Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-01-15
THEIR LAST
CHANCE
RS2s1s7s1s7s7s1szs2RRE

K5EsEs1s1s7s5s1ses7s2s7s7szsesa.M
It's SO sweet of you to come" Miss
Ferringham said. $3.50 like you.
you know. Dear. dear, when did i
sac you last? You're looking very
we'll"
Montfort sat down with sense Of
RELIEF.
It's SO good Of you to take it like
shis." he returned. 1--WE come on a
gracefess errand. I'm afraid"
MiRs Ferringham sank back beside
the tea table and bent over the sugar
: bowl.
You've come about ARCHER"
I've certainly come about Archie. .
Miss Ferringham selected a lump
OF sugar with care, and held it poised
Tor second over cup.
Take sugar-still?" she said soft.
". s'Yes?"
Montfort accepted his teacup-a lit
tie doubtfully,
y eat your bread and SALT he
said. with a laugh, but come as
j IN enemy
You couldn't come as an enemy. 1
refuse. Miss Fsrringham declared.
TO consider the remotest possibility
OF such ? thing. You come as friend
lin Disguise s..
ne disguise" Montfort admitted.
rather ruefully. us remarkably
goods Ne. Write me down the cruel
I fatheA of the melodrama at once. and
let's have 1t over. You know YOU can,t
marry him.,
Miss Ferringham looked pensiyel,
INTO the depths tof her, teacup.
That's what tell him.
Then Why Msntfort demanded.
With reason, ARE you engaged to
him?" = - -
" Miss Ferringham sighed.
because he is very obstinate boy.
He reminds me-" she added, with a
rapt air Of "Reminiscences. 'of youp
"Of me?"
You, to-" Miss Ferringham remind.
q him, were obstinate Archte's
age"
but gave in-1 listened to rea.
son-in the end"
Miss Ferringham's eyebrows rose
slightly.
You are quite sure it was reason
you listened tor" she said. aYou
didn't think so at the time, l remem.
per. Well. well-I suppose we were
younger and foolish. Perhaps 1t was
reason you listened to, after ALL"
There was hint Of pathos in her
tone. and Montfort felt uncomfort-
I'VE couldn't have lived on air
Love and cottage sound nice ON
paper. but they don't go well together
in real life"
Perhaps" Miss Ferringham sug.
eested delicately. at depends lit
tie upon the sort of love-"
1T depends more on the sort Of
cottage. You know perfectly well.
Flo Montfort ended, that we should
have quarrelled in week"
She shrugged her shoulders.
why refer to these Impossible DOS.
sibilities? she said, lightly. "We
didn't quarrel-we didn't have the
chance. We listened to the voice NJ
reason. We eschewed cottagss-and
love. married my manager and
was wretched. You married your
cousin, Julia, Who
She stopped abruptly. Montfors
looked up.
VINO ran away with my friend
why don't You go on? It was the
only kindness she ever did me. SO
you really need not mind mentioning
It," :
We were neither Of us very lucky. !.
No." Montfort said CURLY.
There was a moment of silence
don't see what's to prevent it,'
Miss Ferringham said with touch
OF defiance. He's of age. OF course.
you can make things unpleasant
realize that. But you can't prevent 1t,
And-when you come to think of
it-wouldn't 1t be better to be
friends?''
4 : - = vi ~ oulu IMiSS p6TTluRQam.
with spice of malice.
Montfort sat silent. He had swift
brief vision of Archie as he used to
be before a dramatic passion for the
star Who had dazzled his father had
put new, unnatural enmity between
them-Archie as little boy in .
white suit, with a toy cricket bat In
his hand: Archie, who always looked
upon him as his best friend-until
nov. And the vision hurt.
He looked quietly across at the
beautiful woman SLIPPING her tea with
. fne air Of unconcern.
You mean YOU can separate us?"
There was sudden hard sound In
his voice. Miss Ferringham had, per.
haps, heard 1t before. She nodded
silently. ~
Y know that Well, you must do
"You msan-if I've the heart" Miss
Ferringham said softly.
TITS question of-heart?" he ask.
cd In the light Of bis former kRowl