The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-27

gave him a sharp little lecture, in Which
| iustice was very little tempered with
mercy. on his duty to his parent. Sue
professed a good deal Of regard and sym
rathy for Mr.. Fields, and indeed it was
pleasant to SEQ this pretty girl taking the
side Of the father, and preaching the
Fourth Commandment. To all this the
vouno man listened in silence. He was
hard 10 impress. it seemed, for he made
no reply, and then suddenly lie asked:
"Who said all thisf"
"Your father
"But who told himT'
"Your mother-Mrs Fields
"Apd who told herr
"You told her yourself, and you told
.her more than have spoken Of"
"Nonsensel"
"But you did You told her you were
engaged to marry this person. l insist
on having my racquet, Mrs. Fields.
"And this person is-is-a-prize
fighter"
80 you said. "
ooh Lordl'' cried Phil, and he lay
back on the grass and laughed until Re
gina was so offended she arose and
walked back to the house.
After that she saw no more Of Phil
until after supper, when he came to her
as she finished a most stupid game of
tennis, there being no one engaged in 1t
who could contest it with her.
Miss Scott said he, Mrs. Fields
would be clad if YOU could come to her
for one moment"
Regina hesitated, and then said that
she would come presently with pleasure.
Would he be kind enough to say so
IL think she wished me TO bring you,"
replied Phil, boldly and so, not wishing
10 expose their quarrel TO the public, she
was constrained to go with him, but
she did not speak TO him. and in-
deed he did not ask her 10 do so. He
was perfectly silent, and seemed humbled
and quoted enough.
Mrs. Fields was rot in the house, but
over bv the well-a forlorn and weed
grown place, where only the servants
went. She was sitting on the stump Of
a tree. She turned when she heard foot
steps. Il have waited ages for you,
Phil, F" she said.
Miss Scott was engaged" replied
Phil. "and ! waited for her. You must
pardon me-" said he. turning to Regina,
s.for my mother did not send me for
YOU. but | wanted to ask her question
before YOU, and | had no alternative.
YOU would not have come had asked II. "
Certainly no." and Regina turned to
60. Phil laid his hand gently on her
arm.
Surely" he said, "you viii not be
unfair TO meY' And then. all in 4
breath. be turned to his stepmothcr.
DO YOU remember, he said. when
you once asked me about a glove you
found in my room2 You teased me. ~
Mrs. Fields laughed. Certainly. Do
you want me to tell you what you said!'
Il do
1T wouldn't be polite, Phil"
Indeed you are mistaken. It would
be very polite-and true"
you said it belonged TO the prettiest
/ girl in America. "
Il cannot see" said Regina, chow
/ tins interests me,
Phil made DO answer 70 her.
"Thcn YOU asked mo who She was.
Eyes. and you said she was some sort
Of a professional character"
a prize fighter said Pill.
Mercy no. Your father calls her
tliat because he is so indignant with YOU;
but you never said so. understood you
perfectly. Some Kind Of athlete; not
teacher Of calisthenics, but something
ike it.
Again did this young man burst into
laughter lut lie controlled himself, and
il would not have been wise to have irri-
taied Regina much farther.
"Oh. mother lac said, "now that
Mrs. harrington is dead, why do you
want 10 play her Elisha2 Did say calls
themes and Professional
Il do not care what you said, cried
Regina; and again she turned. and this
time ran away, leaving poor Phil looking
like the stupid she had called him
Now Mr. Fields always said when he
was congratulated on his daughter-in-l
that he had made the match. He GER
talnly never made the explanation, and
convinced Regina that Phil had said the
glove belonged to "a champion" and he
never showed the glove TO Regina and
made her confess it was hers, and she had
missed it. 1t was very true that the old
gentleman knew that Regina had played
match games of tennis, and had carried
off the title and honors of champion, "
! but he never confounded her with
''prize fighter He always held TO
vague belief in the existence OF repre-
hensiolc young woman from whom Re
gina had won Phil, and that he bad in
duced her 10 do so, end when Phil called
her, by way of pet name, a synonym,
he asked for no explanation of the joke,
I if Joke Inc considered it. 1t was
Phil only who could have told what an
uphill task he had in convincing Regina
that if he loved her now. SO had he loved
her always How many times before
the summer was over did he hold his
breath thinking OF his stepnother's I'M
aginaton and his fathers credulity. To
have said lie was engaged TO her was
ever Regina'S grievance, and it was diff
cult to persuade her that what was once
n fiction OF others should lie fact Of