The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-11-14

stranger, to be sure, but then there is
an unceremoniousness of gOOd-fellOw-
ship about the West with which we OF
| the East are unfamiliar. The sisters
only protector on the excursion, the
husband of cousin who was also of the
party, had been dangerously wounded.
Philip had it in his power to befriend
them greatly, and he did not fail to do
so. He established them in comfOrta-
BILE quarters, telegraphed back and
forth for them-in a word, tided over
the emergency. Helen and Amy were
penetrated with gratitude, which Helen
expressed all the more vOlubly because
she felt it the less sensibly.
Perhaps no more striking proof could
have been furnished of the slight inn
preston made upon Helen's life by this
man, who had thrown away his own flu
ture for the sake of saving her from pc
cuniary embarrassment, than the fact
that she now totally failed to recognize
him. "a
"There is something about Mr.. Philip
which puzzles me-" she said once to
Amy. ga resemblance. But can not
trace it out. 1 have tried. He is a
handsome man."
"a remarkably handsome man.
Helen, l am sure he likes you.''
"Do you mean loces me, as the phrase
goes?'
81 believe do.''
81 think so too, to tell the truth.
Well, l married for convenience once
1t would be no more than fair if 1 were
to marry fOr-mOre romantic considers
tons the second time.''
Amy laughed half deprecatingly. 81
wish that you would fall in love, Helen,
really and truly and desperately. You
might as well have no heart at all, you
keep it under such perfect control"
"Perhaps L may fall in love yet. Show
me the man, and will"
But that's not the way.''
"It's my way. Show me an eligible
match, morally, Intellectually, socially,
financially, and l will.''
Amy's face. "Could Mr.. Philip be
made to answer"
"I'm not quite sure. 1 insist upon
elaboration. Perhaps he might answer
l have always said, Give me the right
kind of man, and my affections will
Irvine. But they shall not Irvine unless
I am convinced that the man is fully up
to the mark"
"You make q merit of worldliness. :"
"To be sure do. am a child of
this world"
Amy was transiently wretched. She
loved her sister, and she excused and
deplOred her in the same breath.
Mr.. Philip, you perceive. He had
dropped his last name, and retained his
two baptismal names of John and Philip.
He told Nanny Jones of the arrival,
and the old woman followed the ripen-
ing of the acquaintance with feverish in
terest. 1t was no light matter to her
that Philip grew pre-Occupied and rest
less. care she gwine ter ruin him
agin?" she wondered. Saint onst
enuff?''
She was thankful Helen had not rec
ognized him, and in the same heartbeat
she was indignant. "After all he done
went through fur her!" She hardly be-
lieved Helen could have forgotten. But,
after all, Philip had greatly changed.
There was the same change in kind that
results from the chiseling of a statue.
Patience and fOrtitude and intellect had
modelled every line of his face. The
look of recklessness, of daring, of care
lessness, that had once distinguished
him had quite faded out now. He had
conquered himself. He had conquered
life.
When Mrs. Gray had recovered from
her lame back and sprained foot, and
was in condition to resume her journey,
Philip made up his mind to speak to her
on the subject nearest his heart. 1t had
been hard for him to believe that he
might still win her, on first discovering
that she was a widow, but, after all, it
is easy enough to accustom ones self to
happiness, and of late Philip had al
lowed himself to hope reservedly. Helen
was so captivating, SO winning.
One afternoon he asked her to drive
with him. His courage failed him when
it came to the point, and he had hard
work to put this question into words.
But at last he succeeded. Could
she love him? Would she marry him?
Helen turned away from him her sweet,
proud face with its half smile. But she
did not refuse him. She only asked for
time for reflection, for deliberation.
Philips heart beat high. Had he gained
her?
But it was not over yet. "There is
something more," he began; ga dis
closure I have to make. Do not be
startled. I-you-" Then, in a breath,
81 am Philip Trapier.''
She fairly gasped. 1t was if fair
and stately castle of dreams had been
suddenly shattered at her feet. Philip
Trapier! The forger! The oucast!
shape took form before her
eyes of Philip in his blue dress and
shaven head. The disgrace was rs
close and real to her to-day as though
he had not since that time achieved an
position. Marry him? Never!
Why, any day the subject might be
brought up: he might be recognized, the
old story of shame repeated.
It mattered not to her why he had
done it, how he had done it: she had a
memory. a
Sc Whu did v,O,, not foil mo Of & rot . ~