The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-09-09


 Patricia gazed at her with wide. | startled eyes. What do you mean. | Aunt Anne? I--rm not to go down alonew
 Mrs. Winthrop smiled induigently. and softly touched the delicate cheek | with her jeweled fingers
 "Aloner' she echoed; you are not afraid, I hope? Cur plans, Patricia. | have met with success sooner than even could anticipate"
 The girl shrank back. trembling.
 I--I can't go down. auntv' she gasped.
 "Nonsenser cried the older woman. sharply. you have done admirably so far--don't spoil 1t all now. when the prize Is within your grasp, and Patricia paled and shuddered; the meaning of her aunt's words had come to her--a look of horror threw darker sbadcw into the deep blue eyes --"and when all my plans and hopes"
 Mrs. Winthrop paused before Patri- cia's uplifted hand--a gesture enforce ing silence, and in sheer amaze at the queeniy poise of the slender body.
 And did you think Aunt Anne" in cold. clear tones. that I had lent my self conscieEtiously. to your-scheme? will not call it by the name I might, because that would be an affront to you, and you are my fathers sister, I never thought to blush for my Adj ams blood. But you must remember that I am also a Stahrenberg. and the Stahrenbergs do not buy and sell nor is Stahrenberg subject to barter?
 Mrs Winthrop sprang to her feet as the girl swept from the room. then she sank upon couch, moro shaken than she could recall ever being be- fore. Was it possible that the girl had not known--had not understood? It seemed incredible! But now-now that she did know. now that she did understand. was it possible that the proud name of Myles Carver--it had been Myles in every generation meant no more to her than John Doe? Again, granting that her roreign training had blunted her sense of an- cestral values, did the girl live who could be blind to the glitter of the Carver millions?
 Mrs. Winthrop knocked gently on Patricia's door. There was no an- swer. Patricia, dear Patricia. she whispered. The sound of smothered sobbing broke upon her ear. The noiseiessly pushed open the door. Fa- tricia was upon her knees by the bed -her arms thrown up over her bowed head.
 "oh, dear God" she prayed help me to forget. Oh, he too, would think that I--that I would bargain for wealth." The heavy sobs choked the words sine would have uttered. Mrs. Winthrop silently closed the door and went down to the drawing room. signing heavily. Carver sprang forward, and then
 ''Your evident disappointment Is not complimentary, Myies," suavefy. The man was too deadly in earnest to bandy words
 "T am disappointed" he said. hon. estly. q had hoped to see Patricia. Aunt Winthrop"-abruptly- mean to ask her to be my wife I know that I have little thar sne will value II know I am not worthy
 'Myles." she interrupted. speaking with slow emphasis, Patricia is very young, and very innocent, and ignor- ant. To her there Is nothing in iife but love-"
 .aThen help me. Aunt winthrop ten sely-"there is nothing in life for me now without Patricia"
 Mrs Winthrop waited long time before replying. When she spoks there was an unusual earnestness and sincerity in her voice and face. ''Myles. I will be honest with you. had wished for this. Now I want only that Patricia shall be happy, and think she cares for Standish Buckhannon.
 That ancient excuse for the un- sheathed sword, "AIl's fair in love and war; had its origin in cowardice and selfishness.
 Some men are lifted out of them selves and above all selfish thought by the incoming of a great love- Myles Carver was one of these; and he ear nestly tried to stifle his own great love for the girl and to be glad for the boy. VOnnRSter." he thought, grimly, "a living illustration of scriptural justice--to him that hath shall be given"
 Mrs. winthrop. from her point of vanage, watched the three with grow ing wisdom. ,.
 The lucky youngster" danced into Carver's retreat with a fragment of song on his lips
 say. Mylesy, I've known Patsy three weeks. Don't you think that's long enough to ask her to marry meY' Carver tried to speak. but the words refused to come.
 "Oh, I know-you're thinking Tools rush inr So they do Mylesy, but If you'll sit up and take noctice. youH discover that 1t is the fool hat rushes in who walks off with the poodle. while the angel is shivering around on
 Bruised and pained at heart as he was. Carver could but smile.
 T think you are right. standish," quietly. T realize that I am not up to date"
 Alone. Carver remember his god mothers words, There is nothing against him but his poverty" T suppose he would marry her and think they could live like butterflies or humminK birds.' he muttered' drowning at the thought. "Thank heaven it is a matter easily renledied. I will see the lawyers immediately. No care or anxiety must come near the , little Patricia!' It was a day or two later that stan dish whispered to Patrlca: Put on some plain street duds and a veil. Patsy, and cut out. I want you to hear some singing"
 He hurried her along nervously. we've got to rusn. Patsy. dear. or the concert will be over. I've only now learned of it.'
 With anxious haste he pushed and crowded their way into well known music store, now packed to the doors with listening shoppers. Why Is there singing in here?' whispered Patricia, wonderingly. ITO sell the songs" laconically.
 Then all was silent as the singer began another song, one of the popu- lar successes of the day The melody was shallow and the stanzas faulty in rhythm and meter, but Patricia had no thought but for the clear bari tone voice and for the sadness she thought she detected in the strong. dark face of the stranger.
 Two girls were whispering behind