The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1888-06-01

For nearly three weeks Mr.. Phillips spent
every evening of his life In Balle's sick room
floating along delightfully."- In Il steady current
of happiness; but currents OF all kinds, even
of III luck, are apt to meet with some sort OF
n check sooner or later, and IL Is ALWAYS a
sudden one. Lansing had srent long, bliss.
ful evening watching Eda ut her embroidery
and incidentally playing draughts with Bake.
He hal allowed himself to he beaten shame
fully. ms usual. and the game concluded with
much hiarity on the part of the victor.
| SWELL Eda, you Just ought to see us down
at the office sometimes. You'd never think
| we'd be such good friends as we now are.
would she. Lanse!' Bake was living back on
the lounge looking calmly reminiscent. 1--WE
always fight abour six times n day. Tell you
he's rot q temper. You'd never think so to
zee him like lac is up here"
Lansing smiled propitately. He had u
temper but battered himself that its exist
| ence was concealed alike from friends and
| foes. He had certainly been careful not TO
betray it. above all to Bake.
"Gracious-never forget the day hid his
umbrella. though. Ii was pouring, and he
had TO take his girl down to the Staten Island
ferry. | stuck the umbrella up under Bill.
lines' overcOat in the closet. Old Billings he
went in and found il after, L.anse was gone.
Tell YOU. next morning, had to dodge. soon
as ever came in, Lanse he hollered. Baker.
Pm going to break your blamed young neck
only ne said worse than blamed, You bet"
Eda looked over at Lansing in reproachful
establishment. and then turned her eyes, full
of tender sympathy. on the young ruflian,
who Law back calmly on his pillow, looking
like n cherub, and manufacturing Wholesale
lies.
"That's not so Harry said poor Lansing,
helplessly. "You know it isn't. Miss Eda,
hone YOU don't believe"
"Oh, YOU amt going to own up to it, said
Dab Tolerance S('ateh VOIIf j don't
care. though, as long as my neck's all right"
~ didn't say it, protested Lansing with flu
tile eaDerness, but even while he spoke Eda |
rose quietly. and, with sadly serious Elk
cuse me-" left the room.
''see here, Bake. that isn't right-it isn't
fair. You know | never use such language.
What will YOUR sister think?'
at was fun to make her look like that"
said Bake, with Il smile of real enjoyment.
"She thinks you're nice man.
"But you did not tell the truth. You gave
her a wrong impression"
sob. well: what do you care? You're my
friend. You're good enough for me. Be-
Sides" with nonchalence, ''she's engaged
Lansing said nothing His life stood still.
He was looking down at the red and black
squares on the checkerboard, and feeling that
he would probably never care to do anything
else again. OF course there must be some
hing he ought to say, in reply to this am
Eda was engaged. Eda was
IN acquaintance of his-almost a friend-but
Lansing said nothing. He felt that if he
poke at ALL he could only gasp forth: Bake,
shaI die. If Eda marries anyone else /
hall die"
Bake did not seem to note the fact of his
Hence. He yawned and continued: ''Her f.;
CLOVIS coming next week. He lives in Bos-
on. / guess they'll be married then. 1t
Won't be her fault, if they amt"
"She is fond of him?' Lansing managed
hev dropped from his lips.
sob, is she? You ought to see her hang
round his neck. ellis listener started up as |
he had been stung.) "Say, If Stiff,y Bates !;
ONES around asking for me you just tell him :.
going now!" Lansing was reaching wildly "
)r his hat. 1T amt o'clock. Oh, look I
ere, don't 80 yet" a
az must" said Lansing. quickly, and he
poke the truth. He shook Bake's hand and =
AIRED a moment wretchedy at the bright, !.
different young face. with its strange sweet n
keness to that other face on which he must Il
OF look again, and went out from PARADISE II
it'll an aching heart. H.
Say, Phillips. when are you coming up? =
-other thinks you're mean. She says you ~ :,
Igut to come and see them sometimes e.
Since his recovery Bake had been aggres- =
vely friendly as well as oppressively impu- az a,
,nt to Mr.. Phillips, while the forlorn meek u,
,ss of that genteman's demeanor had been IN II,
source of unending comment among his III
How sufferers in the latter case. :" "
'If you want to see Eda you will have to :"
me soon. She'll be gone next week, sure
.'That SOP, asked Lansing, lightly. smiling
victim on the rack might smile. -
'sYes: she's off, settled and done for. Say, al
YOU come this week, don't come on Thurs or
VI won't be home, and mother won't M
her,
Nor Eda:' pa
.Oh. Eda; she's most always home. She W
S to be now m
No more was said, Bake's attention being -
ddenly diverted to a cat OH an adjoining "
Of. mi
But when Thursday evening came it found no
;. Phillips mind set to firm purpose. At an
o'clock he had rung the doorbell of Bake's ed
ode and was shaking hands with Eda. to,
Pm all Alone" she explained to him at nv
ce, and if actually seemed as if she expect oo
the statement to defer him from entering. ca,
appeared to strengthen him in the con- Dir,
nv course. however. and he followed her, hri
til much determination,in into the coy parlor tbi
ere he had seen her mt work so often. bro
The looked pale little, but kind and pretty att
| very, very bright. oul
.ansing could never tell what they talked for
tut for the first few moments, but from or.
time he rose and crossed the room and
down by her on the little lounge he re-
mbered everything. the
he glanced at him in establishment as he the
K his seat. wv
EIa !, he said. quickly, ~ came to con shi
tuIate YOU, but | can't; not rs l ought to. BET
ish and hope you may be happy-only- IN
l-you know, dear, don't you, that l eth
I'd YOU? Yes; and it is hard to wish you
Nv with some one else!" He had both we
hands by this time. II felt that must GOO
ne and tell you, and-and say-good-by.' we
(;ood-by?' she repeated slowly, looking at 7
with earnest eyes. ''What for! Are you con
lg away u,,; .,o not
Pm not goinS away 'p'i"'i' oi '"' fist
noun. n
Well, surely. am not and
Nor' supposedly. ''Your brother said lad lad
after your marrriage-"
Whatw 1
That after your marriage you would not Diet,
here any more" tair
NV marriage. / don't understand you, ofte
Phillips She looked both proud and OF Q
8ake-Harry told me-" he faltered. ''Per-
! YOU did not wish it known! He told to
YOU were to be married next week." ladi
sn't he mischef.' she said, with gentle as Il
,ecation, but blushing beautifully. 1.-The and
F. Married" o OH !
/ isn't true:' and
'ruey of course not. should think you anu
Id know Uarry's fun by this time.'
md you're not engaged!'
lot even engaged" shaking her head r.
a contented smile. "a.
,h, Eda. Eda. | can't believe it. Are you thlt
Nav tell YOU how | love your woi
it indeed it did not take much telling. No it.
lavish outlay of words Is needed when lars
s clasp hands ana I3u.s ~ are iiee'- ing
md that young a-a-that--ilarry! Oh, LII
is YOU could know how miserable have ne ~
:" III
know how miserable I've been. But, of and
.e. we won't blame him; he would Their
Will Ugly make any one suileT. lie u sucn ran