The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-04
ON WnLIE'S ACCOUNT.
BY BEATRICE sTURGEs.

was aDlaze with HoWerS, ana He coule pick as many as he wanted; his ball the porch beside him. and his collie pur l was begging him to come and play, but l Willie had no heart for ans of these at 1 fractions.
 | He was grieved. What was the use he reflected. of being the only child ii your father and mother go away for two weeks and leave you at home What was the use of having a young aunt stay at vour house If she shut herself up in her room and wouldn't come down stairs? And what was the use of being alive at all when the cir GUS was coming to town in three days and nobody had invited you to go: Life was full of terrible problems. He was just wondering if he hadn't better cry about it when he saw friend coming down the street and hastily changed his mind
 This friend was no less person than Max Harwood. Chief of the Volun- teer Fire Department of Norwood Commodore of the local yachting club and a hero in Willie's eyes. By some mysterious coincidence Commodore Max appeared on the scene with great promptness and frequency whenever willie's aunt, Miss Marjory Dean came for visit, and as these yisits had been rather numerous during the I year just passed. Willie know nini l well enough to rummage through ms pockets and to boast about their inti- ] macy whenever any of the other boys needed a little wind taken out of their sails.
 To willie's surprise Max was pass ing with merely a wave of the hand so the little boy jumped up and ran after him
 1 Hello, Napoleonr' cheerily called his hero. It was his fancy to call Willie by the names of the worlds great gen. erals, one after another.
 Good morning, Commodore; aren you coming In to see usY'
 Guess not. Hannibal: it's pretty early for company" :. 1 You have been earlier than this, said the child responsibility.
 well er-rm kind of busy this morning"
 l Willie was turning away to hide the hurt look in his eyes. Nobody wanted to bother him. Max saw this ana hastily added.
 But get your cap and come along. I'm going down to fix up the boat You can help me-. = The delighted child raced back to the house for his cap and then was on hand in hand with the commodore happy as a lark. . | The worked all the morning on the boat and then the commodore LOON Willie up the river for a sail.
 Are you going to the circus, Aga. memnon?' inquired Max. by way or conversation.
 Willie was forced to admit that ne l didn't ahink he was.
 Well, I'd like to take somebody O, | inst about your size" went on his host. l and I think that somebody is you What do you say. my hearty?
 Fine. Finei" shouted Willie.
 well, heave ho, there. and we'll i splice the main brace Keep out or tne lee scurpers while hoist the mainsah Ha! Ulysses. what do you tnink a Q. l that?" And Max. who loved to mix up nautical terms for Willie's entertain ment, made the cleanest kind of land- ing at his own pier.
 Did you ever shiver your timbers lcommodore?" asked Willie. | Lots of times, Wellington, and still live to tell the tale. Don't forget about the Fourth-side shows. fat lady, pea nuts elephants. pink lemonade-we'l Il see 1t all"
 Indeed I won't" cried the child wild with delight. as he raced into the house to tell his aunt. She was watching for hin; anxiouslY
 'Oh. Willie boy where have you beer au the morninG?" she exclaimed, kiss- ing him.
 He told her breathlessly and she list tened to his admiration of the commo' dore with rising color.
 Isn't he perfectly splendid. Aun' Marjorie? They say there are ten ele' phants and, the lions erowl something awful But I won't be afraid with tn' commodore. Only I wish you were coming, too. Wouldn't YOU like itT I sure he'd take you. too. If you asked him"
 No honey. I--I don't think so. don't expect to see the commodore again: We've aren't friends any more" !,
 "Oh. auntie"' exclaimed Willie. 1T genuine dismav And he's so good too.'
 Willie thought for minute that his Aunt Marjorie was going to cry ant then he was surprised to hear her say in q manner sinGularlv unlike her nsua gentleness, Maybe some people tnlhF he Is good, but know his true charac' ter. and do not think vou ought to gt around alone with him" This speecf was rendered with all the dignity Una woman of the world. aged l9, coule muster.
 "You went with him alone to lots oi places" complained WlIlle' AoN w" last night" ,
 "Yes. and that's just the reason Tn not going again. If a man takes a glr Ito 2 dance and forgets her he will cer' ltainly forget a little hoy when he takes him to the circus. and then what Woulc happen Io vou"
 Really this was awful. Willie hat never seen his dear little aunt in sucf | a state hut she was very sweet to hin land took him out driving that after noon. stopping in the village to buy hin Icandv and lots of fireworks for th' Fourth He didn't know what to think labout his beloved Commodore, but saw him the next day and promptly repeat. l ed the whole conversation It seemed to him the simplest way out Of the dlt' iculty
 Did you forget. Commodore? he in sisted.
 Great Scott! Willie. maybe l did she says so: but she wasn't lonesome, he said grimly Girls are queer crea- lures. Wellington you'll find that out sona day. But don't say another word about the circus. I'll fix it some way You're going to see 1t as sure as youi name is VincingetoriX"
 So Willie kept his counsel. and was petted ouch by his auntie for the nex' two days. On the morning of the