The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-29
NffAT TlIN -NIII' Alban ReVisits Union Street.

 weared by it's mock brutalities. He made no apologies for quitting Willy For rest-for. truth to tell. that merry worthy was no longer capable of understanding them Frequent calls for whisky and soda added to a nice taste for cham pagne at dinner. left the Captaln In that maudln condition in which d man is first cousin to all the world-at once garrulous and effusive and generally undesirable. Alban had above all things, a contempt for drunken man, and leaving Forrest 10 the care of others of his kind, he went out into the street and made his way slowly eastward.
 1t was odd thing to recall; but he had hardly set foot east of the Temple, he remembered, since the day when the bronze gates of Richard Gessners house first closed upon him and the vision of wonderland burst upon his astonshed eyes The weeks had been those of un- ending kindness, of gifts showered abund- antly, of promises for the future which might well overwhem him by their gen erosity. Let him but consent to claim his rights, Gessner had said and every ambition should be gratihed. No other explanation than that of a tagging jus tice could he obtain-and no other had he come to desire. If he remained at Hamp- stead, the image of Anna Gessner or perfect womanhood as he imagined 1t, kept him to the house. He did not de- sire his patrons money; he began to dis cover how few were his wants and how small the satisfaction of their gratifca- tion could be- But the image he worshipped overland at its feet all other desires were forgotten.
 And now reality had come with it's sac- religious hand, warning upon the vision and bidding him open his eyes and see. 1t was easy enough to estimate this ad- venturer Willy Forrest, at his true worth. less easy to bind the wounds im- aginaton had received and to set the lm- age once more upon its ancient pedestal. Could he longer credit Anna with those qualities with which his Veneration had endowed her? Must there not be heart searching and rude questionings, the abandonment of the dream and the stern corrections of truth? He knew not what to think. voice of reproach also asked him if he also had not forgotten. The figure of little Lois Boris<off stood by him in the shadows and he feared to speak with her lest she should accuse him.
 Let it be said in justice that he had written to Lois twice, and heard but late ly that she had left Union street and gone, none knew whither. His determi- nation to do his utmost for her and her father to bid them share his prosperity and command him as they would, had been strong with him from the first and delayed only by the amazing circum- stances of his inheritance. He did not understand even yet that he had the right to remain at Five Gables" but this right had so often been insisted upon that he began at last to believe in IFS reality and to accept the situation as chose jugee. And with the conviction. there came an intense longing to revisit the old scenes-who knows, 1t may have t1,a inOS If all.
 It was great thing, indeed, to be walk ing there in the glare of the lamps and telling himself that fortune and a future awaited him, that the instrument of mighty deeds would be his inheritance and that the years of his poverty were no more. How cringingly he had walked sometimes in the old days when want had shamed him and wealth looked down upon him with contempt. Tonight he might stare the boldest in the face, nurso fabulous desires and know that they would be gratfied, peer through the barred windows of the shops and say all he saw was at his command. A sense of might and victory attended his steps. lie understood what men mean when they say that money Is power and that 1t rules the world.
 He turned eastward, and walking with rapid strides made his way down the
  Aldgate and the mean streets he knew so well. It was nearly midnight when he arrived there, and yet he fell in with cer- tain whom he knew and passed them by with a genial nod. His altered appear ance, the black overcoat and the scarf which hid his dress clothes. called for many "Gor blme or Strike me dead" Women caught his arm and wrestled with him, roughs tried to push him from the pavement and were amazed at his good humor. In Union street he first met little red-haired Chris Denham and asked Of her the news. She shrank back from him as though afraid and answered almost In whisper.
 Lois gone-she went three weeks ago. l thought you'd have know q it-I thought you was sweet on her, Alban. And now you come here like that-what's hap pened to you, whatever have you been doing of?''
 He told her gaily that he had found new friends.
 But 1 haven't forgotten the old ones, Chris, and I'm coming down to see you all some day soon. How's your mother what's she doing now?"
 The girl shrugged her shoulders and the glance she turned upon him seemed to say that she would sooner speak on any other subject
 .'What should she be doin-whats any of us doin' but slave our bones off and break our hearts. You've come to see Lois father, haven't you Oh, yes, l know how much you want to talk about my mother. The old mans up there in the shop-I saw him I came by
 Alban stood an instant irresolute. How much he would have liked to offer some assistance to this poor girl, to speak If real pecunlary help and friendship. But he knew the people too well. The utmosts dclicacy would be necessary.
 We'll" he said, I'm sorry things are not better, Chris. I've had a good Sat urday night, you see, and if can do any thing, don't you mind letting me know. We'll talk of it when we have more time. I'm going on to see Boriskof now, and doubt that I'll find him out of bed.'
 She laughed a little wildly, still turning almost pathetic eyes upon him.
 "Is 1t true that it's all off between you and Lois-all the court says it Is. That's why she went away, they say-is It true, Alb, or are they telling lies? l can't be- lieve 1t myself. You're not the sort to give girl over-not one that's stood by you well as Lois. Tell me 1t aint true or l shall think the worse of you.
 The question staggered him and he could not instantly answer 1t. Was it true or false? Did he really love little Lois and had he still an intention to marry her? Alban had never looked the situa- tion straight in the face until this ment.
 ''I never tell secrets" he exclaimed a