The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-03
"But-if you're breaking promise

"But-if you're breaking promise to meg'
 "A promise?"
 Worse, thenl Because didn't ask you to promise. l had too much faith in you for that. I believed you when you said you didn't care for--anyone but me. I've told Lisa. It doesn't matter our speaking like this before her l asked you to wait for my prom | ise for little while. until I could be quite sure you didn't think, of Miss de Renzie as-some people fancied you did. If you wanted to see her. said you must go. and you laughed at the idea. Yet the very next morning, by the first train, you start
 "Only because I am obliged to-" l hazarded in spite of the Fofeign Secre- tary and his precautions. But I was punished for my lack of them by mak- ing matters worse instead of better for myself.
 .Obiiged tor she echoed. Then there's something you must settle with her, before you can be-free." The guard was shutting the carriage doors. In another minute l should lose the train. And I must not lose the train. For her future and mine as well as Maxines. I must not.
 Dearest said hurriedly. 'I am free. There's no question of freedom Yet I shall have to go. l hold you to your word, Trust me" "Not if you go to her-this day or all days" The words were Wruhs from the poor child's lips. could see by sheer anguish. and it was like death to me that I should cause her this anguish. instead of soothing 1t.
 You shall You must" command ed. rather than implored. Good bye darling-precious one. I shall think of you every instant. and I shall come back to you tomorrow"
 You needn't. You need never come to me again" she said, white tipped. And the guard whistled, waving his green flag.
 Don't dare to say such cruel thing "a thing you don't meanT cried. catching at the closed door of a first class compartment. As I did so, a lit- tie man inside jumped to the window and shouted: Reserved! Don't you see it's reserved?" which explained the fact that the door seemed to be fast ened.
 I stepped back, my eyes falling ori the label Ito which the man pointed, and would have tried the handle of the next carriage, had not two men rushed at the door as the train began to move, and dexterously opened 1t with a railway key. Their throwing themselves thus Tn my way would nave lost me my last chance of catching the moving train, had I not dashed in af- ter them. If I could choose. would be the last man to obtrude myself where l was not wanted, but there was no time to choose and I was thankful to get in anywhere, rather than break my word. Besides, my heart was too sore at leaving Diana as had to leave her, to care much for anything else. I had just sense enough to fight my way In, though the two men with the key (not the one who had occupied the compartment tirs) yelled that it was reserved, and would have pushed me out if I hadn't been too strong for them. I had a dim impression that, instead of joining with the newcomers, the first man, who would have kept the place to himself before their en- trance, now seemed willing to aid me against the others. They being once foisted upon him, he appeared to wish for my presence, too, or else he merely desired to prevent me from being dashed onto the platform and perhaps killed, for he thrust out a hand and tried to pull me in.
 At the same time, guard came along, protesting against the unseem- ly struggle, and the carriage door was slammed shut upon us all four.
 When I got my balance, and was able to look out. the train had gone so far that Diana and Lisa had been swept from my sight. It was like bad omen; and the fear was eoll upon me that had lost my love forever.
 -(Continued Tomorrow.)