The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-21

looked more wretchedly i'll than usual But she
was blind with the pain of the shock she had re-
ceved. She believed that he had known all
when he encouraged the Bayhams to seek her
out. He had had a purpose then, as he had had
one before. He had rot pitied her in the least
He opened his eyes and looked at her.
"You have returned early" he said
She laid her roses upon the table and went
and stood near him.
II have seen Mr.. Wilfred Carnegie" he said.
II came home because he was there"
She hardened her heart against him. growing
stern and unforgiving. He had not spared her.
and she could not spare him.
"You knew that he would be there" she said,
| In wild, tremulous voice. You knew that
| should meet him face to face, and you let me
CO."
Perhaps physical suffering made the man
weak. For the first time in his life he faltered
| miserably.
eff 1 did" he said Cit was for your own
good. Phil"
mo, it was not, she cried out. mo, it was
not. 1t was for your own good-to serve your
own ends You have never spared me all your
life. when you have had an end to serve, and
this miserable once-when it was so hard to
bear. Did you spare me when you sent me to
BrackencleughG Did you spare me when began
to be happy9 Did you spare when you wrote to
that man, asking for money-speculating on my
chances Of marrying man who-who loved me
as he did, But for that he would never have
known until l told him the whole truth as
meant to do-and he would have believed me-
yes. he would. And it was you who broke his
heart-and mine, too. And land L" with
sobs breaking her words. II loved you once
better than all the world, and I believed you
loved me, too"
"Phil-" he began.
"No," she interrupted him, II won't listen-I
can't. My faith is gone; my hope is gone, and
all my heart is lost You have made me so hard
and wicked that cannot even forgive you. DO
not think shall ever forgive you. You have
been too false and cruel"
She caught up her flowers, sobbing still, and
hurried away up to her own room. She threw
herself upon the bed in all her fnery and lay
there holding fast to the roses her tears falling
fast and heavy upon them.
kitty will tell him that have them," she
said. And perhaps he will be angry"
She looked very unlike the Philippa of the
night before when Kitty arrived the next morn
Ing. ana she lOOReu 80 III anu unhappy EDaL
Kitty glad she had been discreet enough to
come alone.
"You have had bad night, Phil she said
81 have not had a good one" Phil answered.
Kitty regarded her with honest sympathy She
did not believe in beating about the bush. She
was an honest aud business-like young woman.
eKt was her way to be candid
"And can mention some one else who has
had bad night l think, Phil" she said cour-
ageously.
Pills eyes met hers with some unsteadiness
and reluctance, but Kitty was not to be baffied
by a momentary embarrassment so very natural.
81 mean Wilfred Carnegie Phil" she added.
1t was evident to Phippa that she might as
we'll make up her mind to be frank, too Eva
sion was not only out of She question, but wouid
be unjust to the warm hearted creature who
wished to be her friend.
cit is not so hard for him as 1t is for me,
Kitty" she broke out HE is not so unhappy
as am
Phil and let me tell you"
1t is needless to repeat what she did tell her.
She had great deal to say, however, and it all
tended to point. Hopeless and reckless as
he was Wllfred had not outlived his tenderness.
The momentary glimpse of Phils face as she
stood in the doorway had quite broken him down.
Only Kitty's presence of mind had saved him
from betraying himself Kitty Bayham had
managed too many youthful love affairs not to
comprehend at once what his sudden agitation
meant And so she had managed to distract
general attention and had manouvred for a quiet
seat, where they might remain unnoticed.
"And then" she said to Phil Il made him tell
me the whole story, from beginning to end, poor
boy And when he had finished 1 saw plain
enough where the trouble lay and knew | could
understand il better than he did. Bless you! l
knew the ways Of the woodland think know
you Phil, and so told him and gave him bit
of scolding for being so foolish and passionate
And it did him good, could see, just to feel that
somebody had faith in you and would not be-
lieve anything against you"
Phil smiled sadly. 1t comforted her little to
hear that he could not quite forget; but she was
not at all hopeful.
"You are very good, Kitty, and thank you"
she said. But do not think we shall ever see
each other again Even if he forgave me he
could not forget, and have nothing but my own
word to defend myself with. And could not
marry man who might look back and feel that
his faith faltered-though he will never ask me
again to be his wife, | am sure"
"Well, never mind, said Kitty, kissing her.
''Never mind. Only keep up your spirits and
remember what l say-he loves you after all"
THANK you" said Phil again.
To her great relief her father was absent dur
ing greater part of that day; but the next day
be did not go out at ALL 1t was one Of his bad
days, and he lay upon the sofa fairly exhausted
He looked so i'll that Philippians heart began to
melt toward him. She prepared dainty dish
or so to tempt his appetite, but he ate nothing,
though he seemed truly grateful for her reent-
ing Toward night he became feverish and
restless and could not be STILL He left the sofa
and came to the fire, where Phil was sitting.
~ am weaker than usual tonight. Phil" he
said.
Yes" said Phil, 81 am very sorry"
He gave her faint smile.
care you sorry2" he asked, and then added
not urgently: Eyes, I think you are my dear
You have been very unhappy and you are very
young; but think you would forgive, if--under
some circumstances Phil"
She heard him coughing all the night, but in
the morning, to her surprise he came to break
fast dressed as if to 20 out
''Tou are not well enough to go out" she said
anxiously.
II shall be worse tomorrow. he answered,
"and there IS something must do"
When she looked at his face and saw how
worn and sharp it was, how hollow aud bright
his eyes were, her fears increased She could
not let him go without making a last effort TO