Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-02-11
CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI.
 OUT, DAMNED SPOT.
 Philip dipped his pen in the inkstand He was sitting in his study at home, later in the afternoon than usual. Nothing unimportant could have detained him so long from his fac tory, and, besides, there was look of unusual solemnity on his face Philip Breton had just written his will It was very elaborate in strument, prepared from memoranda of the ablest lawyer in the state. A moment ago he had signed it, and the names of tho witnesses were not dry yet. He had been uneasy for long time that the destiny of the thousand creatures who worked in his mill, and of their successors forever, should hang On so feeble thread as human life, which might snap be- fore he could give spontaneous energy to the plans that now only lived in his brain. He wrote in large, plain letter across the back oi the paper, "The Last Will and Testament oi Philip Breton" Then he read the whole in strument over again-the magma charta of Bretonville. How glad the village known-when it was found that the mill owner had not been satisfied with what he could do in his lifetime, but had placed his benevolence on a perpetual foot- ing, had reached back his hand from hi yrave to shower blessings on tho laborinc poor God had committed to his charge. Some men had wives and children to worl. for, to defend, to hope for If he had bee happy, and blessed with love and kisses, ht might have been like the rest never liste1in, to the groans of his poor under burdens to heavy for them to bear. His heart woul,l perhaps, have been full of the little want and trivial discomforts of his own circle, hi mind busy with plans for the future of hi
 
 wore themselves out in the struggle for thei scant bread, with never one pitiful thougl rom him.
 Philip Breton was relieved now that L,,d made his will He folded it careful. and put it in his inner breast pocket. Pc: aaps, he thought sadly enough, if he shoult die this moment it would be better for Drc tonville, for his will might waver while lived He might not ec able to sustain |. high tone, but once dead, nothing could | changed The words that an idle stroke his pen could make null and void when ono his hand became rigid in death, would lea forth from the written page into pote,s everlasting life. Suddenly he rememberc, another occasion when, as he had sat at th. ve:y table, he had been interrupted by t., servant bringing him a letter-no, it was 10 5e from Bertha. And he had been ve- y hi: life. He just had opened this very taL- lrawer when tho maid had tapped at t. loor. He had been searching for so;nethi:- tt the time. Oh it was one of Bertha's pict IIes, and it must be here still. In a momcl -lore he was unclaspinS morocco case, the aging with such tenderness as one has fC nc dead on the delicately tinted oval of Be. 5Aas beautiful face in porcelain. The gre, blue eyes seemed to look surprise and rl 3roach at him. It had been long ago, befo;' D much as dream of sin had tainted th loly innocence of her girlhood.
 Philip closed his lips very tightly; h ionged unutterably for her lost innocelce; h hungered so desperately for the maiden. purity that looked out of these startled eye, If she had died then, he might at least hay cherished her memory. What had he don that he should be punished so terribly? The the memories of the day when the pictur, was taken came rushing back upon him.
 They two had been sitting in her garde on the afternoon of a summer day. It we two, three, almost four years ago, but L ,ould see the blooming roses and heor tl lrowsy hum of the bees as if it had bee yesterday. He had been reading O lcve poel vo her; that was as near as he dared come love making; sometimes letting his voic soften and tremble little over the tcnderc passages. He was but a tinid lover, an, Bertha so royalty cold Suddenly glancin. at her, he saw she was overcome with t.. heat, and had fallen asleep leaning he shapely head back against the rough bar. of the tree. Her fingers loosely claspc ill her sloping lap suggested perfel repose; the girlish bosom rose and fell wit her still breathing, and there was an exqu- site pout on her lips, as if vaguely mutinou of hov. lie VIZ; beating violently as he laid aside h. book and seated himself on the bench by he 1 side. But he dared not profane the vest,. 1 purity of such sleep as hers; he devoured he 1 face with his eyes, but did not steal one kis 1 from the red lips; though there was such | sweet, mute invitation on them. But he pu l his arm about her and drew her toward hir | as gently as if she were a sleeping infant, an l made her head rest on his shoulder. Then looked down the red tinged cheeks, like tn l woods in autumns tenderest mood, swept b 1 her long, golden eyelashes, and tried to fanc she was awake, though her eyes were closed and that she was willing her head should res
 on his breast and her hair like fine threads (
 twisted Roman gold kiss his burning face. | But she moved in her slumber, and the
 her star like eyes opened and looked nut astonishment into his eager face. For or ]
 sudden boldness from the liberty he had {.
 ready taken he poured his passionate declar' tions into her ears, covering her hair and he forehead and then her cool white hands witt | kisses
 "You frighten me, Philip" Her quick startled tones as she rese to her feet yet ran: in his ears. She looked at him as half of
 mind to run away 1T don't understan' you," she said, responsibility. The porcelain picture is just as she was shen.
 "Why, Berthar' He had risen, too; but sh drew back from him. "I love you. I wan you for my wife"
 How coldly she had looked at his flushed excited face. He thought it was the suprem moment in his life; but it seemed to be nothin
 to her.
 ssIs that all? Why, I thought you were mad.
 An, and the same madness burned in hi
 soul this moment. Time could not wear out. Shame, outrage, desolation could no
 kill it. He rose to his feet and pushed th
 tinted porcelain away from him.
 Mrs. Silas Ellingsworth was all smiles an
 grace as Philip entered her parlor, and sh
 shook hands with him, fingered as cordial
 over the greeting as if she had quite forgo
 ten her pretty fingers had ever been on hi
 throat. She made him take seat and bega
 to make conversation with him, as if she SUI
 posed he had called to sec her. But suddenl
 she affected to be struck with on idea.
 "Oh, know why you are not moro talk;