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


The Bayhams came the next day and took
charge of her and were sympathetic as usual
Barnes Bayham took all responsibility off her
shoulders, and Mrs. Bayham and the girls cried
over her and petted her.
"You will go home with US, my DEAR" said
Barnes, on the day of the funeral, 'and Mrs. B.
and the girls will do their best to make you COM
Portable We are poor folks. Phil, and shabby
enough at best, but there isn't one among US
who isn't fond of you. and-we!l as say, we
will do our best"
You, indeed" protested Mrs. Bayham. at
isn't me. with six helpless girls of my own, as
wouldn't try to be a mother to one, that's all
alone in the world without a soul to look after
her."
"And we'll be sisters to you, Phil" cried the
six in chorus.
So they carried Phil home with them, and
helped her to make her two mourning dresses.
and Kitty trimmed her black hat, and, in fact,
the whole family were as affectionate, and unself
ish and warm of heart as it was possible for
human beings TO be. Kitty specially took Phil
under her charge. See shared her room with
her, and was almost motherly in her constant
attentions to the poor child.
1t not until several days had elapsed that
she spoke again of Wllfred. Phil was not very
well, and looked sad and listless She quite
dropped during the first week, in spite of all the
efforts made to rouse her.
1t was at the beginning of the second week
that Kitty referred to Wi1tred Carnegie
phil" she said ''you have not asked me
where Wilfred Carnegiei is"
They were sitting together in the little back
room, Phil at her friends feet, her black dress
making her sad young face appear additionally
colorless, in the dim light.
''No," she said. II have not asked. Why
should have asked. Kitty? What good would
it do2'
"He has not gone away yet" said Kitty.
~ wish-I wish he would" Phil faltered.
"But he won't" returned Kitty; ''at least he
won't until he has seen you again."
A certain significance in her tone caused Phil
to start
Until he has seen me-" she exclaimed
Kitty laid her hand on her arm as if she meant
to control her.
YES" she said. ''And he is coming to see
you this evening. He ought to be here now"
And she had hardly finished speaking before
there came summons at the door, and they
heard 'Gena answering. Phil sprang up. trem-
bling and faced Kitty almost reproachfully
"Oh. Kitty" she cried, 81 can't What must
dol"
'You must do nothing" said Kitty, stoutly.
"but stay here with me. and be brave girl. and
hear what he has to say. He mas something to
say, though do not know what it is. He has
heard something-learned something, and he has
only staid away because l would not let him
come at first. And you must not be a coward,
Phil; you must be woman and speak for your
self"
"They are in there" both heard 'Gena saying.
"You can go in"
And then, as the door opened. Kitty threw her
arm around Phil's waist and Phil hid her face
upon her shoulder.
Don't leave me, Kitty she said, 'dont go
away"
NO." said Viii. don't GO away, Kitty.
need you even more than she does. | want you
to stand by me. too"
But really he did not seem as if he required
any support. 1t was the impetuuus tender
lover shs had lost at Brackencleugh, who took
one of Phils hands prisoner, and held it fast
while he appealed to her.
Il you had not once told me that you loved
me, Phil, DEAR" he said, II should not have
dared to come here tonight. I have been
wretched enough, but deserved to be- know
now what injustice l did you. but if had loved
you less | could have been cooler and more pa
tient-that is my only excuse. The day your
father died he came to me-"
Phil lifted her face with sob.
"Ohl governor she said, was that twas
it thatl"
Eyes, said Wilfred. she said that he had
made mistake and wanted to set it all right,
and he showed me the letters you had written,
and he proved to me that had wronged you, af-
ter all. And he told me that he had come be-
cause he knew he had no time to spare"
''Oh! governor" cried Phil 'You did love
me, you must have loved me-"
Eyes, my dear, said sensible Kitty. HE
loved you in his way-everybody's way is not
alike, Phil, any more than people are alike them
selves But love OF any sort Is good thing to
have-anybodys love-"
And should have come before" said Will
fred. 'but Kitty would not let me. She said you
ought to have rest
Bat, when saw you were not resting, gave
In" Kitty interposed. "There Phil you under
stand now, and you must forgive him, and make
friends"
"But." said Phil, family, "what told you at
Brackencleugh was true, Viii. was bad enough
when l went there II was only when-when
began
kitty Kittyp Barnes Bayham called out
from the door of the studio ''Where's Kitty
Here's Ruthven asking for Kitty
Kitty drew her arm from Pills waist
''You can spare me now" she said. "It's little
Jack Ruthven who wants me, and he has a love
affair in hand, too"
There was scarce yards distance between
the two when she left them alone together, but