Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-03-07
CHAPTER VIII.


When the train left the Thellamere
party was scattered about in different
parts of 1t, for the platform was crowd
ed, the train was full, and people had to
find seats where they could. Never
theless 1t was not from pure accident
that Philip and Angela found them
selves alone in firSt-class compartment.
An extra carriage had to be put on
for the accommodation of the too ru-
merous eNcursionists, and while the
others had all been running about, and
squeezing themselves into already over.
flowing carriages. Philip, turning to
Angela, said:
Suppose you take my arm; there is
such Il crush. And if we wait quietly
we shall have q much better chance
than by rushing about as they are do
ing"
"Oh. anything not 10 be crushed by
all the people," said Miss Fairfax.
sweotly. and she had accepted his prof
iered arm, and they had stood aside,
waiting while the additional carriage
was put on. Philip conscious of q wild
wish that the train would quietly go on,
and leave them to find their way home
ogether-anyhow
He could think Of nothing more de-
lightful than to find himself left alone
with Angela, with no definite prospect
of being separated. But that was q
chimerical idea not likely To be realized.
and accordingly it was only the next
best contingency which arrived; they
went in the same train with the rest OF
the party. but alone.
At first there was entire silence be-
tween them. as the train went slowly.
after the manner of excursion trains.
between the dim and dusky fields and
dull white roads, which seemed TO cir
Gle dreamily by. That silence was first
broken by Angela. who sad. pensivclv:
What u heavenly day it has been ~
DO you think so? Are you not
fatigued? thought YOU looked tired"
- am never tired of Nature and the
country. Give me the sea or the trees,
and ask nothing bu. TO look at them
and be happy"
/" How dreadful town life must seem
TO you said Philip. with rather sick.
ly smile.
No lads first love was ever more
humble and desperate than this of Phil
Up Massey. The whole thing must in
evitably have been ludicrous-his blind.
wild, uncOmpromisiug worship. and
her cool, egotistical. unlovely. because
SOrdid. coguetTy-had il not been for
the one element on his side. of passion
ate earnestneSs. Of loyal good faith, and
Dure-hearted. single-minded alteration.
This was what gave its tragic element
"a. MI. I. L..
dess most rcveTently, thinking her HIGH
above himself and every other creature:
being perfectly willing 20 forsaho faith
or and mother, brother and sister, and
cleave forever 10 her only-while she
Poor little Mabellc's bitter signs were
not without Just cause and foundation.
"a town life must always he sacri-
fec, | suppO. e. after our beautiful home
ut Nensiue, but -"
"'But do you think it could ever be
tolerablc - yoL?"
'|chere miGb be conditions under
which,, r. Massey"
A long aud pcn-,vc Glance was only
half over when lhilip Interrupted it 10y
taking her hand.
Miss FairfaX-Angela!" he began
and after pause he went on, as sha
had intended he should, with the story
OF his love, his alteration; his utter I'M
worthiness and presumption and ali
the rest of il; but the speech ended, as
all such speeches do end. with a ferveni
prayer that she would overlook the I'M
wortlinesS and try to love HIM ever sc
little-in ever so long time, and there
by make him happy from that moment
for all time.
81! oh, YOU astonish mer' said she,
and did not blush as her eyes met his
while she spoke.
Perhaps | startled you-spoke toe
soon.-you were unprepared." he STAN.
mered.
The idea of anything he could say
startling msr' thought Angela, with
supreme disdain
''But, oh, if YOU could only say that
l am not utterly Indifferent to -
81 can not deny it," said she, with a
long look. and n smile that faded almost
before it began.
And may l."
stop! can not tell you that love
you, but"
al never expected. never thought, OF
hoped such a thing. But may 1 hope,
Angela. that some time"
''Hushl Do not be so excited. Philip.
Yes. can not tell you not to hope. ]
Il will think of it,"
You are an angel!'' was all that
Philip could say, kissing her hand. with
fervent look of devotion that had
something of reverence in it-a look in
which n nobler woman might have
nobly rejoiced, but which caused An
gela to think how very desperately he
was in love with her, as she answered
with a smile
A smile was her only reply to almost
every form OF address, question, avow-
al--every shape of praise, blame. re-
proach. Unkind and envious fellow
women, like Grace Massey and Thekla
Berghaus, have been known to say that
this form Of answer, constantly re.
peated, waxed monotonous; but how
can such a smile wax monotonous.
floating over lovely face, and seeming
TO be caused by unknown depths oil
feeling. family lighting a pair of di.
vine eyes
The story goes that certain mater
Purissima," one of the most celebrated
pictures of a celebrated old master. had
for model one of the most corrupt
women of her age. 1t is a story which.
whether true or not. inevitably sets one
thinking when one hears IL, and think
ing sadly, too, of the many counter
parts of il which may be found in
these latter years of grace in the nine
teenth century, in which we have eman-
cipated ourselves from so much which
we have discovered to be superstitious,
and set up instead each an idol FASH
toned by his own hands-our mater
puTiSSiRd.