has never shown any interest in her old neigh bors or her old home across the creek"
 Suddenly he shook himself as though to dispel a disagreeable dream, took his bearings in the brown woods stiD frightened here and there with scarlet sumac and sweet-gum. then struck out energetically towards the road di viding two plantations
 Rabbits scurried away. squirrels peered crafily form coins of vantage coveys of birds covered breathlessly' in clumps of tall grass but the dog per celved his masters sudden disgust of hunting and leaped beside him in pure joy at his return.
 No. old fellow. Id be a fool to give her another chance to Haunt me. Yet life as l now have it would be we'll night perfect if shared by her; as 1t is--- Alright I'm coming old chap he answered to the dogs enticing Capers toward the road Crossing a little grassy plat he parted the bushes edging the road and right there under a monarch oak sat the woman he thought was in Canada. Branches of holly and mistletoe piled beside her, explained her errand to the woods; her silver grey furs were loosened and her shapely head was bare. Both face and figdre were sentient and aristo- cratic, put real, startling beauty lay in her lustrous black eyes and heavy hair; her thin red lips and naughty chin told of sorrow-or humiliation? -chocked back proudly.
 Claudia" he exclaimed, as at a ghost or genil granted wish.
 "Ben-Mr. MardivaL" she returned, rising and giving him her hand frank Iy. though her cheeks vied with the holly berries surrounding her.
 Fortunately it is acknowledged that men are curious creatures; else how explain that when this man found his lost love, free, handsomer than ever apparently placed in his very path to break his solitary holiday. he should feel himself aggrieved because she chose to call him MT Mardival with slight rolling of the R's caught in Canada?
 "I hadn't heard you were in the South" he remarked stiffly, though his heart was warming and his eyes gleaming at the beauty and fascination of her.
 And I was told that you now made your home in Montgomery when not