The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-15
Romance of a Hallmark.

marble steps and slid rapidly to the bot
tom. On his way, however, he eacoun-
tered gentleman who was leisurely de-
scending before him, whipped him
briskly from his feet and brought him
down by his side to the pavement below.
This unexpected introduction was &C,
eompanied by prompt removal of their
respective hats. Philips rolled down to
the curbstone, and the strangers whirled
along the pavement to be stopped and re-
turned by an opportune bOotblack. For.
eunately no bodily damage was done to
sither of the embarrassed young men,
who instantly picked themselves up,
with mutually unnecessary apologies
Philip, perhaps, had some raison d 'etre,
Is he had been the aggressive party, but
The same haste to catch train that had
occasioned the rendering of the apology
made it naturally very brief. He barely
took time to assure himself that his fel-
low-voyager to the sidewalk was not
hurt, then clapped his hat on his head
and rushed onward with the same speed
that defeated itself few seconds preyi-
Gus.
We state that Philip clapped his hat
on his head, but the truth is, he clapped
on hat in every way resembling it, yet
rs unlike it as a hat that we have never
worn is unlike the hat of our everyday
wear. Philip had not gone a block
when he realized that he had made q
mistake, and exchan3 n3ed hats with the
stranger, whom he had otherwise incom-
NODDED by hurling him down stairs. It
would eem that Destiny had bcen gra-
tuitously unkind through Philips un-
meant agency to this unoffensive way
farer, and for no apparent reason but her
own wilful fancy. However, it would
probably be useless to return to the scene
Of their rencontre, even if Philip had
had time. So he contented himself with
examining the hat as he sped up by the
Elevated to his train at Forty-second
street, and was glad to find in it hat
mark, the initials W. W. c., neatly en-
broidered on a band OF dark garnet
silk and oruamented with sprays of floss
silk vine. No one had ever embroidered
hat mark for Philip, and the rightful
owner of the misappropriated head.cov-
ering became at once invested with a
sort of romance in Philips mind. The
hat of itself was anything but romantic,
being one of those hard, stiff Derbies,
that seem to have been invented for no
other purpose than to counteract any pos
sible good looks on the part of the owner.
''W. W. c." Philip pondered not a
little over these cabalistic signs of
feminine care and interest; he examined
them so closely, indeed, that, after the
manner of ardent explorers, he made
an unlooked-for discovery. Under tn:
little silken band was tucked firmly
Slip of folded paper. Thinking it
might contain perhaps the full com
plement of the initials, Philip opened
and read it. A great flush passed over
his face, and his heart quickened with
sympathy. On the paper were written
these words, in delicately feminine
hand:
"WILL-H you care to preserve this little
souvenir, you will some time know that l
love you; too late, perhaps, for happiness,
but not too late for truth. God grant that
you may safely cross the ocean, and cross
back again to me-"
That was all. Philips ardent soul
thrilled with tenderness as he reverently
replaced the little scrap of paper in its
hiding-place, and continued to look
down at it, like one in dream. How
could he put it on again, with this said
secret lowering above his brain2 1t
seemed sacrilege that he, stranger,
- Ia W
with this "burden of an honor into
which he was not born" Of course
necessity compelled him to wear it until
he could procure one of his own, but the
pathos of those few yearning words gave
him no peace. Even when he had ceased
to be conscious of their actual proximity
TO his curly dark locks, and was again
his own man, at least to the extent of o
new Derby, he was not rid of their
haunting spell. Tie advertisements he
paid for in behalf of "W. W. c." would
have purchased half dozen hats, but
they brought him no sign nor token
from the missing owner; and as time
wore on. the strange hat with its pathetic
secret lay hidden in box in Philips
wardrobe, and became thing of the
past.
Meanwhile Fate, spinning her web of
many tissues, spun for Philip, among
other things, hallmark of his own. 1t
was very, very pretty, and very, very
precious, and Philip felt like king who
is for the first time crowned with his
royal inheritance, when he knew that
he was adjudged worthy to wear the
favor of slender lily fingers whose light
est touch had thrilled him like concen-
tration of electric batteries. Fatc's
name, on this occasion, was Myra Browne.
She was fair and light haired, with pretty
gray eyes, and a soft independence of
mind and manner. Philip had fallen in
love with her at first sight, but she had
only grown by slow degrees from indif-
ference to interest, from interest to friend
ship, from friendship towel, that
next step is scarcely perceptible, but her
progress eventually resu ted in glorious
attainment for Philip. He could scarcely
trust himself to the contemplation of his
own bliss when he realized that the hap
piness of this strong yet delicate and
impassioned soul was given into his keep
ing.
II bring you the first real love of my
heart" she said, looking him through
and through with her clear, sincere gray
eyes. "Always remember this, Philip
the first real love of my heart"
Philip stood abashed before the purity
of her gaze, remembering how be had
written poems to this girl and that, and
pressed pretty hands with fervor that
now rose up to accuse him.