Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-27

In Chester street. and, after endless trouble and
delays, succeeded In finding a horse that would
do for the 0f0ugham in another and better
sense than would Inevitably have been true of
the tay. Philip acc Jmpanied them the iirst
time or Two OF using it. Other services grew
upon his hands. In fact, he beca ne quite at
home 10 Chester street, M .ds him self SCI Il In
all the many ways In which young man can
be useful 20 ladies living alone, and fell once
fuence OF Lelty's destinations.
Hopelessly, he kne full well; for as day sue
1ag n tns asa he
and fully determined that he alone should suf-
fer. He would do nothing to win her affections
George Sotiano's z anne was mentioned now and
then, but very rarely. He had not yet returned,
and Philip resolved that when he did so, he,
Philip, would see Lettdce no more until she was
co%nefrv ne be aau ,ong ago atsy OF a
course, he said to himself, "MrS. Fairfax I'm
agfned knew Of her daughters engagement:
hettce must have thought 50 also knowing how
II Is Thorpe himself and no one else who is to
blame that did not know It," And so he con-
tinued to spend half his days in Chester street,
and to rejoice, as he Sagely told himself, In the
pleasures Of friendship.
1t was early May. The season had set In.
Not only the sweet spring season, but the Lon
little difference to Lettuce Fairfax and none at
all to Philip Leigh. He went out occasionally,
like the rest Of the world, and met Lefty now
and then in society; but as rule he worked all
day until the hour came which set him free to
find his way to Chester street, where the ladies
were more seldom alone than had been the case
earlier in the year. But, on the whole, May
differed little from February, except that the
world outside seemed brighter, gayer, fuller of
well dressed people, and inside the drawing
room roses replaced Mrs. Fairfax's crocuses and
snowdrops, and her daughters dress was more
summer like. One afternoon Philip had met
flower seller on his way and bought bunch OF
violets. The soft dewy blossoms probably the
dew was owing to the nearest pump-Smiled up
at him from out of their green leaves, and he
thought them an Offering not uomeet for his
and tnhaling the fragrance Of the flowers, he
reached the familiar doorstep. A gentleman
had just come up to 1t and rung the bell. The
two exchanged few words about the weather,
and then the door was opened. Philip made
way for the stranger to pass In first.
What name, sir?" asked the servant.
"Oh, no name; they expect me-yet don't
know, you see," addressing Philip, who Won
dered why the man should consult him, not
knowing that this was man apt to consult the
person nearest to him on every matter, 1mpor-
tant or trivial. ''You see, they may not have
received the letter. Wouldn't be fair to take
them by surprise, would it," Then to the ser.
want '.You had better go first and say Captain
Bolland is here"
AS the footman preceded the Captain up stairs
Philip walked out of the house. Straight back
to his rooms went he, thrC ug the 81 reefs where
the sunshine seemed to mock at him, and the
people In the passins carriages to be unnatural
monsters OF hea1tlessness because they looked
as gay and careless as though the world were
still happy place. For him joy had suddenly
faded out OF it altogether. as it spun on in the
sunlight; crazy, hollow, empty world, both
and finding the crushed VoletS still In his hand,
For re days y he did not see Lefty again He was
firm in his resolve. Had he not decided that
thus 1t should be when george" came home?
The meeting in that little drawing room haunt
ed his imagination. Had she stretched out both
her hands and called his name, as he had heard
her do it once before?
Three or four days later George Bolland called
upon Philip at his club. He brought message
from Chester street, something about book
Philip had been commissioned to procure, and
an Invitation to luncheon. Our hero sent
verbal answer, making some excuse for declin-
ing the Invitation. But for the next three weeks
he saw good deal OF his rival. George took
fancy to him, haunted his club, invaded his
private den, interrupted him at work; and
Philip, feverishly glad to hear of Lettuce since
he must not see her, alternately chafed at the
very presence of the man who was to be her
husband, and found pleasure In his company.
The Captain never alluded to his Engagement,
but he seemed to be perpetually in Chester
street, and Letty's name was forever on his
lips.
v1tattons from Mrs. Fairfax to Philip; who reg
ularly pleaded his work as an excuse for de-
Ginning them. But one afternoon Captain Boil
land came to his rooms the bearer of a more
pressing request than usual, and said he was
commissioned to use his own powers Of persua-
sion to induce this extremely hard-worked indi-
vidual to permit himself the relaxation Of an
evening In Chester street.
But Philip Leigh was firm. AS he sat down
to indite his refusal, George established nim-
self with cigar in the mosuGuXur1ous arm
chair he could discover.
ais that the portfolio?" he asked; as his eye,
in roaming about the apartment, lit upon the
receptacle of such of Philips luminous ideas as
had not yet become 1mmortallzed in print.
the one you read to Lettuce Fairfax out of at
If you want subject for story can give you
one. You writer fellows often do want a sub
ject, you know. Only there's no conclusion
now come to think Of it. But you could work
it round some gay or other, dare say-couldnt
your"
Couldn't !, :. X n I've not the least idea
Philip was very cross, his pen flew over the
.:What is it I am to make story Of ?" he
nWby about me- Me- and Lefty you } kn nose
'.NonseDse!" he exclaimed, impatiently
ony have g e naas sS@ o. sor
to be- married some day other We We're SUPP
posed to be in love-old Mrs. Middleton told us
so, believe. You see, she wanted Lefty to have
den IT, Rhe old mt aE as I'd
stolen it,"
sGo on" said Philip, as he addressed his en-
velope. ut is to be hoped you are not going to
marry without affection"
cot course not. That's the story: that's what
Pm coming to. had not been three months In
Canada before was hit hard-very hard hit
indeed. 1t showed me at once that what had
felt for Lefty wasn't-wasn't the right sort Of
thing, you know-not at all the right sort Of
thing. We had been like brother and sister all
our lives, but what felt then-Ah!" and the
cigar wss resumed. Captain Balland had no
great command OF language; his pauses were
more eloquent than his speech.
Philip had laid down his pen and turned away
from the table. He was afraid to trust his
voice, though longing to bid his guest continue
the narrat1ve-afra1d, If he spoke at all, he
should shout, laugh, do something utterly mad
and foolish. George went on.
81 was not going to be villain and jilt Lefty.
kept my own counsel Determined that the
girl-the one out In Canada, mean-ShOuld
lever know. But, somehow, after bit she got
hit herself. 1 saw she was fond of me. and
there it was! If Lefty was fond Of me, too, why
Lefty had my promise. There seemed nothing
for 1t but to come home and marry her at once.
But, by Jove, Leigh! 1 had been in London
three days-I had not been In Chester street
three hours, before found Lefty had made the
same mistake l had. / knew the symptoms;
brother and sister, that's all we were to each
other. We had it all out between us last week.
Mrs. Middleton Is In an awful rage; says I've
swiDdled Lettuce out OF the estates Now,
wouldn't that make story?"
rf1ny