Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-04-25
IN ONE SHORT YEAR.

obliterate, forget one short year of the 4.
he has lived be might be a happy man; OF
as happy as a mortal may be, who recog
nizes the responsibilities and duties Of life
An artist should have painted her, A
sculptor should have fixed that attitude i'm
moyably in marblel She lay on a couch
wheeled round by the fire Her pose was
fun of that grace which appeals SO elo-
quently to the eye capable Of approaching
beauty and symmetry Of form Moreover
the classical purity of her style was bound
to tell upon a man OF the Rev. Percival
Blalse's good taste. The thick dark shining
hair was cooled simply on the well-propor.
toned head. Her dress was plain black
but fitting her 30 as to show every line Of
that splendid figure. The dark eyes
lastes and eyebrows looked darker, the
bright red lips redder, from the contras,
with the white face. White, but, if such
words can convey the idea, warm-white
II color was wanting on the cheek, no enc
would call her pale; her complexion spoke
of warmth, life, and health
And Percival marveled again that such a
creature should bury herself in such place
as Chelston.
She greeted him smilingly. She gave him
not diminutive. A tiny hand would have
been & deforInity with a woman Of her
splendid build After light skirmish OF
pretty sayings they settled down to general
conversation, which touched on literature,
music, painting, even politics
Spare me q few minutes more, said Mrs
Russell, when he arose to go. Il have some
thing to say"
He reseated himself willingly enough
Il suppose you are all pulling your
heads about me" she said gravely; your
mother and sisters, for instance.'
This direct attack confused the rector
"Chelston is a little place, he said
And like all little places" she continued,
much exercised about a newcomer
should like this 60 be known / have no
wish for society, and bring no credentials
Ny story is this: My father was well-to-
do merchant in Liverpool His name was
Bennett Ny mother died when 1 was an
infant was an only child, and was ut
terly spoiled. My fathers kindness | re
paid by marrying a man whom he particu-
larly disliked My husband died three
years ago; my father shortly afterward.
He forgave me on his death-bed, and left
me all he had to leave He might well for
give me- had long before repented of my
obstlnacy and folly"
A hard look came into her eyes as she
spoke
You were unhappy" said the rector
sympathizingly.
"More than unhappy-poor, unhappy,
and-ill-treated. But that concerns no one
save myself"
She was silent Her eyes looked FAR
away. Her lips hardened and grew thin
with a bitter smile Percival Blake, watch
1ng her, knew that she had past she would
fain forget
Then he took his leave, and went to per-
form less agreeable if less dangerous duties
His account Of his mornings visit spread
CONSERVATION through the rectorv. With
discreditable want of tact he praised Mrs
Russell to the skies His mother and sisters
at once took the alarm Fercival, after all,
might not be cut out for a bachelor The
joint regency was threatened-not by one
who would be suitable spouse for the
rector Of Chelston, but by terribly beauti-
full young widow, about whom no one knew
anything
But unhappily that son began to manifest
a strength OF will and determination to
walk his own way, and, moreover, walked
that way SO far and SO openly that the folks
about Chelston began to talk; but even tina.
troubled the rector very little.
He had long left off deceiving himself
His fate had met him He loved this
woman with all the strength of his really
strong nature, and was striving, in deadly
earnest, to make her love him. His passion
had swept away all domestic barriers
Mother, sisters, everything faded into insig-
nificance beside it. Life without that one
woman's love was worthless The touch of
her hand, the look Of her dark eyes, the
sound Of her musical voice, thrilled him.
The rector of Chelston loved at last-loved
as only one man out of 900 can love. The
ardent glowing passion of a mantle love
OF lifetime.
So one bright afternoon in April he
walked over to the Hollies and told Philippa
Russell he loved her. He spoke fiercely and
sternly, almost like one under compulsion
In fact, he all but commanded her to return
his love, but perhaps she liked him none the
less for his masterful bearing.
For while she was silent. She stood with
her white fingers interlaced Her downcast
eyes gave her wooer no sign, but a wave of
color crossed the healthy pallor of her
cheek Then she raised her eyes, and her
LOOK set every pulse in his body throbbing
In another moment he would have thrown
his arms around her.
But she checked him, although she still
gazed at him. She spoke; her words were
strange, but there was something in her
voice which, as yet, he had never detected
there.
Tell me hew much you love me.n she
said
Il can not, he whispered In truth, he
dared not even tell himself
m ~
iterated
Far above any being in the world
A scornful smile made her look even more
beautiful.
"Pcrciyal. listen, 1 love you. l love
you"
She leaned little way toward him The
action was unmistakable His arms were
around her: his lips on her lips From that
moment life held but one thing for the rec
tor of Chelston.
Tell me; tell me now, Percival,n whis-
pered Philippa, as she lay passive in his
arms
Il would kill you rather than you should
love another"
She laughed deiiriously.
"Sweet. sweet love-" she cried Il believe
you love your
Then she laid her head on his shoulder and
sobbed
He adored her, yet he feared her. He
was her master, yet her slave She bad
wrung words from him which no man,
certainly no clergyman, should dare to say;
but she had told him and shown him she
loved him he led her to a seat
Sweet love, / love you. Hold my hand
leave me, she whispered
He obeyed with n white face. She spoke
for some minutes in low voice The
gravity OF her communication was shown
by the change which the rectors face and
bearing underwent Save by enc or two
smothered ordinations. he did not inter
Fupt her. and when she had finished speak
ing. sat silent and motionlesS She drew
her hand from his and rose His eyes fol
lowed her, and at last, with dry lips, b
whispered:
This is the truth,
"This is the TRUTH" she said. moving
toward the door. Farewell leave here
tomorrow"
At the door she fingered and looked back
Their ewes met A shivcr ran through the
mans strong frame Then, like one who
makes, fer good or i'll, sudden resolution
he sprang to his feet
what do care he cried Il love You.
I can not live without you Let it be all
forgotten, or torne together"
Once more be embraced her. She made |
no resistance. no attemp: TO conceal the JOY
his decision gave her But presently. draw |
ing a little away from HIM, she said:
"Percival, il you give me your love In |
r-,;fe Of al IL vnusx Ia forevor Nothing