The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1884-12-11


Heavensl how fair she wasl How glorious
her rich, dark boautyi How different from
the pink white and yellow dolls whom nave
seen exalted as the types OF pcrfectionl
Warm Southern blood ran through her
va;na and tineed her clear brown cheek
With color Her mother was an English
woman: but it was Spain that gave her
daughter that exquisite grace, those Won
drous dark eyes and long, curled lashes, that
mass Of soft black hair, that passionate,
impusive nature, and perhaps that queen
like carriage and dignity. The English
mother may have given the girl many good
gifts but her beauty came from the father,
whom she had never known; the Andalusian,
WHO died while she was but child III arms.
Yet. in spite of her foreign grace. Philippa
was English. Her Spanish origin was to
her but tradition. Her foot had never
touched her fathers native land. Its Ian
guage was strange to her. She was born
In England, and her father, the nature of
whose occupation l have not been able to
ASCERTAIN, seems to have spent most OF his
time in this country.
When did learn to love herl Ask me.
rather, when did we first meeti Even then,
as my eyes foil upon the girl, knew, as by
revelation, that for mo life and her love
meant ono and the same thing. Till that
moment there was no woman in the world
the sight Of whom would have quickened
my pulse by beat had read and heard
of such love as this. / had laughed at it.
There seemed no room for such an engross-
ing passion in my busy life. Yet all at once
loved as man has never loved before; and
as sit tonight and gaze into the fire tell
myself that the objectless life am leading
is the only one possible for the man who
loved but failed to win Philippe.
Our first meeting was brought about i'll the
most pr osaic way. Her mother, who suf-
fered from a chronic disease, consulted me
professionally. My visits, first those OF o
doctor, soon became those of friend, and
was free to WOO the girl to the best Of my
ability,
Philippa and her mother lived in a small
house on tho outskirts Of the town. They
were not rich people, but had enough to keep
the pinch Of poverty from their lives The
mother was . sweet, quiet. ladylike
with resignation. Her health was.
indeed, wretched. Tho only thing
which seemed likely to benefit her was a
continual change Of air and scene. After
attending her for about six months, was
in conscience bound to indorse the opinion
OF her former medical advisers, and tell her
Il would bs well for her to try anothes
change
Ny heart was heavy a. I gave this adj
vice. II adopted, it meant that Philippe
and must part
But why, during those six months, had
not, rassionately in love as / was, won thu
young girls heartf Why did she not leav,
ma a. nv afiianced bridei Why did l le
Ler leave me at ALT
TLs answer is short She loved me not.
Not that she had ever told me 80 in words
had never asxst h,r in words 70. her love
But sh. must have known-she must have
kuowni VIXEN was with her. avery look
every action Of mine must have told her the
truth. Women are not fools or blind a
man. loving as / did, who can conceal the
true state of his feelings must be more than
mortal
Ih.d not spoken; dared not speak. Bet
ter uncertainty with hope than certainty
with despair. Tho day on which fniilppe
refused my lsve would be Is the day oil
| death 20 ne.
Besides. what had I 10 offer bert Although
succeeding fairly well for beginner, al
present i could only ask the woman msoe
| nv vie to sbsrs comparative poverty AND
| Philippai Ali would have srapps d fhis'
| ippa in luxuryi All that wealth could ous
sugAs n - hsrA Had Yea sen her IN tee