The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-01-08

own, was a womRnj and that m was
Philippa, my lovel
For several minutes | stood, spellbound,
gazing at her, That l saw more than a
phantom OF my imagination did not at once
enter into my head. In dreams l had seen
hor | loved again and again, but this was
the first time my waking thoughts had con
jured up such a vision, Vision, dream,
reality | trembled as l looked, for the form
was that Of Phllippa In dire distress,
IL was seeing the hood which covered her
head grow whittier and whittier with the fast
falling snow which aroused me 10 my senses,
and made every lbor thrill with the thought
that PhIllppa, In fiosh and blood, stool boz
fore me, with a low cry OF rapture | tore
asuudor tho fasteulnga OF the French case
ment, threw the sashei apart, aud without a
word my love passed from tho cold, bleak
night into my room.
Sh0 was wrapped from head TO foot In q
rich dark fur.trlmm,d cloak, As she swept
by me | felt she was damp with partially
thawol snow, | closed the window; then,
with u throbhing heart, turnel 10 greet my
visitor, She stood In tho centre OF tho room,
Her mantle had fallen 70 the ground, and
through tlm dusk | could 500 her white face,
hands and neck, | took her hands In mlnoi |
they were Rs cold ~ icioles,
"Phlllppal Phillppnl why are you herof'
WHISPERED, "Welcomo, thrice welcome,
whether you bring mo JOY or sorrow
A trembling ran through her, She said
nothing, but her cold hands claSpod mine
closer, l lod her 10 tho fire, which | stirred
until 1t bluzol brightly, She hmeolod before
II and stretched out her hands for wal NTH.
How pale she lookedl how unlike the Phi.
ippa Of oldl But 10 my eyes how loyelyl
As | looked down at tho fair woman knool-
ing NJ my feet, with hor proud head bent aa
In shame, l knew intultlvoly that ! should
DO called upon 10 keep my oath; and know
Ing this, | 70. registered 10 In all It's entirety.
Az last she raised her face 10 mino, In
her eyes was n sombro lire, which until nov
| had never Soon there, 'Phllippal Philip
par ! cried again
'Felch a llght,n she whispered, Tot mo
400 q friends face once mor5-lf you are still
my friend"
"Your friend, your true friend forovor,n /
said, rs ! fastened TO oboy hon,
A. | placed tho lamp on tho tahl, Pnlllppa
nroa, from her lWooA | could now 10, that
she was In doop mourning, Wa the Thought
that flashed through M, that II might 10
that sho was q widow, ono o. joy or surrowi
/ hop,-l Try 10 believe II was the lutter,
We stood for Rom' moments In silence,
Ny agitation, my rapture 40 soolng her onco
moro seemed 10 have doprly Il me OF speech,
! could do little moro than 10 gaze at her
and toll myself that ! was not dreaming.
that Philippn was roully hcrel tuA II was
her vote, that had heard, hor hanls | clasp
oil. Thilippa II was, but not tho Plilippa Of
oldi
Tho rich, warm, glowing beauty soomcl
toned down, Her face had lost its exquisite
color Moreover, u was tho faco Of Ton who
has furrorcd-pno who Ii suffering 70 mo II
looked na II Illness ha refined Il, as ltsomo-
times will roAno n face, Yet, " eho had
been m, her illness could not have been Of
long duration, llor figure was a. suporb,
her arms os finely rounded Us over, She
stood firm aud erect Not | trcmblol Ns !
! gogd at that pale, proul face AMI those
dark, SOLEMN eyes, ldorod not lor tho while
Gal, her why she sought mo,
Sho was tho first 10 broNk the silence,
'cYou arc changed, BuSll,h she said,
"llmo changes oy5ry one,' l answered,
forcing q smilu,
own you believe mc,n she continued,
'when I say that tho momory Of your face
M | saw II last has haunted oven my most
! Joyful momcntsl All me-, Basil, had l boon
true to myself / think might have learned
10 love YOU
shu spoke rcgrotfully, and ~ ono who has
finished with lie AMI ita love. My heart boat
rapidly, yet | know her words wore not
spoken In order 10 hear mo toll her that ]
loved her pntsionatoly ~ ever.
"a have heard Of you once or twice. nh,
said softly, "You are rich now, thoy toll
me, but unhappy
~ loved you and Lost you,n ! answered,
GLOW could 1 No hQppYr,,.
"knd men can love liko thlsr she said
sadly, can mon ARE not alike, them
"Gnough Of ne,n / said, "foll mo OF your.
self, Tell m, how ! can aid you, Your
husband
She drcw n sharp, quick breath, Tho
color rushed back 70 hcr check Her eyes
glittcrcd strangely Nevertheless, she spoke
calmly aud distinctly.
"llusbondl I have nonc," she said,
els he dead r.
"Non-sh, spoke with surprising blttor-
nsss -"no, l should rather say | never was
n wife. Tell me, Basll,n she contlauod
"ySir / answered ~empha,io,lIv md
truiy ltote n mani From ihc moIuent /
saVy ,he wreich with whom phn,rp, rsI l
hatod bi,' Now ,hat nv vorst sn,snielsna
aero ,r,s what vere my f%,oilngs1
Y Teit ibot nv Inns com,ro,a, lbomeolvos
fb,ow tbnt vhon 1 spohe nv voice Wna na
stern aud bitter IN Philippa's "Sit down."
lnoy I Was hero-wbora Won bayo como
From v
Lot ma Int learn wheneo aho eomo. and I
t,it s,r, ,ho VINO yied,o would onnLl, mo M
lac mv hand an ihn man I vnntod. All
M, nDyy Ioid somothIng yorlh iIying for
g have hc,n hnra aon,n months " saId
phn,,n,.
Wjisroi 7, ,hIs ,~eIghborhooar,
Uyes. have soen vou severol tImos. !
heve baen living NJ n hons, nbont three
mi,os oway I fsit happl"r In ]h"owinc tho,
- a.