The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-03


companion, from under her dropped lashes, and
her glance was in a small way quite witaering.
You say Miss Farqnhar is the girl who be-
ievesF' she said. s'Does she believe your
''She has led me to infer" he answered,
'that such is the extent of her weakness At
any rate. she believes in a shade more than
you do"
ut would be very easy" broke forth the i'm
petuous little Tartar; sit would be very easy for
her to believe in youa thousand-a million times
more than don
"Ah!' said Ernest, 'that means you do not be-
lieve in me at all-which is cruel
"You never had yourself any beliefs holly
answered the girl. "You were never innocent
enough to have them. And it is you who do all
the harm. 1t is only such people as you that are
safe"
His soft, well Astounding voice broken upon her.
as he rose carelessly from his chair
Have / ever done you any harms" he asked
her, looking down in her poor, little passionate
face.
He used the last fragments of his power over
her we'll, and he was so near to her that she
trembled, and sudden emotional tears rushed to
her eyes. It was final throb but she beat it
back, Notwithstanding.
YES" she said. II thought had learned to
despise you as much as l could; but you have
taught me to despise you more"
MY dear Phir-he began, with almost inso
lent serenity.
She drew back from him. with half shudder,
and her tears over.
cried 'She is girl, too, apd-and I despise
you more for her sake"
Singularly enough, he had the grace to color
family.
you think that in marrying her, am not
"LoveW exclaimed Phil. sit is not you who
should even speak of it! You do not know what
it means"
perhaps have my own translation of it," he
answered Il think l must have. For my way
| n Nv in 1nua will han
with any other woman"
The tears were dried that instant Phil re-
garded him with eyes steady ard bitter She
was not sentimental little fool, though she had
called herself one
"Have you outlived it," she asked 81 hope
you have. Don't you know better than to talk
that Kind of nonsense to me-now."
He was so far a selfish. utterly unprincipled
scamp that her very spirit piqued him into be-
ing more daring.
mo, do not" he said to her. "And it's so.
because have not outliSed it even, though l am
going to marry Isabel Farquhar."
He bent forward, as if he would nave touched
her caressingly, but in this he ventured too
much. Phil stopped him. with voice clear and
ringing, Notwithstanding its low, tense pitch
If you much touch my hand" she said
Il will call my father. have done with you for
ever and ever"
Forever and everl" he echoed
Forever and ever"
Amen" he said, struggling his shoulders, and
Went DacK TO his chair.
He had not counted upon this. somehow. In
one respect he had not spoken falsely AS far
as it was possible for him to love a woman, he
had loved Phil. Her unusual type of beauty
her pure and high spirit, even the very impetu
BUSINESS Of her temper, had held attrac tions for
him. If he could have afforded to indulge in
luxurious whims, he could have made up his
mind TO marry Der, and there was no other
woman whom he had ever 30 far honored. AS it
was, be had exerted himself to his utmost to win
harA It, Aok - a. x,;A, -
after 1t was won; and having won it, he ratherre-
GREETED the necessity of sacrificing it to Isabel
Farquhar Phil had been figure in his every
day life for years. AS a spoiled scape grace lad,
he had been disciple of her father and he had
matured into something very much worse under
the same praiseworthy tuition. He had squan-
dered his small patrimony, and earned an unenvi-
able reputation, and at last had turned to the
final resort of making good marriage Then
he had met Isabel Farquhar, who Scotch
heress, without unpleasant parental ircum-
ORANGES, and who had beauty and generous faith
enough to have touched better mans heart.
And the end of it was that he was to marry Isa
bel Farquhar and Phil, with her hot temper,
and dash, and lovable oddities, was to be sac
riiced.
He tried to feel as sardonic as usual, but the
pretty, scornful face, resting against the chair
back, disturbed and annoyed him. 1t WAS SO
evident that she had done with him" in very
truth. Miss Farquhar had eyes like wild
hyacinths, and the 'fairn hair of most fair
Scotch women; Phils eyes were the tawny
brown, that one sometimes sees with dense,
black laaheS and hair-a tint far more tawny
than brown, they were such eyes as one may
we'll remember lifetime after having seen them.
Phil was not the typical woman Of any country.
She had an obstinate. rare type of her own AS
she sat in the old, creaking chair it became a
kind of shabby throne. Her exquisite little chin
was thrown up, her eyes looked as black as their
lashes her cheeks were warm with color. Not
wthstandiDg his selfish worldliness the man who
had given her up found her beautiful, tantaliz-
ing, veXatous.
But he knew better than to speak to her
again. During the few minutes which elapsed
before Fairfax returned to the room each re-
manned silent.
When both the men were ready to 90 out
Ernest gave Phil a farewell glance-a stealthy
questioning one. He rather hoped that she
would have the grace to relent.
Good bye" he said.
She did not finch however. She raised her
eyes to his without even momentary hesitation.
Good bye" she answered.
She knew that it was sort of absolute fare
we'll, but she did not hold out her hand, though
he made slight gesture as if he would have ex-
tended his.
Good bye" she repeated cooy So he was
obliged to turn his heel, biting his lip. and
follow her father out of the room. And that was
the last of him.
CHAPTER III.
Three months later there came fine morning
upon which father and daughter sat at break
fast together in mood not altogether untinged
with excitement Philip Fairfax appeared to
his greatest advantage Phls wretched little
savings had once more enabled him to make an
elaborate and truly artistic toilet Upon this
occasion, in fact, he wore wedding garment"
He was prepared to share in the festivities at
tendant upon the marriage of his friend Mr..
Ernest Duval. All at once however, sharp,
unpleasant cought interrupted him.
Phil glanced at him anxiously. The ominous
flush was on his cheeks; his eyes were too ex-
qusitely bright and clear; his hands too frail.
and fair. and tremulous.
'''You are not WE'LL governor" said Phil.
''Your cough is troubling you again.
1T always troubles me of late" he said. cit
is odd how it sticks to me-even though it is
such trifng affair.""
II have been thinking" he said, shortly after
wards. and he smiled more sweetly than ever as