Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-11-05
NO. 262.
Gales ano Skettbes.
PHEMA'S WAY.
Continued irom Yesterday. }
BN ROSE TERRY COOKE.


a digit before SO many ciphers, How glad
she was 10 be able 10 refuse the honor of
his hand, with calm distinctness; and how
furious was her mother
That is Just Phema's way" she de-
clared again 10 her aggrieved friend. who
should have been the maden's mother-in-
law. - told You her caprices were
never TO be relied on
Very well" answered the outraged
Mrs Sluytcr. She was the only Young
woman in America who would have re-
fused Pierre. He will easily console HIM
self"
No doubt Phema enjoved the season.
She was anatural and healthy girl spoiled
n good deal, to be sure; but four months
with Aunt Allen. and a real love affair had
done much to improve her. She chi, yed
heartily the gayety of Newport. and still
more the drives, the walks. the sails of
That enchanting soiourn, She was not
above girlish pleasure in her beautiful
costumes and the great admiration she
excited. She knew her own brilliant
beauty was far better illustrated by the
absence of color in her dress than il would
have been by the prevailing tints of the
day; and she liked 10 he liked. rs most
women do To he loved was another
matter, This seemed to enrage her. and
from that "A wiser eye than her mothers
might have discovered that her heart was
pre-occupied.
But when at the end of three months a
love letter. as ardent and as faithful as the
most eNacting heart could ask arrived at
her city home and awoke rs iervent a
response, in the fresh hope and courage
of the hour. she laid all the facts before
her mother. Imagine the scene, the rage,
the tears. the threats the despair' Through
it all Phcma stood calmly waiting for this
tempest to subsdc.
This is Just your way - were the first
coherent words that burst from Mrs Bay
ards lips; words Phema had heard so
often from the lips of her mother and her
nurses that now they gave an air of homely
humor 10 the tragic scene, and the girl
laughed.
This was fuel to the fire. Mrs Bayard
ragged and sohbcd all the rest of the day;
Yet all she gained from Euphemia was
promise that she would not marry
stephen Mather before the next autumn,
and that she should not ask to have him
received at the house oftener than twice at
time.
Mrs. Bayard counted on absence In
nine long months there were infinite op-
portunties to divert phema's mind. and
perhaps change its bent entirely. Time
and against any man." might succeed
with men; hut he who said it wisely did
not include the other sex. With an OBJ
Icct in view certain 10 he attained. n
woman can outwait time. II is the want
Of final certainty that makes us impatient.
And Phema smiled over this last clause.
She knew very well that Stephen could
not afford to leave his business oftener than
the prescribed time. The thing she dread
ed was to ask of him such a DELAY; but
she knew her power and used it TO this
end.
Stephen had never seen her among her
proper surroundings. A matter of course
TO her, she forgot that the luxury and ele-
gance in which she lived would astonish,
perhaps dismay him. And. indeed. it
did
GLOW can ] ask You to leave all this for
my little home. Phema said he, looking
about him, the first time he came to see
her.
"I didn't expect 10 leave it all. sir ~
she laughed. Il hope you will not refuse
to marry me because | happen to have
some money ?"
THAT isn't any matter" said Stephen,
with superb simplicity. at is all these
appliances | am thinking about. We
have not even room for them. should
| like it better il you had been poor. Phe-
ma. I'm afraid vou will miss something.
Her answer was too love-like TO record.
| After its earnest devotion, there could be
no more talk Of money.
With him there was no more thought
Of it. She only said to herself it was
good that he would not have to work 80
hard. Poor. ignorant souls Would
either of them stand the test when it
came.
All this time Mrs Bayard refused to rec
Iognize any engagement. She chose to
consider that Phema's decision was de-
layed; that no question Of marriage had
arisen Yet and She hurried her daughter
from one scene of gayety to another,
| spared herself fiDery. (Which was not so
hard, since she was yet in deep black, in
order To buy Phcma all sorts Of adornment
Her own Jewels she had reset for her and
her personal wardrobe was lavisbly sup
piled.
But none Of these things beguiled Phema.
She went everywhere and saw everybody !;
drank so deeply Of admiration and fiat
terry that the moDotony and insincerity of
the draughis at last di>gusted her: but her
mother was incxorablc. She had one
crushing blow in reserve, that must sue
ceed she til ught. Surely. when Phema
knew she was entirely penniless, she
would not dare marry poor man! So,
inst before she went TO Newport. earlier
this year Than last Mrs. Bayard told Phema
all about her affairs, with pungent dis
tinctness that left no room for mistake OF
paIliation. A cold hand seemed for ms
inert to clutch poor Phema's heart. She
turned pale, but he: eyes flashed. The
Bayard blood came to the rescue and she
gave no other sign of emotion. Her voice
wa. hard and ringing. as she asked
But what did you think would become
of me, mamma, in case Of your death p
81 expected, and still expect, Euphe
mia, that you would marry we'll"
'Sell myself" retorted the girl