The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-03

closely. but she feared to exercise her young strength on her aunts feebler body; but she fairly climbed upon her as she said. looking in the brave old eyes:
 My darling. they shall never want"
 Silence for a time; and then MISS Rowly's voice again;
 "Though it would not do for the world to know that a young maiden lady had paid the debts Of a vicious young man. 1t makes no matter If they be paid by an ole woman, be the same maid, wife, or widow! And really. my dear. I do not see how ahy money might have could be better spent than in keeping harm away from you"
 "There need not be any harm at all, Auntie."
 Perhaps not. dear, hope not with all my heart. But I fear that young man. He is bitter one, I feel. Just fancy him threatening you, and in your own house: in my very presence! Oh! yes. my dear. He meant to threaten, anyhow! Though I could not exactly understand what he was driving at could see that he was driving at some thing. That he was in antagonism with you. though only for a moment, was enough for me. And after all that you were doing for him, and had done for himl mean. of course, af- ter all that had done for him, and was doing for him. It Is mean enough, surely. for a man to beg, and from a woman: but to threaten afterwards. Achl It is blackmail. and nothing else! And in all the catalogue of crime, I do not think there is anything more base. But I think, my dear, it Is checkmate to him this time. All along the line the only proof that Is of there being any friendliness towards A t. IA. "a moreover. my dear. have little plan in my head that will tend to show him up even better, in case he may ever try to annoy us. Look at me when next he is here. mean to do little play -acting which will astonish him. can tell you. If 1t doesn't frighten him out of the house altogether. But we won't talk of that yet. You will understand when you see it"' Her eyes twinkled and her mouth shut with loud snap as she spoke. Then for while she was silent.
 After a few minutes of repose, which was like a glimpse of heaven to Stephens aching heart, she spoke again.
 There was something else that trou- bled you more than even this You said l you would tell me when you were able l to speak of 1t. Why not speak now. Oh! my dear, our hearts are 1 close together tonight; and in all your l life you will never have any one who will listen with greater sympathy than | I will, or deal more tenderiy with your fault, whatever it may have been. Tell me, dear! Dear" she whispered after | a pause, during which she realized the l depth of the girls emotion by her con- vulsive struggling to keep herself ir l oh eek.
 All at once the tortured girl seemed | to yield herself, and slipped inertly l from her grasp till kneeltng down she l laid her head in the others lap jcnd | sobbed. Miss RowIy kept stroxjcg heI I hair in silence. Presently the girl l looked up. and with a pansy the aunt I saw that her. eyes were dry. In her | pain she said:
 l You sob like that. my child. and yei you are not crying; what is 1t, oh! dear
 one? What Is 1t that hurts you so that you cannot cry?"
 1 And then the bitter sobbing broke
 out again, but still a1asl without tears | ltCrouching low, and stili enclosing her l aunt's waist with her outstretched arms and hiding her head in her breast, shs
 said;
 (Continued TonhOrrOw.J