The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-25

wish you wouldn't look at me like
that" she said almost sn-rply.
But. it is your fault--Aunt Martha
said so. She said she guessed you were
sorry enough. now Mr.. Ned had gone to
New York, LAT you flirted $3.50 SO
tyou drew a long breath)- so outrageous
ly," you finished, with conscious pride.
"Nonsense!" said Cousin Grace, and
you saw that her eyes wer, very bright
and her cheeks seemed uncommonIy
pink. Nonsense. Aunt Martha should
remember
She never finished, for with a short
bark Guy made for the little stream, his
tail waving franticalIy as he disappear
ed behind the rows of alders skirting the
bank: one look. and with glad cry
you followed him--skipping rom stone
to stone in short-skirted edom
On a rock in the middle of the stream.
tall, broad shouldered. his clothing wet.
his heavy boots streaxed with mud,
stood Mr.. Ned, his pipe in his mouth,
peacefully fishing.
Hello. little dame! How do. Guy, old
boy: he called gayly. and then he
dropped his line and lancing net abrupt
l.. and cap in hand, .eaped quickly
across the stepping stones I'd held out
his hand to Cousin Grace. He had ran
up from New York for a couple of days
tfVuI IISIiHs, lie Sdlu, ana was SO Eldu
to see his old friends, and then they sat
on the rocks and talked of such tire
some things as game laws and trout
fishing and the greenness of the will
lows, while you broke of alder twigs
and threw them in the stream for Guy
to catch
Suddenly Cousin Grace looked
straight up INTO Mr.. Ned's eyes.
6 heard your are very happy in
New York"
Yes" said Mr.. Ned
"Cherchez la femme?" she questioned.
Il see you have found me :" said
Mr. Ned
Then there is somebody"
yes"
And you really are to be married?"
I'm the fall" replied Mr.. Ned prompt
ly.
"Ned'-Cousin Grace put out her
hand wistfully, her lips trembling
hope you will be happy"
thank you. expect to e." said Mr..
Ned. I'VE shall have a cottage in
pretty suburban town-nothing very
elaborate, just d comfortable, horny
little place with porches and little
ground. And we shall not be extrava-
gent in the furnishing-just our books
and pictures. couple of good rugs. and
few pieces of old mahogany" he end
1T is late"-Cousin Grace spoke cold
ly land If we are to find spring beau
ties we must &c n" She rose as she
spoke and gave him her hand
So you went on, although the bright
ness of the spring day had departed
went on and left Mr.. Ned throwing out
his line and whistling CHI, FULLY.
And then you came to the little path
that had unfolded itself before your
mi nofh hat oh
the alders and willows and stretched
over tiny threads of water that wan
dered away from the little stream.
1t was there that you found them,
clusters of spring beauties" raising
their delicate flower faces from the
muddy ground. You dropped on your
knees beside them. You laid your
cluster to cluster in an ecstasy of de-
light. Not until you had plucked a
handful of the frail stalks did you
remember Cousin Grace.
I've found them! I've found them!"
you shouted. Still kneeling, you turn
ed and looked back along the path, then
you rose slowly to your fest.
In the middle of the path stood
Cousin Grace and Mr.. Ned. She had
been crying, for her eyes were still wet,
but she looked beautiful now, and was
smiling as Mr.. Ned held her hands and
looked down at her.
You would not listen to me: had to
resort to desperate measures" he said.
d anyhow, 1 wasn't SO far out of the
way for I am going to be married in
fall. am I not, sweetheart2 You
know there has never been--can never
be--any one but you." he added. as his
arms closed about her.
Your eyes grew big wit wonder and
d light. You did not understand how
IT had happened. You did not care. 1t
was like a lovely fairy tale. Cousin
Grace was the beautiful princess. and
the prince had but claimed his own.
Wide-eyed and happy you confronted
them. while the pale spring beauties"
slipped from your fingers and lay upon
the ground unheeded "a jflvery
- grant affarirnr --a,s oh rira