The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-08
SELF-ANNIHnATED SUIToR
BY JHANNrrTE WALDEN.

| A man must be willing not only to efface himself. but to blot himself out of existence. if necessary. for my sake r without premeditation, driven to 1t by sb, CT ennui. It was the third time that she had been called upon to give her reason for not acquiescing in Maui rice Ankeney's belief that they were made for each other. and this time she wanted 1t Go be final.
 They had just turned the corner Into her home street Jean hastened her steps as she spoke with little laugh Maurice Ankeney looked at her first with disappointment in his frank blue eyes. then speculation. and at last amusement Could vou care that much for anyoner he asked coolly. "Oh, mo-. her tone was matter-of- fact, T couldn't. It isn't in me-" "Oh, see you demand 1t as a com piimentary quality in others" He continued his scrutiny of her | face as smart trap with man and woman in 1t rounded the corner. The mountain Of lavender plumes on her | head--was driving
 The warm color that came to Jeans ! cheeks as she returned the mans re- cognition. depened as the tran rolled past for she knew that Maurice was ] watching her ard she felt the new. strange intentness in his gaze. | As for Ankeney. his expression. sud- | denly became a mixture of calmness and stern determination. I'll dn it.. l he exclaimed. And for this apparently | eccentric remark. he was rewarded by pair of dark eyes.
 | "tlo whufTs
 "Efface--I mean extinguish myself by | getting him for you.
 The dark eyes became inscrutable. | "If you want Harold Buckley. you shall have him." he continued precipi- | tately, as they mounted the steps Of Jean Boyce's home Tt will be an easy matter. He Is only dazzled by her millions. It's you he really cares for. Madge Racer has no rihgt to buy | Maurice Ankeney, I'll never speak \ to you again" As Jean faced him I with this emphatic announcement. her i her anger.
 | "Ali right I might as we'll die one | way as another" and he was gone. In the days that followed. Jean ] Boyce had new experience. Maurice Ankeney had never stayed away so | long before, and she had missed him \ condition she had not thought pos sibfe stiIl tEere was the counteract- ing annoyance of Harold Buckley and | the heiress It is true. she never re- l alized that she cared for Ankenny until she found that he was out Of her reach. But Jeans self-analysis could l 20 no deeper than this and her state | of mini became chaotic once more. when one afternoon Harold Buckley l called.
 Jeans resentment was now wholly dispelled by Buckiey's keenly correct valuation of the heiress. She was fishing for a husband" he. said. and tits good thing just to know such women. It makes one expert at esti- mating character.
 1 Jean interpreted this last remark: "A man does not need to be bitten more than once." and she found her- self wondering why she did not feel fAttered by his confidence. Still she felt gratified by her triumph In bring Ing him back. She did not, understand until afterwards why his next remark quenched her elation.
 "She has Maurice Ankeney on her
 hook now. or. rather. he took her by
 yer so" He spoke contemptuousiy
 But he's welcome"
 How small of him." observed Jean Then all at once she thought Of Matt rice's strange promise to her and sne wondered--no 1t could not be. he only l bitions.
 Jean did not feel altogether compIi- nented by the ease with which Harold assumed his old relations. Still. when he asked her to take an automobile ride that same evening. she accepted.
 Her pride in Harold Buckley's per- sonal attractivaness was extended to his splendid machine as they went bounding over the road with a rcd October sun in their faces l Another automobile came footing uu behind them and passed them on the road It was occupied by Madge Racer
 and Maurice Ankeney.
 The vague depression that had been haunting Jean became poignant. She felt misused.
 "oueer taste. he has," she observed,
 with a curl of her lip. Then to hide hen pique she conjured 8 spirit of dar- ing; .s. so .ow
 Harold Buckley, ready to please her
 ar rossibly for reasons of his own. en-
 tered Into the sport and put on power with great abandon.
 Jean was almost delirious with the excitement of swift motion. How
 folly" Then came a sudden jolting and a desperate adjusting of brakes
 They had struck a rocky place In the
 road. Before Harold could slow up
 Jean was almost shaken from hef seat
 The suns rays. on a leVel WIln LueIf eyes. blinded them. There was loud
 report, a scream from Maurice Anke' ney's auto which they had Rrazed in
 stopping. and they torplcd over Into shallow ditch, with an extra tire hang ing to one of their wheels.
 Jean felt sharp pain in her arm , as she picked herself up. Then the d.
 version of what followed made her
 forget herself. The blond heiress fol-
 lowed up her screams by an attack
 upon Harold. who had just extricated
 himself whole from the ditch
 'Mr. Buckley, this is a great way to drive" she ried. in her high voice with It's slightly foreign accent. Why don't you look at your road?'
 But she was instantly modified by
 Harold's abject apologies. and shook hands with him quite sweetlv
 Maurice, who had got to work with out loss of time. had almost finished
 utting on a new tire, when Jean felt so faint that she had to sit down on the grass The pain was coming back
 into her wrist.
 It was just then that Maurice Am
 kenev happened to look over his shoulder. He burst out roughly Ic Harold, who was still busy with the
 heiress. Don't you see the girl is
 hurt?'
 En cot to her first. but in a second they were all bending over her. She