The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-07

tConffnued.
 "Oh, I do not want to hurt you un- necessarily; but I wish there to be no possible miscohceptlon in the matter. What say now I am saying once for all. have no scruples- or compunc- tons In speaking frankly. For. after all, you had your chance and took 1t in your own way. You can't eat your cake and keep It. you know. Now that I have discovered my error am not likely to fall Into 1t again. And may say that I am so sure of this that shall not ever again even enter on the subject with you!" Here an idea struck Leonard. and he blurted out:
 But do you not think that some- thing Is due mel"
 How do you mean?' Her brows were puckered with real wonder this time.
 For false hopes raised in my mind. If did not love you before. the very act of proposing to me has made me love you; and now love you so well that I cannot live without you! In his genuine agitation be was starting np. when the sight of her hand laid up- on the gong arrested him. She laugh ed as she said:
 T thought that the privilege of changing ones mind was a female pre- rogative"'
 If woman does what man ought to do-'' He grew scarlet under her quick smile What ought to be done by a man. she should be fair enough to let the man do what would be done Dy a womanr' Her smile was genuine this time That is a good point. You men. with your relentless logic, can now ana again put an argument in a way that we helpless women cannot!
 Leonard breathed more freelys had he been cat he would have purred here.
 But then" she went on with her previous Icy calm, though we women cannot argue. we arrive somewhere al the same conclusion. Our way may pc over-quick, and even over shambling; but we get there all the same. Would you be surprised to hear that had al- ready, long ago. arrived at an idea of the the mercy of the case. ] cannot say justice, for the Justice of case where any one. man or woman. had been given a chance and refused 1t, would be that the matter ended there have done already something to make reparation to you for the wrong ot- of--I may put 1t fairly. as the suggestion Is your own--of not having treated you as woman!
 Damn"
 "As you observe so gracefully, 1t is annoying to have ones own silly words come back at one, boomering fashion {. I made up my mind to do something for you; to pay of your debts" This so exasperated him that he said out bru- tally.
 No thanks to you for that! As had to put up with the patronage and the lecturings. and the eyeglass of that internal old woman, I don't fntend-
 stephen stood up, her hand upon the gong:
 ''Mr. Everard, If you do not remem- Der that you are in my drawing room, and speaking of my dear and respected aunt. I shall not detain you longer
 '.I beg your pardon. I forgot. You make me so wild that-tnat-- He chewed the ends of his moustache an grily. She resumed her seat. taking her hand from the gong Without fur ther pause she continued.
 Quite right! It has been Miss Row ly who paid your debts, At first had promised myself the pleasure; but from something in your speech and manner she thought 1t better that such an aci should not be done by woman in my position to a man in yours. It might If made public. have created quite 2 wrong impression in the minds oi many of our friends"
 There was something like snort from Leonard. She ignored it:
 'So she paid the money herself out oi her own fortune. And. indeed. I must say that you do not seem to have treat ed her with much gratitude. When ar old lady took away the incubus from young mans life. an incubus whict he had himself bound there by his will full thoughtlessness, and perhaps his wrongdoIng; when she set him free from obligations that might later or have crushed him. that would certainly thwart his ambitions, and might possi- bly ruin him; who preserved. so far as