The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-03


 Sometimes the most trivial things are lights which seem to give them hor- rible shape. And. as the world is full Of scandal. one cannot be too careful not to give the scandalmongers any thing to exercise their wicked spite upon. More especially is this true of any one who. like yourself, is an object of envy to many. Why, my dear, your position in life, your fortune. your beauty is enough, any one of them, to set a whole countryside of women crazy with envy. I don't trust that young man! He Is .. bad one all round, or I am very much mistaken. And. my dear, come close to mel I cannot but see that you an he have some secret which he is using to distress you" She paused. and her clasp grew closer stfil as Stephens head sank on her breast T know you have done some thing or said something foolish of which he has a Knowledge. And know, my dear one. that whatever 1t was, and no matter how foolish 1t may have been. 1t was not wrong thing. God knows, we are all apt to do wrong things as well as foolish ones; the best of us. But such Is not for youl Your race, your father and mother, your up- bringing. yourself and the truth and PuTttY WUlcn are yOuTS--W iilCh oi c your inheritance and your pride-would save you from anything which was in itself wrong. That I know. my dear. as well as I know myself! An. bet ter, far better! for the gods did not think 1t well to dower me as they have lowered you. The God of all the gods has given you the ten talents to guard; and He knows. as do. that you will be faithful to your trust"
 m. .~-t.a s.,h hnr- ,ton as the words were spoken which went through the young girls heart Love and confidence demanded in return that she should have at least the relief of certain acquiescence: there is pos- sib1e note of pain in the tensity of ev- cry string. Stephen lifted her head proudly and honestly, though her cheeks were scarlet. and looked in the loving eyes which were brimming with emotion. saying with a consciousness of integrity which spoke directly soul to soul:
 You are right. dear! have done something very foolish: very, very fool ishl But 1t was nothing which, any one could call wrong. Do not ask me what 1t was, need only tell you this: that 1t was an outrage on convention It was so foolish, and based on such foolish misconception; it sprang from such overweening. arrogant self-opin- ion that it deserves the bitter punish ment which will come: which is com Ing; which is with me now! It was the cause of something whose black ness can't yet realize: but of which I will tell you when I can speak of 1t. But 1t was not wrong in itself. or in the eyes of God or manr The old wo- man said not a word. No word was needed, for had she not already ex- pressed her belief. But Steph en felt her relief in the glad pressure of her fnger-tips. Tn a voice less strained and tense, Miss Rowly went on:
 What need have I for money. my dear? Here I have all that any wo- man, and especially at my age. can need. There is no room even for char ity; you are so good to all your people that my help Is hardly required. And my dear one, I know-I know" she emphasized the word as she stroked the beautiful hair, that when am gone my own poor. the few that have 1 looked after all my life. will not suf. fer when my dafling thinks of me!' | Stephen would fain have held her mor'