The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1888-02-23
Mr.. BENONTS STORY.

DR.. Banks, as sudden turn in the gravel
walk brought us almost face to face with
q man seated on a rustic bench. MIR,
Benoni Is friend Of mine, and is here On
q visit This last was said by way q
introduction in Mr. Benoni's hearing, ho
having risen and advanced towards us.
he was tall, propor;;onately broad, and
his steel gray hair framed an intellectual
face. ''Mr. Benoni," continued Dr..
Banks, when we had sauntered up to the
bench and seated ourselves, cloves m
ture. venture to say that two hours
before we were stirring he was wander
ing through the garden listening to Tho
voices Of the morning.
YES" eai1 Ms. Benoni, II was cut
early this charming morning; and whers
could one enjoy it mere fully than In this
beautiful garden? Your friend''-ad-
dreesing me-''uisde = fortunate choice
when he selected this site for country
place. One can rcan for hours withou1
ti7ing through tic spacious grounds Dr..
banks understands loe. He knows thss
lore to co1i.,.uae with nature, and b.
own fault l speak frankly and WITH
out reference to yourself-he hes
full full Ct item. Hs Ife : eolhlsaesazss. lhlasazs jo-oftzs
1eop!e to visit him. aud those who come
usually stay losag time. They interfere
with na7 enjoyment Of nature. When
have found solitary nook where ] c@a
remain undisturbed, one OF the doctors
friene,s appears in v!ew-nacre than
ISclv lsr. Arundel, who is seated yondeT
reading, aad who seems to have . habit
Of getting in ray way. When I first Wis
tied the doctor here, he did not have 50
many friends But I suppose his con
st;aEtly growing practice has brought him
not be 80 s@iash as to wish that he had
been less successful. But / am growing
Oil now, iacia-d to be euerulcus, and
have been here 50 long that regard tbs
| place sonlewli;1. AZ ,ny own- Hence my
| f~aazness love tbs doctor-he e tho
| ONLY nsan lovs-!or only be, the birds
| and the flowers understand me-
Or. Banks had been listening with
GOOD n:ssurel look to hr. Benoni's strict
urea Oh his Hherali:y. ''Benoni," he
said, Il am sure iay friend Is another
man who will understand you. il you viii
tell hi:a your story. He has Travelled
much, seen much and read much, but l
an quite sc:e he has never had OF heard
| OF 1 stranger experience than yours. He
is toy b.st friend-in strcng sympathy
with ell nay thoughts and opinions; and
I AZ. convinced that as understand you,
50 viii he.
Mr.. Bcucni locked at mo earnestly, and
then bc-ed his head meditatively. Look
ing suddenly up again and pointing to .
l;ly which rose Ma jest icalIy get gracefully
above bed Of flowers. he said: ''Taas
Iic brings vividIy before nue { fTa ct
crac. and face Of beauty-the form and
face of Inv deed wife hold tho doctor
d.a, above all Other men, because hs
knew her and remembers her beauty. /
love nature, b.scause in all that is beauti-
ful in nature can ses her. Hence lovo
e,,irude, because in solitude | can best
commune with what is uaost beautiful IA
nature.
No one who never knew my wife can
an1,rfs,i..e the sll:i,lo,7 which her death
has Cast over my lie, or form an idea
of H.. grief and Gespair which since thsa
ha, e:st3re,l nv h-a1t. we had known
each other siuca childhood, Tor We hsQ
nown up together. Our parents houses
were adjoining. We ronped together
with the children ct the neishboshood.
In those Childhood game0 l assumed q
kind Of protectcrata over her, and
In thoee disputes in which ch2-
} drens sports not inf-equently end ]
took caro- that she was never
wronced. I remember especially oas
ccc..s:,;n when l was her champion. Aa
! a child, already Alice had = profusioa ID
black ha;:. In the days when we played
those rorar.ing games it was hound by 8
s,.,r!e r:b.xa, from which it fell over hea
shoulders and hack. When shs ran, hez
motions were grace itself. Her cheeki
c!ovei with excitement, and her hail
etreamc<i in the breeze. One c3y 8 boy.
who was running after her i'll c.,e Of Oh
games, in his ease.ness to catch her. M
stead Of waiting till he gained ca her SUI
GcieEtlg to grasp her arm, caught t'es
St, Gaming hair. The check was 80 sud
,, def. AID 60 ru.s that size fell with SHARP
, crv Of pain. What followed / canno>
: tell OF my own knowledge. LOCKERS a
told me that I threw myseK upon tAl
bov, and that short but severe fight e.
sued abort because my blood wes up
ant | soon feued him. That incideE1
: drew A}:co sn1 myself clo~er to enc ~
otter, ard our fri>>Ht'ship socn i>ksiz-4
, sxuvaa l.ai among or cocarc.=iloas- Ane
/ :Lex zass. OF GO eGae.J