The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-23

It was twilight time and the air was heavy with the fragrance of honey suckles that climbed at random over the huge columns of the verandah A mocking bird sang from a magnolia tree and the young mans heart beat time in ecstacy.
 Presently the door opened at his knock and little Stella. the beautiful Stella the starry eyed, Stella, in fluffy perfumed pfnkness, smiled into his face Come in" she said fnyitingly. Hiddy, ventured Walter bashfully.
 Walk into the parlor an hev a cheer"
 'Thankee"
 Let me take your hat" suggested the little lady, observing that Walter was clinging to 1t as a drowning man clings to straw. Reluctantly he yielded it.
 Be ye goin to church, Stellar
 T dunno-I hadn't thought of it." A long drawn-out sigh from Walter If you air, I thought, thought" What did you think, Walt?" T thought ye wuz meebe ye'd let me walk along side O ye."
 I'd be pleased" The young man suddenly commenced to tumble around in his store clothes for something; the more he fumbled the blanker grew his face, the girl noted his discontinue. Hey ye lost sumthin' Waltr" "No I guess not" But his actions belied his words He began to realize it was not there He had had it.when he started; 1t was the last nickel left from selling those eggs to the store Monday. Here was pretty pickle. He had invited @ girl to go to church with him and didn't have a nickel to throw in the contribution box. In Boonville for young man to take | girl to meetin' and not to throw in nickel was a disgrace. Especially so was it an unpardonable sin to a bashful fellow like Walter who shrank from public criticism like wool shirt from a summer shower.
 There was no backing down now, for Squire Bailey would never permit his | daughter to stay from church without l good excuse and then 1t would never do to ask the lady to throw a fit. The young man colored. Air ye sure, Stella, ye air well enufi ter go to meetin?' "of course am; I never said nuth- in bout being sick, did I2' "Ye air lookin bad, Stella" | 'Tookin' sbad-why never felt bet ter in my life; an it's mean of you td say look that way; tboo hoo), hate
 II hate you" Then the girl burst into tears. | Walter was wholly unprepared fol this. .'t t4
 There, there. Stella, he'd not cal culated ter make you cry" 'Lookin'-b-b-b bad ye said' stella, now looka here-caint ye take a joker"
 Its no joke; if ye don't want to go why didn't ye say so?" T do want to, Stella.' NO you don't" Yes do." You don't"
 'Ido" Don't" "Do."
 Don't" z
 A sigh from Walter like the exhaust | of an engine Stella. come on; I am sorry-please | less go to church" Are ye sure ye mean itT' Yes; honest" 'I don't look badr 'No-never looked better" Walter was running desperate bluff
 The girl walked into the hall; put on her hat before the little mirror and jabbed her handkerchief at her eyes few times. | Then she ran into her room, daubed some powder on her nose and was | ready
 Walter led the way. Mrs. Balley's voice rang out fiercely upon the stil | air as she heard the clang-clan@ ot the little cracked bell in the distance
 stella, ain't ye ready yet-youn be 1 late fer church" | Walter led the way; out on the porch down the steps and out or the little | wicker gate they walked, he holding her arm awkwardly. but very lovln gly I The face of the lad was like the fact of one going to his execution rather than a green young lover on his way tC church. There was a new moon hanging 1T the velvet sky by one silver horn anc myriads of tiny stars twinkled anC l blinked at them, encouragingly; from somewhere in nearby tree mock ingbird was opuring forth his soul 1T l melody which was answered by whip porwhill in the dim and uncertain dis | tance.
 there which caused the maid to cling even tighter to the youth at her sidt | and Walter could have been as happy as a bird but for the fact that he hat not cent in his pocket. | (Oh how hard IL IS 10 loVe on aI empty purseD
 It was a night for lovers and nigh l for love.
 Another cranctic search through his | clothes as they neared tho door, re- veaIed nothing.
 Like a culprit Walter led the way back to the last two seats which were always occupied by counting couples The young man tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. In a row the pretty village girls beamed and smiled, their garrish hats and red cheeks forming huge bouquet l of loveliness, relieved here and there | by the bright eyed village boys who | had escorted them.
 The gray haired preacher rose and announced the text, then he sat down while they sang the voluntary which was the signal for Jim Sanders and Eph Young to pass around the contri- button baskets. Walter was seen to be visibly pale. for Eph was his hated rival
 An .bo boys xuera raachinp p into their