The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-28
-:- OUR DAILY SHORT STORY

because she was her servant. He saw nothing incongruous in so much physical ugliness serving so much beauty It seemed to him rather the fate of women of sAnnie's appear ance to perform menial tasks for one upon whose face and figure God had set the seal of Queen.
 There can be no such thing as sem timent in the heart of a poor creature like this servant" he reflected. 'In the ideal woman, beauty of soul, refined and delicate feelings, are associated with physical beauty. The latter Is the visible and tangible expression of the former. I can talk with Annie without her even suspecting my sentiments for her mistress"
 Soon suitors, or. in more convention al language "men friends" began to appear next door.
 There's a dozen of 'eua," said Annie, one day, -sand she wouldn't have any one of 'em, not if he was the last man on earth. She'll turn them away some day when her own true love comes a- ridin' up to the door"
 Cheap literature" reelected 4. Qutntner, as he walked off, puts many silly ideas dnto the heads of the unen- lightened.''
 But Annie's remark brought a new element into his dreams and caused them to include the time when She should suddenly discover that She had lost interest in the others and should spend all her evenings with him. He shrank from actually making her acquaintance for two reasons: First. conception of her? This thought was | such treason that he tried to persuade himself that he did not entertain it. and when 1t became too insistent he apoiogized, saying: Forgive me. dear, cannot forget the sins of that other woman"
 Secondly. his long years as A. ouint- ner, clerk, had deprived him of the powers of the initiative.
 About this time something epochal happened. One evening. at an early hour, Mir. Quintner heard a tapping upon the wall that separated his resi- dence from the dwelling next door. He was thinking so intensly of her at the moment that the sound, coming from that quarter, impressed him as a sig nal Scarce realizing what he was doing, he sprang to the wall, and, trem- bling like an aspen leaf. he tapped three times. softly. with his knuckles.
 What was his joy to receive a re- Fsponce-almost inaudible, indeed, but enthusiastically a response!
 On his way to the office the next day he met her; he passed her in the street; he fairly brushed her dress with his sleeve He was about to lift his hat in joyful recognition and gaze smiling ly into her eyes, but was restrained by feeling of delicacy, elusive, yet SO clear that 1t caused him to pass by without looking up.
 This Is our secret" he unused, "un- confessed even to ourselves, and to take advantage of 1t or to seem conscious of 1t would be as rude as to speak of kiss"
 Tapping upon the wall now became the chief feature of A. Quintner's daily life. something to be looked forward d sacred tryst to bring him home II shts and to keep him there. Every evening at ten o'clock he tapped. Every evening he heard a faint response. In This imaginary association with her, he planned not only evenings < reading from inspired books. but hours of con verse and of more elegant silence.
 One morning she went away. and the sact that she took with her suitcase and wore a travelling dress suggested to his unpracticed mind long stay months perhaps. The second evening after her departure ne began love letter to her:
 My Sweetheart--For such you are, and you cannot help yourself. for, whatever your sentiments may be to- wards me- you cannot prevent my low ing you I cannot believe you are gone. The flowers are here yet. the sun. the stars and the birds. Everything re-
 
 [ that my love for you is sheer audacity, and then I reflect that it is not only inevitable but duty; it Is mere wor- ship, the tribute that the soul of man pays to the good, the true and the beautiful"
 He latd the letter aside and never finished 1t. for she came pack the next day. having been no farther away than Annapolis.
 Shortly after her return the respon- sive rappinEs ceased, and A. Quintner' fearful of betraying her, did not per sist. He merely waited patiently.
 But on his way to the ofice one morning he met the servant with the Socratic features. Her eyes were red with much weping.
 What's the matter, Annie?" he ask ed. "Is Doris your mistress sick?"
 Don't you know, sir" said the girl.
 she mas been very sick for a week.