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

p0lu doctor. Oh WOutV h"'S -.
should havo had the world at her 1927.
Had Thought that sLe loved me might
perhaps have dared to hope she would even
then have been happy Us my wife. But she
did not love me. Moreover, she was alhpF
tious
She knew-small blame to her--how beau
tiful she was. Do wrong her when say
that in those DAYS she looked for the gilc OF
rank and riches from the man VINO iovei hers
She knew that she was queen among
women, and expected queens dues
tsweeest, arc my words crusa They arc
| the cruelest have spoken. or shall speaA'
against you. Forgive themD
We were friends-great fric da Sucn
| friendship Is loves bane. 1t buoys raise
| hopes; it luls to security; It. leads astray; u
| ia a staff which breaks suddenly, AMI wounds
| the hanl which leans upon it. So little 10
| seems TO need to make friendship grow into
love: and vet how seldom that little Is
addedt Tho love which begins with hate or
dislike is often luckier than that which
begins with friendship Lovers cannot DO
| friends.
Philippa aud her mother left my neigh
borhood They went to London Tor a"niie.
| heard fror, them occasionally, ana once OF
! twice, when in town, called upon tnem
| Time went by worked hard az my pro
fession the while. striving, BY sheer toll. %
drive away the dream from my ilfes Aiass
| I strove in vain. To love Pnilippa was TO
| love her foreverl
One morning a letter came from her !
fore II omen. The news it contained was
prieyous. Her mother had died suddenly.
| Philippa was alone in the world. so far az
| knew. she had not relative left; and De-
| lieved, perhaps hoped, that. save myself
| she had no friend.
| needed no time for consideration. Ihat
| afternoon I.was in London. II could not
| comfort her in her great sorrow coulu az
| least sympathiza with her; could undertake
| the mana cement OF the many business &C.
| tails which are attendant upon death
Poor Philippai She was glad to see me.
| Through her tears she flashed me look OF
gratitude. l did all I could for her, ana
STAYED in town until the funeral was over.
Then was obliged to think of going home.
| What was to become of the grit
| Kith or kin she hal none, nor did she
mention the name of any friend who would
be willing to receive her. As suspected,
| she was absolutely alone in tho world. AS
| soon as my back was turned she would have
| no one on whom she could count for SYM
| pathy or help.
II must have been her utter loneliness
which urged me. in spite OF my better Jud9'
| ment, in spite of the grief which still oppress
| Cd her. TO throw myself at her feet and dc.
clare the desire of my heart. My words
cannot recall, but lhink-I know pleaded
eloouently. Such passion as nina gives
ROVER and intensity to tho most unpracticed
sneaker. Yet long before my appeal was
andal knew that pleaded in vain. Her
ewes her manner, told me she loved me not
Then. remembering her present helpless
condition. l checked myself l begged her
| 70 forget the words l had spoken; not to
answer them now; TO let mo say them again
in some months time. Let me still be her
friend. and render her such service as l
could.
| She shook her head; she held out her hand.
] Tho first action meant the refusal OF my
| love. the second, the acceptance of my
! friendship. schooled myself to calmness.
| and we discussed her plans for the future.
| She was lodging in hous in quiet, re-
! snectable street near REGENTS Park. She
| expressed her intention of staying on here
for awhile
| "But alone!" Iexclaimed.
sWhy not3 What have I to feari Still,
| I am open to reason If you can suggest
| another plan"
could suggest no other. Philippn was
| mat twenty-ons and would at once succeed
| to whatever money had been her mothers
/! This was eno4gh to live up,n She bsd no
friends. and must live somewhere. Why
should she not stay on at her present lodg-
ingsl Nevertheless, l treInbled as thought
| al this bes utiful girl all alone In London.
/ Whv could she not love met Why could
| .be not be nv wifei It needed oil my self
restraint to keep me from breaking afresh
into passionate appeals
"A she would not give me tho right to dis
nose of her future / could do nothing more.
| hado her a sad farewell, then went hack
to my home to conquer my unhappy love.
or to suffer from its resi- inroads
CONQUER it'll Such love as mine is mover
conquered. It is a mans life. Philippe
was never absent from my thoughts. Let
my frame Of mind be gay or grave. Philip
pa was always present
Now and then she wrote to me, but her
letters told me little az to her mode OF life;
they were short friendly episues, and gave
me little hope.
Yet was not quite hopeless ! felt that
had been too hasly in asking her for Ter
love SO soon after her mothers death Let
her recover from the shock; then will try
again. Three months was the time which
before again approached her with words
of love. Three monthsl How YEARLY they
dragged themselves awayt
Toward the end Of my self-imposed term
Of probation / fancied that brighter,
coyer tone manifested itself in Phi,ippa's
letters. Fool that I was, l augursd well
from this.
Telling myself that such love as mine
must win in the end, went to London. and
once more saw Philippa She received me
kindly. Although her garb was still that Of
deep mourning, never. l thought, had she
looked moro beautiful. Mt long after our
first greeting did wait before began ia
"Hush," she said; II have forgotten your
former words; let Us still be friend"
"Neverr' cried passionately. "Philippa,
answer me once for all, tell me you can love
mer'
She looked at me compassionately. SHOW
can Lest answer your she said musingly
ssThe sharpess remedy Is perhaps the kind
ost. Basil, will you understand me when
Eay it is too lateP
TOO late! What can you meant Ha
another"
The words died on my lirs al Philippa
drawing a ring from the fourth finger OF bel
left hand, showed me that it concealed I
plain gold eirclst Her eyes met mine I'm
rloringly.
~ should have told you tsfore." she aai'
softly, and bending her proud head; ''bu
, there we're reasons now am pledge
to tell no one. Basil, only show you tn
because know you viii tAks no other q
swsr.S