The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-17

villa. She had come out to feed the chickens. She wore a coQuettish gown, made in exaggerated country style Her arms were gloved to the elbow and she honored the chickens with an occasional glimpse of a striped silk petticoat and smart high-heeled slip pers.
 She forgot all her bird-like airs and Rraces when she saw the dirty. rag ged, forlorn little object that now came running to her sobbing: Mamma! {! Mammal" She took him into her arms and kissed him as If she would never stop, and cried, with passionate tears. that he should not go back to that ter rible place.
 Then, without gradation. she whis- pered to Jack that he must wait till she prepared "him" for his arrival Jack felt a little jealous pang at once. It was increased when he saw that the 1 poets likeness was in every room. She ran away to prepare him." The poet, luckily, had just been figuring on his income, and the thought of paying MoronvaI for Jacks tuition had dis agreed with him. Therefore, he made a noble and touching address, in which he graciously permitted the child to remain with them Out of my exs hausting artistic work I will manage | to devote two hours a day to your | education that you may become a man like myself, thoroughly prepared for the battle of life." he concluded. Ida flew into his arms with a cry: How noble, how generous!" and the poet dismissed him with gesture.
 The poet soon tired of the daily in. struction. It interfered with his work on "The Daughter of Faust" The fact that he had never written a line of il beyond the title did not alter this con | viction So Jack was soon left to roam l the woods and do what else he pleased | during the day.
 He became the friend of game-keep- CTS and woodsmen, he fell in love with woodpeckers and hares, the cain life of the forest mingled with the superabundant life that thrilled through his young being, and he was as happy and as care free as bird
 His only trouble came when he hac | to return home to meals. The poet finding himself unable to write two lines that would rhyme. became more indignant every day at the stupid worlc that did not appreciate him. Every ont else was lucky! Their books were pub lished, and such books! They stole hi' ideas! Not a week passed without something being published that had been his idea.
 How infamous~ Charlotte would cry. Her poet had changed her namt to Charlotte, because 1t made him think of Goethe's heroine. Besides, he did not wish to be reminded of the past. Though he loved himself more than he did her ! she had become indispensable to him. Her beauty held him. too; and, without knowing 1t. he became more and more l jealous of all that happened before he l knew her Daily he disliked Jack more because he was the living reminder ot the past. The boy felt it instinctively and repaid it with a similar feeling
 He spent more time than ever away | from the house either in the woods ol
 in the house of old pr. Rivals. The
 cheery country doctor. who never fail
 ed to answer a summons and never re-
 membered to charge for a call. liked
 the lad. whose face, handsome as his
 mothers. was ennobled by sensitive
 ness and intelligence that hers lacked l He loved to see the boy play with hi'
 orphaned grand daughter Cecile, and
 he managed to find time in his busl
 day to give Jack regular lessons.
 This idyllic existence was broker
 harshly. D'Argenton, unable to exis
 without the plaudits of others, renew
 ed his friendship with Moronval ana
 soon had literary gatherings whose