The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-18
' OUR DAILY SHORT STORY 2

but when I get back
 Yes. yes! It's about thafrs she in- tferrupted. T want you to do me par-
 ucuiar favor. John. It's all right, but
 zines--the very ones Mir. Gleason would
 like. I've more than can read. It would save you a trip out in the storm the magazines are really just as new as you could buy at the store-~would
 you-buy them from me7'
 It was out at last. Jane never had felt so shy of any one in her life as boy.
 Sure. Miss Gaylord" he said, with out hesitation. .Td do anything for you. It's on the level. ain't it?''
 Yes, John, strictly on the level" she
 answered, with little laugh that sug- gestsd tears.
 Have lem ready when come back" he whispered.
 You are a dear boyp' cried Jane.
 She fled back to her room in panic of nervousness at what she had done. She selected several magazines of recent issue and was back at the door long
 before the return of the boy.
 If was back with the books too
 soon. he'd get on to it." was his naive lexplanation.
 And John." she pleaded in voice
 that shook, please give him this box of violets--don't tell him who sent them--but he has been so ill--poor man. You see it will give good meas ure. for the fifty cents"
 John nodded wisely and took his way upward.
 Good boy, John." she heard Gleason l say a moment later. Couldn't have
 made better selection myself. vio- let's, too? No name given? You won't tell? Very well--if you promised not to, of coursei"
 Back in hts study Gleason tossed the vioIets carelessly on a table already
 loaded with flowers and took up mag Eazlne earerly.
 T hope my little Jane has story in this month.. he said, sclwaing the table of contents He passed his own Jname, but lanes was not there. He | took up another and again was he dis appointed, but in the third magazine
 Janes name headed the list. He was turning to her story when a sheet of paper fiutered out. On the closely writ ten page his own name caught his eye.
 Naturally he read every word, though 1t was obviously part of, a letter I You remember" it ran, how used to rave about Peter Gleason and his work7 Strange that he should come to board at Mrs. Stuart's and be taken so i'll almost imediately after---and that I
 should have the privilege of assisting his trained nurse when he was un- Iconscious. Yes, he is all I imagined him-And more If you must know the l worst I--no, can't write 1t to even you, Mollfe. But put romantic ideas | out of your head. just as your silly old | Jane must--for. Peter Gleason is indif- ferent and--Tm very busy, as usual But----s' That was all
 | Bless herY' whispered Peter. over EA~ a IA txA kx~ wrapped up in her work to give me q thought Helped to nurse me, did she7
 My little Janel And she must have l sent these magazines--and the vfolets! And. John, the scamp, never told me! But on the other hand, John is such
 an honest little chap he wouldn't have kept that 50 cents. If he really
 bought them-how came that letter be-
 tween the pages of magazine from Carters?'
 | Then, in spite of himself. a doubt
 flashed into his mind. Was it clever ruse--was the letter placed there by design?x Peter was. not cynical---but I there had been so many traps laid for
 him Slowly he placed the paper on the locals in the grate and watched it burn. "If she didn't intend me to see that I 1t would break her heart if she knew. And when I tell her love her--she might think 1t was only pity because I | had discovered her secret. I won't be- | lieve it was a plot--Iittle Jane!' Two days later a timid tap came at | the door of Gieason's study. "Ja--Miss Gaylord!" he cried, enthusi- astically why Haven't you been up to see an invalid before this? Such rank negiectg' He took her hand and refused to let 1t go for some moments. Aren't you sorry9.
 l Here's your 50 cents." she began l desperately. My cheek just came and;
 -" Looking up suddenly she met his questioning eyes. Recklessly she explained the humiliating details of the transaction. T would so gladly have given them to you," she ended up, with a scarlet face. And I shall be very unhappy unless you take the 50 cents" | Peter was radiant. Unconsciousiy Jane had vindicated herself from sus- picion regarding the letter. 1 But you sent violets,' he reminded.
 T sent the violets along to take the Icurse off,~ she admitted, ''but some one | -I know not who--sent them to me, first"
 Merely to take the curse off?" he querled. Not because you had little sentiment for the invalid? Then you deserve to be punished with the truth! sent those violets to your "Oh" cried Jane. holding her face. "ohr
 But hereafter" he said sterniy, T want the right to furnish your blessed postage stampsr
 "ohi" murmured Jane.