The Columbus journal., 1888-03-21
CHAPTER XIX.

1t was an hour later than usual the next
afternoon that Philip pushed back his chair
from the Office table preparatory to going
home. He did not acknowledge to himself q
certain sweet excitement that affected him
as he rose to his feet, much less the cause Of
1t; and he laid 1t to ordinary masculine van
ity that he paused a moment before a mirror
before he went out.
1t was not the same face he used to see in
the glass. His black moustache had grown
heavy n completely hid his rather unar-
tistic upper p, but it was not that had
changed him 50 much. His forehead had
some new lines in it n there was, somehow,
q firmer look about the corners of his mouth;
the youth and freshness that had lasted for
twenty-six summers had given place on the
twenty-seventh There was . self poise and
suggestion Of reserved force in him now that
stood for some very rapid development Of
character.
As Philip went up the hill, his quick eyes
caught a glimpse Of q woman;S dress By Mr..
El~lingsworth's gate, and in q few steps more
he could see it was the shade Of blue Bertha
loved. Why might it not be Bertha. why
not, except that he was so eager it should
be! He hurried as much as he dared-how.
strongly his heart was beating. She might
u ouy AAOAIcAAG diNU SO luVO liz uOuSc. HI
tried to think OF what he could say to her il
it was she.
Yes, it was Bertha. Her face was turned
away, showing him only the perfect Greek
profile and the uncovered coils of her wonder
full golden hair. Her hand rested on the gate
Is she looked of on the hills. How grand her
thoughts must he to harmonic with the su-
perb dignity of her face. Philip felt guilty
at disturbing her, but it had been so long.
He came quite near, 50 near that the mag
nesic thrill Of her presence touched him more
deeply, more tenderly, he thought, than Of
old, hut she had not turned. He saw the path
Of arewo lines across her forehead that
had been as smooth as marble. There was a
faded look Oh her cheeks, less full than they
used to be, and their exquisite color less
evenly spread. Her hand was winter and
showed its blue veins almost painfully. His
heart ached over her, his proud Bertha. Why
could not God have spared her! He would
rather have died and saved her the care and
suffering that had stricken her loveliness.
Then she turned at the sound OF footsteps,
and q great wave of tenderness swept over
his soul. He looked at her No eagerly, 50
gently that it seemed her face might soften a
little, but it did not, nor was there any mark
Of startled surprise at his coming 50 suddenly
upon her.
at is you Philip" Even her voice was
changed, there was a new hardness in it. She
reached out her cold white hand to him.
For Q moment he did not speak. 1t seemed
as il his heart would break, there was such a
stress upon it. And then he was afraid she
might be ashamed before him, ashamed Of
the terrible injustice she had done him,
ashamed Of the blot that had touched her
name. But whatever she might have felt.
there was no sign Of any emotion on her i'm
passive face.
And you are the mill owner now" she
said. "How odd it seems" She smiled
~graciously, but still he could not speak. He
could only look down at the thin, blue
veined hand he held, and keep back the sob
that trembled ON his lips for his lost love.
AM that smile and such words - those
were all she had for him at last. He had to
look away for strength to speak. He must
think OF some commonplace that would not
startle her repose All! there was the door
way where she had given him the first ardent
cares Of his life the last time he had talked
with her, the night she forsook him. Did
she remember, he wonderedi He looked
back at the cold, beautiful eyes, and the
amused smile yet fingered on her lips.
"Yes, it does seem very odd"
ITO he Cont n led.b