Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-07-29
The Way to Lose Him.

Philip Vane's love story was very brief
He was one of those men who are not easily
captivated, and SO he had remained heart
whole ultil the preceding spring. About
the first of May. he attended an agricutu-
raj show in an adjoining county, and it
closed up with athletic sports. There were
hundreds of daring young fellows ready to
compete for the honor of crownng the
queen of love and beauty; but Philip Vane
outstripped them all, and won the prize.
This prize was an exquisite tiarsa of pearls,
and Miss Rose Denham, the prettieSt girl in
| Talbot, was the queen. Philip went
through the interesting ceremony of crown
ing her with the starry Chaplet he had
wOn-and in doing SO he had lost his
heart.
The red fires Of sunset had faded. and
the stars were out in thousands in the mis-
ty autumn skies, when Philip reached the
| little country house IN which the Denhams
lived. lie stole round TO the drawing, room
window. Ii was open, for the autumn
night was halmy, and he had a full view OF
the apartment Rose was at the piano. in
her becoming evening dress of sky-blue,
with her hair falling in golden showers
over her white shoulders Blu: she was
not alone. Hanging over her, and toying
with her ringlets, as he turned the music,
| was young man of an exceedingly fOp-
pish appearance; and Rose did not seem in
the least annoyed by his excessive familiar
ity, for while she sung, she would toss her
beautiful head, and glance up into his ad.
miring face with an air of witching CO.
quetry.
Philip Vane, with this picture before
his eyes, stood for a moment like one be-
wildered, then suddenly recollecting him
self, lie retraced his steps, and rang the bell
at the front entrance, in very grave and
! formal manner.
Rose received him with shy, sweet
surprise that was irresistible; and the charm
OF her rare beauty, and her girlsh vivacity,
soon banished his Jealous dOubts-and he
was as much enthrailed and enraptured as
ever The foppish individual having van
ished, Philip had his charmer all TO him.
self, and they wandered out into the au-
tumn moonlight, and under the shadow of
the elm trees. And Philip took a pearl
and amethyst engagement ring from little
casket, and put it upon her finger, entreat
| ing, as he did so, that the engagement
should be very brief Beautiful Rose lis
tened, and examined the sparkling circlet
with critical eye.
every WELL" she replied, after mo-
ment, her voice cool and silvery 81 have
no objection TO make. 1t will not require
great while to complete my arrangements,
and mamma disapproves of long engage
ments."
so do l." exclaimed Philip, heartily.
You will make it a month, darling-no
longer; / want you at home before the
Christmas holidays"
Rose shrugged her white shoulders, and
gave little shivering sigh.
Chow l do wish" she said, THAT
you would live in town, Philip, for the
winter at least. 1t must be dreadful stupid
at BeechwOOd; and the girls are coming to
see my engagement ring" she contnued,
after a momentary pause, twiring the
little circlet over in the moonlight 81
told them it would be something magnifi-
cent-and it is; but l do wish you had
chosen diamond solitaire, it would have
been so much more elegant and stylish"
Her lovers brow clouded.
Il am sorry, DEAR" he said, gravelJ. 81
fancied this one would please you; but you
shall have the solitaire"
"Oh, you are so kind and am naughty
to trouble you So"
She held up her ripe lips, and he kissed
her in silence, and they returned to the
cottage, and little later he was in his sad
die again and on his way back to Beech
wood. But an indetinable something
weighed down his spirits-a kind of rest
1 cc. tlaf ln r,aifh har
Danish or comprehend.
The moment his mother met him on the
following morning, she knew how matters
stood. She could read her sons heart like
an open book.
'"Tis just as feared" she sighed. ''My
poor boy will he disappointed.
But she uttered not word
A week later, Philip Vane was called to
town on business, and he embraced that
opportunity to purchase diamond ring.
He selected very magnificent one, at an
extravagant cost. Then instead of return
ing 10 Beechwood, he took the train to
Talbot, and walked across to the Denhanl
residence. 1t was just about noon when
he reached there; and the autumn day was
very lovely, with mellow sunlight, and q
hazy splendor on the circling hills. He
would have a long walk with Rose, he
thought, his heart swelling with delight as
he neared the house. Dear little Rose, he
loved her more and more every moment he
lived, no matter if she was rather valn and
childish.
He found the front door open, and lit
tie housemaid scru5bng the steps. She
ushered him in, and he entered the small
drawing room, and sat down. As he die
so, the sound OF voices, in loud and angry
discussion, reached his ears. Just behinC
the dining room was a little parlor which
Mrs. Denham and Rose were IN the habit
of making their sitting room, and it was
from this the sounds proceeded.
Philip listened in alarm at first, thinking
some one was Ill, or that something hac
happened.