The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-24
CHAPTER X.


Duval," he said. my dear Phil" apostrophiz-
ing that young person in the spirit; ''you are
beautiful little fool"
Aud them with his promise to Wiifred Car
negis still echoing in the room, he sat down,
with exquisite composure, to write letter TO
the girl, detailing the whole transaction. He
was disturbed by no conscientious scrupes
Il was quite touched" he wrote pathetically.
'1,he young man displayed delicate chivalrous-
ness one does not often see in this common place
age am not sentimental person myself but
must say 1 have for once been reused to
earnest admiration for Mr.. Wilfred Carnegie.
Your influence over these people, my dear Phil
ippa, is boundless. You may do anything with
them you like. Certainly, your position is a
most enviable one Make the most of it"
This letter reached Brackencleugh before Will
fred himself. who was detained by business
Phil read it in an absolute transport Of shame
and bitterness of spirit. From the moment that
she had finished it her old delusion vanished.
Her uneasy suspicious were realities. Her
childish dream was over. She saw her blindly
beloved idol as he was. He was under obliga-
tions to these people, such as might have bowed
him to the earth; and yet he could betray them
aad plot against them with a serene face. Ae
had lied to them about Duval he had lied to
them about his promise. he would have lied to
them about anything else.
'sHow am to bear it," she cried. GLOW am
to remain silent, and never let them know that
] am grateful and love them"
She could scarcely wait until Wilfreds return.
She could not bear the burden Of such secret.
The very night after she received his letter she
wrote to her father
81 will promise not to tell them that heard
the truth from you" she said, ''but will not
promise not to tell them that have heard It,"
And reading her words, Fairfax shrugged his
shoulders, as he had done before.
my dear Philippa." he observed. succinctly,
A'you are beautiful little fool"
At the beginning of the next week Wilfred
came home. He came home in the evening and
dinner had been kept waiting for him. AS Phil
1ppa rose to greet him the bright eagerness of
her welcome surprised him. Her little hand
Rrasped his warmly, she blushed like rose, and
hereyes appealed to him to believe in the SINGER
ity of her pleasure.
"I-we have missed you, every day" she said.
Every hour, we might say" added Mrs. Doro-
thy, looking at him with affectionate delight and
admiration
And now Philippa spoke up, bravely.
cousin Dorothy and-Wil," she said, II think
Il am sure I ought to tell you that-that 1 have
guessed"
'Guessedr exclaimed Will. "Guessedw and
5lushed crimson.
Mrs. Dorothy's confusion was quite as trans
parent
Guessed, my dear2" ehe faltered
IF we had more friends, l might not have
guessed so soon" said Phil, in tears 'But as it
as, how could help being sure, that no one else
AoVed me well enough to be so good and gener
Gus. When you went away, Will wondered
why it was, but as soon as l read my fathers
letter. telling me that somebody had helped him
out OF his dreadful trouble, knew who that
somebody must be- And though In your kind
thought for me. You wished to let me remain
Ignorant of the great debt l owe you, cannot
help but be glad that l do know all about it,
because-because l want to thank you thou
sand times, with all my heart and soul, because
1t makes me love you-both of you, Cousin
Dorothy and Wil-more than ever"
Her cheeks were wet. but her eyes were full of
innocent joy and gratefulness.
Fhe knelt by Mrs. Dorothy, and kissed her
hands that lay in her lap. again and again.
Then she rose aud went to Wilfred, holding out
both hands
''Please to shake hands with me" she said, and
when he did SO her smile was so sweet and
as he had done the day they sat together upon
the hillside.
CHAPTER XII.
Philippa found life pleasanter than ever after
this. She had no need for anxiety since her
father was at ease. Indeed, that gentleman,s
next letter was surprise to her; 1t was so tact
ful, so touchingly ingenious. His health was
Improving rapidly; he was not without money;
he was beginning to enjoy existence again
AS the weather became warmer Phil and Will
fred spent the greater part of their time out of
doors. They followed the impulse of every
within that seized them. The big rooms echoed
with their laughter; they were childishly
happy, and full Of their enjoyment of the flying
spring.
Perhaps they were beginning to enjoy some
thing else more thoroughly; Wilfred was sure
shat ne was. Philippa was not very definite in
her views upon the subject. Her heart burned
within her, as she reminded herself that the
man who married her would, unconsciously,
marry Mr.. Philip Fairfax. AS to Wilfred
Carnegie-well, of course, she was specially firm
concerning Wilfred Carnegie. He at least
should never be wronged and saddled with an
irksome and humiliating incumbrance. But
notwithstanding her private resolutions. there
were times when she felt that she melted iGno
1niniousy times when Wifred was more than
usually bright and lovable, as when certain
4atns worked with him. Times when they had
wandered up the hillside to that fsvorite nook
of theirs, when Wilfred stretched himself upon
the grass to be charming when sun and wind,
blue sky and blue water seemed to combine to
entrap her into being subdued and overruled.
1t was after such day as this that the aspect
or affairs changed for them. On reaching the
house, after morning spent on the hills, she
noticed. as she passed through the entrance door
travelling carriage driving away and heard
voices in one of the parlors. When she was
ready to descend she met servant upon the
stairs. and the girl spoke, supposedly:
mrs Oswald did not know you had come, too,
MISS" she said. 1.-THE family from Strathdhu
have arrived"
"a whole familyl" said Philippi, Struggling
her shoulders.
''Mr. Farquhar miss. and his married daugh-
ter. and-there's the gentlemen now, miss" in a
hurried whisper and with glance downward
''Philippa, standing at the head of the stairs
cast her eyes carelessly below. and the next in
slant drew herself up. haughtily, coloring scarlet
A man, crossing the hall, had stopped and stood
ment.
An, Philippa!" he said. SIS it possibleY How
GO you do7"
There was no alternative but to descend and
return his greeting coolly as he had offered it,
Mr Ernest Duval lad the best of the game for