Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-02-13
CHAPTER XXIIL

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 It was the next afternoon, as Philip Breton was unhitching Joe from the post, that he had occasion to dof his hat to Mrs. Filings worth, driving by with her husband. They made very pretty picture of marital bliss: perhaps they were all rLe happier becaus, neither of them had souls Philip had bee intending to go to his factory, there wal some business he ought to attend to, but tho sudden assurance that Bertha was alon, made his heart give a great bound. Wha, better time than now to tell her of his unal tered love, to win her promise to let hic. make her happyq So his business was post poned, and he rang the bell at MT. Eilings worth's instead.
 ''Not in9" he repeated after the servant ii, dismay. Would his luck never changei Hat. she been frightened at his manner the nigh: before, and gone away to avoid his unpleas ant suitr'
 'sBut she isn't far away,n and the girl over his face. "I guess, now, you will find her in the garden; or will call her if yor say"
 tsNo, don't call her." and Philip hurried out to the garden. What moro fitting place fer what he had to say if he could find his voice for the great lump in his throat. He must be very eloquent to persuade her, to answer all her objections, to assure her that it was not pity that moved him, for she would re sent that, but love-a love that craved her above all the world.
 She looked up from her embroidery at the sound of his footsteps and smiled. Her beauty might all go, as its first bloom and freshness had gone, ard her cheeks fade like the autumn leaves whose glowing tints they had once worn; her golden hair might whiten with age he knew it would make no differ ence in his love. She wore the same dress she had worn in that other garden scene She had grown thin and gone back to the dresses of her girlhood. It was light blue silk, open low in the neck, filled in with nest ling folds of lace. The sunbeams made their way through the low hanging trees, and with them came the breath of the roses, and the humming of the bees, just as on that other day.
 Philip seated himself on the bench beside her, and tried to make his voice calm as he said:
 "Do you remember when you last wore this dressP'
 Would she be frightened at the intensity of gentleness in his voice7
 But she smiled as frankly at him as if he were her brother. "Oh, yes"
 He put his hand on her arm, cool as if love and passion were forever outside her experi- once. "oertha, 1 love you more. now than then. will not frighten you with my ve- hemence; have learned to conquer myself. will cherish you as child, but, oh, Bertha, want to be near you"
 The woman did Sot draw away from him. She was looking with a changed expression at his eager face-the face of the lover whom no coldness could chill; who returned again after her desertion of hin.; whom no shame ~1&~ l~k;, 1, ,s..-, s1~- admiration in her at last A tinge of delicate color rose from her neck among the folis oi lace, and mounted to the roots of her golden hair. It was the first time he had ever moved her.
 "And you love me as much now as that | day fell asleep on your shoulder-ages ago it must have beenT' Then her great blue l eyes dropped under the intensity of love that l looked from his face-a love beyond he1 | power to understand
 l He gathered her hands in his. "As much and more-a deeper, purer, gentler love tha, will protect you against its own very vehe mence-that would rather make sacrifices for you than joys for itself" sTake me, then," and she let him draw hel head on his breast where she felt the throb ping growing mightier and mightier, though he only pressed his lips upon her cool fore head. Then she drew back. She did not lool in his face, which had a great light in it perhaps she was ashamed that she had notn l ing to give him, ashamed that her heart wa, so cold under the rapture that looked out o1 his eyes
 "But Philip, you must not hurry mo tos much. am slow, and this is so sudden, would as soon have thought of an earth quake" Then she glanced wonderingly a' l hin, oa ;e to ,,,oirn s,,re NAh Philin VII, deserve better love than mine" But h caught her hand to his lips, and held 1t then, whfc he covered 1t with kisses, 1T would. rathar ths fhuwtH y6u wear il 1 your besuna than any w61nep q tAa Wug&& bsstds yea ! Hsa t1 1dveNne sdo
 ataa"
 70 ss c0sususD.