The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04
FABIAN'S CURE.
By LULU JOHNSON.

Copyrighted. 1907. by M. M Cunninx xhAm
 Fabian impatientiy paced the piazza. It was s:l0 and the breakrast bell had not
 sounded. But not because he hungry
 did Fabian anathematixe the cook.
 He had awakened with little appetite. but
 ever since he had begun to order his life he had breakfasted at g. It had been the sole recommendation of this boarding place that they had breakfast at his accustomed
 hour instead of 7:30 seemed to be the
 custom in most of the boarding houses in Carrsvtlle.
 Because Fabian always took the first two
 weeks of August as his vacation he followed
 his custom. too. though the break In the
 even routine of the office annoyed him. But
 habit was Fabian's fetish. Habit decreed a
 two weeks vacation In August, and so he
 continued to seek resort where the orderly
 routine of his life would be the least inter-
 rupted.
 This year he had rather fancied the farm.
 but they had breakfast at 7:15. Fabian
 had inquired irritably why not or 7:3o.
 and had decided in favor of Brook farm.
 where meals were served at about the hours to which he was accustomed in towns though 1t annoyed him to ave to eat his dinner
 in the middle of the day and cold supper
 at night.
 Ever since he had reached his seventeenth
 year Fabian had been alone in the world. and he had fallen into rut of system. His OrQerly naDit or nina nhue nm u Vdiuhpie man in the office, but his unwiliingness to depart from custom. drew few friends. and at twenty-six he was still heart whole. The delayed breakfast was . far greater annoyance than a more serious disappoint- ment might have been. and he snawed at
 his mustache as he strode up and down the piaxsa. He caught the first jingle as the bell twas lifted from the shelf and turned to enter the house but just then there was a scream from the road and he turned to
 see . girl endeavoring to beat off the farm
 dog, whose muddy paws had already left
 their imprint upon her dainty skirts.
 Something in her pose caught Fabian's
 fancy and he went racing down across the
 grass plot to her rescue. whistiing to the dog as he went. But Carlo was determined
 to make friends with the girl and paid no attention to the calls, until Fabfans hand rested heavily uon his collar and the toe
 of Fabian's boot emphasized lightly the in-
 discretion of accosting strange young wom-
 en on the public highway.
 Hes a dear old thing' smiled the girl as Carlo picked out the shortest route to the backward, his tall tucked ingloriously be- tween his legs. "I suppose 1t Is more my fault than his I walk down to the post or flee every morning and he always parks his good morning. but today he seemed to want to shake hands and he did not realize | how dirty his paws were 1ou ~'" pu"''' | ntni, piedSe' ! "Hes not mine to punish" said Fabian | absently. He was thinking not of Carlo. but the girl No woman had ever made strong | appeal to him before. but he felt dazed in l inc presence of this radiant girl with the l v.ntie eyes and the smile that made the | whoIs landscape seem brighter. He was | or hi. knees in the road now trying to re- | .,,. the worst of the muddy paw prints | ,y,th his handkerchief. It was a clumsy eff | for, for he only made smudges worse. and | .,,,h laughing word of thanks the girl
 stopped him. |. sr,... .,. | .It will be all right when It orle' She | v.,a vith her wonderful smile. you are
 ,.r, r,rd but it really does not matter By l .s t,,,a get back from the village IL VIII | h all r,gbt It's just little wash skirt. | anyway and a trip to the iaundry "i''re- | move all traces of the dogs impetuositS With A nod and another smile she starteu down inc road. and presently Fabian pulled h,nsa,, together and went in to hts delay
 ed breakfast He sat in A trance tnroush his hr,ef meal and hurried back to the piazza. - the morning paper. but he sat with It m his hand this morning. and did not even scan the headlines. He was watching the road for the glnt of white dress, and wben if came in sight far down the road. he strolIed to the gate with an elaborate assumption of carelessness. and was lean inc a against the fence as the girl came up The dried mud had befn shaken from her dress and with a smile she called his attention to the fact You see It's all right" she declared.
 "Rut I think you need guard. he de- cIared with sudden bravery that startled him. with your permission. will form vour escort to ward off dogs. dragons and other insects
 He fell into step beside her petore she could refuse. and they walked briskly on. Fabian wondered If 1t was possible that she had heer going past the farm every morn
 bis knowledge It seemed though he could feel her presence through stone walls
 Never having heen in love before. he was | aw,nsinR the length of Cupids pendulum | opd he exerted himself to be entertaining | so well did he succeed that when he reach | cd the gate of Glen farm. all too soon. Miss 1 saponle agreed to go for a walk fin the af- l ternoon.
 | Fabian went into the house with her
 that Kerr whom he had met the year be- l fore. might complete the introduction more l Hrmally ard even smiled when Kerr In | troduced him as 'the Human Time Table.
 with a laughing dissertation upon the exact mess of lis habits.
 1 The rest of Fabian's morning Echedui'
 was completely upset, though he returnrt
 to Brook farm and there was nothing to in
 terrupt the even tenor of his routine say, 1 his thoughts. He could only pace. the piazza | and think that Marcia SemHle was to walk | with him that afternoon. The hours drag | ged interminably. but at last he could. witt | decency, present himself and together the, | -----A-A fax khA Talia-