The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-05-30
Our Daily Short Story

chunks" her eyes sparkled like
child's.
That's about the size of it," he
IL ghed With a whole-souled heart
mess he hadn't experienced for days;
I'VE sure found it In iarge-sized pieces.
and 1 just thought I'd TIA a vacation
to see the world. I've never been East
before"
do you like itr' She failed to put
as much doubt as to the charms of
Washington in her tone as she might
have put half an hour earlier.
I've been about the loneliest person
the dome ever shadow d. 4 could get
on very well in the daytime, but Eve
wanted to sit around the fire at night
and talk 1t over with the boys. How
long are you going to stay?" he asked
eargerly.
Ten days. I've been here three"
His face heightened visibly.
TIL be here whole month";" lie adj
ded dolefully. why don't you stay
longer?"
You see I haven't struck it rich--in
huge chunks. The trustees of my
school are rather q parsimonious lot
Il don't know much about Eastern
etiquette, but l wonder IL 1t wouldn't
be toierably proper for us to do some
sightseeing together this afternoon?'
he said with a touch of boyish shy
ness.
L wonder" she said slJwly.
The JOY of companionsnip settled the
question for them, and he called at
her boarding house morning after
morning, guidebook in hand, the plan
for the day already laid out.
They had left the trip to Arlington
for the last afternoon of her stay. and
they wandered through the grounds.
more beautiful than ever in their
early summer foliage. until they reach
ed the spot overlooking the Potomac,
where the tall shaft rises in honor
of the heroes of the Spanish war
This is the lovellest spot of ALL" he
said, as they sat down on the grassy
slope w.t. their faces turned toward
the river. Washington will seem dead
after 1 put you on the rain this
afternoon. Have you enjoyed this
week, little woman" a slight nervous
ness in his voice.
1T has BEEN perfect" she said soft
lY After I had you TO talk to the
crowds didn't seem unfriendly at ALL
they changed into a set OF Good-natur-
ed passersby."
'I--er--haven't seemed to miss the
boys much lately either" he said,
absentmindedly watching her slender
fingers arrange the large daisies and
clover leaves that she found near her,
but I'll go to missing them again the
very minute your train pulls out this
afternoon"
He sat up straight suddenly and
looked at her almost sterrly.
do you think a man ought to be
forgiven for telling a lie..'f he demand
ed abruptly.
Her face paled slightly and her
eyes were large with fear that he
might in some way confess himself
unworthy of the friendly confidence
she had placed in him. The unconven-
tionality of their acquaintance stood
out in her mind. suddenly, as viewed
from the worlds standpoint
You haven't--lied to me?" she asked
family.
absolutely. No one ever told big
ger one" he said. with mis- eyes fixed
On the clover leaves, failed to see her
pallor for it will not be the boys
I'll be missing, it will be--just YOU"
Her color came back with a rush,
and she avoided his eyes as she rose
hastily to her feet. the daisies and
clover leaves falling to the ground.
I'm sure / will be late for my train
If we don't hurry back she said
abruptly.
st almost wish you would miss it,
Ii seems shame that you cannot af-
ford to stay longer when have more
money than can. possibly spend--
unless the town will let me build 'em
another library. You couldn't let me-
er----" he stammered, not knowing
how to express himself.
mo, couldn't" she blazed, catch
ing his half formed idea.
"There-there-l little woman - don't
get huffy I suppose I do bump up
aginst conventionalities occasionally
but somehow i hate for you not to
have every thing you want" lie blurted
out.
Her eyes softened. and when they
reached the station she watched his
broad shoulders as he elbowed his way
through the crowd at the ticket office,
all wondered why, now her face was
turned homeward, she should feel
more homesick than ever.
When he had put her on the train,