The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-03
aPrSnfed BY special Arrangement Copyrighted 1885,.
FHRFORIUNESOP PHILlPPA FAIRFAX
By Mrs. FRANCES HoDesoN BURNETT,
AHtaor Of "a Fair Barboriam.'' That Loss o. Lon
ale's ''Through One Administration" Etc, Etc.
CHAPTER I.

She could not easily have been o prettier girl
than she was; but she might, very easily, have
been happier looking one. There was such
utter desolation and discomfort on her face, and
1t was such very young face. that it's misery
seemed unnatural And it was not only her
face, but her very figure and posture, told OF
low spirits and inward rebellion.
She sat upon the hearth rug, her hand clasp
ing her knee school girl fashion, her pretty fore
head wrinkled and frowning at space Few girls
Of seventeen have borne sharp an ache in
their hearts as it was her lot to bear at this mo-
ment, but few girls have lived the life Philippa
Fairfax had. Life had begun for her at time
whea most children In the nursery, and it
had been life full Of hard, and often bitter ex-
periences. And here was an experience more
bitter than the rest-more conclusive to that
stubborn ache, and worse still. more humiliating.
81 have had good many things to believe in
my time" she said alone to the empty room.
And I have taught myself to believe them but
somehow never thought 1 should have to be-
1ieve this. And yet" she added with sudden
sharpness, ''why didn't think 500 What reason
had to have faith in him--or any one like him.
What real, honest good was there about him.
that / should trust himl There wasn't any,
passIonately. 81 never respected him when l
loved him most I don't see what I loved him
FOR. There must be something wrong in me, too
90 / could never have loved him at all. He never
loved me. am weak, shallow, little fool, a
weak, shallow, sentimental little fool"
She shook her small, clenehed hand fercely-
at her own weakness, and shalowness, and SEN
timent, it may be supposed as there was moth
ing else to shake it at
81 hate and despise myself" she cried. II
hate and despise myself" And then her childish
tempest ended in a rush of tears. 'Ah!" she
said, her voice dying down into a whisper, al
most as if she was plying herself. "How un-
happy / ami"
She had hidden her face in her hands and her
tears were dropping fast. But suddenly there
game to her the sound of lateh-key turned
IN the front door, and then some one entered in
hurry and ran up the staircase and into the
room, almost before she had time to spring to
her feet and pretend to be looking at something
on the mantlepiece.
"Phil, my DEAR said the newcomer ''you will
have to go down and see that diaboical scoun
urel, Hilbert [ have just given him the slip.
am afraid he saw me- Tell him am In Paris
anything will DO. Nobody manages those un-
mitigated rufians better than you do, my dear. ;"
be passed through the room into the adjoining
sleeping apartment, giving the girl the gayest
and most delightful nod possible Men are not
usually graceful with creditor at their beeis;
bpt the time never was, and never had been,
when that adorable rascal, Philip Fairfax, was
unamiable or ungraceful.
The daughter In obedience to her fathers
command, went down stairs and, after an angry
alteration on the part of the creditor, finally
succeeded in getting rid of him. Poor girl! 1t
was not the first time nor the last, that she had
10 play this part.
When she returned her father, sitting on the
most comfortable chair in the apartment,
greeted her with smile
''ghapks, my DEAR" he said amiably, Now,
you will be so good as to bring me my dressing
gown and slippers?"
Phil brought them without a word-a hand
some dressing gown and an equally handsome
pair Of slippers both of which articles she had
purchased herself, furnishing the sum which
paid for them out of her own little annuity.
She had worn many shabby bonnet for the
sake of this lovabe incubus of hers, but uxuries
were SO very becoming and so absolutely neces-
sary to him, that it was impossible to begrudge
any sacrifice made to obtain them.
Herfather drew cigar out of an embroidered
case, and lighting 1t, gave himself UP to the en-
S0yment of it. His posture was languid grace
Itself The small, long -ingered hand, holding
the weed, was simply an incompatible hand.
eyes was simply incompatible also. He looked
like man who had never done wrong or felt
pang in his life. It is quite certain that be
had never felt pang
ut has been very fortunate for me that
found you at home, Phil" he remarked.
II suppose 1t was" said Phil, dryly.
The conciseness of the reply and something in
the tone Of it attracted Philip Fairfaxs atten-
tiop His smile died away and he looked tender
~ disturbed-so tenderly disturbed that it would
have been hard to believe that he was not the
most affectionate and unselish of fathers.
My dear child, you are out of Sorts he said.
s'What is the matter9"
Nothing" Phil answered coloring up to the
roots of her hair.
Nothing" he repeated forgetting his little
breath of disturbance Immediately; and egoist
rs he was, coming back to himself "Ah, very
well. By the by, what is there for dinnerf
You will have to go to the restaurant" said
Phil. There is nothing to-day
n! shall have to go to the restaurant. And
II shall do very WE'LL There is enough for
yne. There ie a bit of that cold grouse and can
havo coffee-and besides, / am not hungry"
But that won't do. If there is not enough
&or me there is not enough for you l must send
you something-though. TO be sure, l am terri
bly, out of funds"-drawing out limp purse.
iYou must have something you know"
He was so earnestly impulsve about it that
Phil forgot to be gloomy. She was so fond of
bin and his charms that his irresponsible anna
Bile readiness always took her by storm. She
stepped forward and, taking the purse from him,
closed 1t and slipped the band over it, with an
imperious little snap
IF you send me anything. will do as I did
Che last time" she said. ~ won't touch 1t and
will save it for your supper and sit up until you
come home to eat it. l am not hungry in the
least And see how strong am am not like
you. You coughed all last night, governor,
darling"
This oddsounding title was one she had given
bim long ago. in her chiidhood-almost in her
babyhood. Nobody knew how she had lighted
upon it. Her pretty, girlish mother had laughed
II 1t and encouraged her fancy for it. Phil was
only fantastic episode to her. sometimes anus
Ing, often Troublesome; q puppet to be dressed
and played with when there money in the
house, to be neglected and kept behind the
scenes when funds were low Certainly she was
not regarded as a responsibility. Nobody con-
trolled her, in fact nobody troubled themselves