The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-01


 that Leonard was little afraid. He might imperil his inheritance. He an
 "of course. sir. you shall know every thing. After all you know. my affairs are your affairsl"
 T know nothing of the sort I may of course be annoyed by your affairs. even dishonored. in a way, by them. But accept no responsibility what ever in them. As you have made your bed. so must you lie on itg' Leonard got more alarmed; so he said as gen. ially as he could:
 "It's all right. sir, assure you. All my debts, both those you know of and some you don't, I shall settle very shortly"
 How soon?" The question was sternly put
 Tn few days. dare say week at furthest will see everything straight ened out"
 The elder man stood up, saying gravely as he went to the door:
 You will do we'll to tell me when the last of them is paid. There is something which shall then want to tell youl" Without waiting for reply he went to his study.
 Leonard had expected q satisfactory feeling to himself to be the result of this interview. He left the room with sense of having been punished all ready, and of another punishment awaiting him later on.
 When Miss Rowly returned from her visit to London the two women held a long consultation over the schedule of Leonard's debts. Neither said a word of disfavor, or even commented on the magnitude, The only remark touching on the subject was made by Miss
 
 we must ask for proper discounts. ohi the villafny of those tradesmen! | do believe they charge double in the hope of getting half As to jewellers. .l' Then she announced her inr tention of going up to town again on Thursday. at which visit she would arrange for the payment of the various debts. stephen tried to rernonstrate, but she was obdurate. Leave 1t all to me- dear. Leave it all to me! Everything shall be paid as you wish; but leave 1t to me!Y k
 stephen acquiesced. This gentle yielding was new in her; 1t touched the elder lady to the quick, even whilst it pained her. We'll she knew that some trouble must have gone to the smoothing of that imperious nature.
 After all, trouble is a tool of the Great Filter whose work is to fashion the machine called man; and tool of no mean importance either With 1t He ruhs off the protrusions on the sur faces of would" and must which have to be brought to exact plane. And it ts because 1t can bite into the metal of our nature. because 1t is of It's nature harder than the material which 1t fash- ions that it's work is potent and endur- Ing.
 Stephens inner life in these. last few days was 50 bitterly sad that she kept it apart from all the routine of social existence. The saddening memory was Of Harold. And of him the sad ness was increased ana multiplied by haunting fear. Since he had walked out of the grove she had not seen him nor heard from him. She was afraid to make any inquiries. Silence was dreadful; but to her there was no al- formative. Thought. she felt. would come in time. and with it new pains and new sh autes, of which as yet she dared not think.
 One morning came an envelope di- rected in Haroid's hand. The sight made her almost faint. She rejoiced that she had been on that morning the first down, and had opened the postbag with her own key. She took the let ter to her own room and shut herself in, before opening it. Within were few lines. of writing and her own let. ter to Leonard in It's envelope. Her heart beat SO hard that she could scarcely see; but gradually the letters of the writing seemed 70 grow out of the mist:
 The enclosed hould De in your hande. It is possible tha1 1t may com fort you to know that it Is safe. What ever may come, God love and guard you"
 For a moment joy. hot and strong. blazed through her. The last words were ringing through her brain. Then came the cold shock. and the gloom of fear. Harold would never have written thus uuless he was going away! It was a farewelll
 For long time she stood motionless holdirg the letter in her hand. Then che said. half aloud:
 Comfort! Comfortl Comfort! There is no more comfort in the world for me! Never. never again! Oh. Harold! HaroldP'
 She sank on her knees beside her bed. and buried her face tn her cold hands. sobbihg. sobbing. sobbins in all that sadd%st and bitterest phase Of sorrow which can be to a wonan's heart; the sorrow that Is dry.eyed and without hope.
 (centiAusa ronorrsw.D