The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-08-29
BENNINGTON,

in voice that was only little clearer
and sharper than usual
Yes; Wilfred Carew. That is his
name / know"
"You know more than do, laughed
her father. "He never used the 'Carew,
and had forgotten all about it"
And then the talk fell on other mat
ters, and Doris joined gladly in it.
Whatevere she might think of the
news Sir Philip had brought, she heard
it and made no sign. Other women might
have betrayed themselves in 80 sharp
and sudden schock, but "NObleSSe OBJ
hge, and Doris Carew only smiled in
her pain.
Sir Philip went home walking on air,
and before Wilfrid Lyle's honeymoon
had run out he had asked Doris to be
his wife, and Doris had consented.
Il know am not worthy of you, the
chivalIous soldier said "hut, if you
could try to like me, Doris Could you
learn to like me-in time, do you think r
"How Can l tell p said Doris, with a
sad little smile; chow can tell 2"
1t seemed 20 Doris that che had
done with love for ever. Once she had
thought, whispering it shyly to herself
among the summer flowers, that she
loved Wilfrid Lyle, but il she was sure
of anything now, it was that this was nc
longer true. She, Doris Carew, love a
man that had trihed with her, an
welded another women The wild pain
that tore her heart at the thought was in
dignation, contempt. hatred-anything
but love.
~ can not tell if shall ever love you,
she said to Sir Philip now, II only
know that do not love any other man,
and that never shall"
"Then / am not afraid" said SiI
Philip, and he bent and kissed the fair,
proud face that turned so pale at his.
| When he looked at her again, there
was strange somber scorn in the sweet
dark eyes but it was for herself moi
for him. For in the second in which
Philip Chisholm held her in his arms
and pressed his lips to hers, she knew
and hated herself for the knowledge
that she would gladly have given al
the years of her life if it could have
been not Philip Chisholm but WilfriC
Lyle. And so she stood leaning agains
the heavily mullioned window, curious
ly agitated and disturbed, and Sir Philil
| VII. lliCu WIN a plCuouhb pCboC VI pc"St
She would not have trembled in hi
arms, and been 80 agitated by his kiss
he told himself, if she had not beef
. much nearer loving him than she knew
Suddenly Doris lifted her head ant
spoke. There is something | ought t.
tell you," she said, in tones that wer'
low and faint with effort ''and per
haps you will not care for me when 20,
know"
perhaps not - he said, smiling, Blu
his smiles died out under Doris strang
looks.
II did not tell you quite all the trutl
just now," she whispered, and her eye
were 80 full of pain that he caught he
hand and held it, as one held the ham
of a friend under the surgeons knife
T-I did care for some one else.-once.
Sir Philip drew a long breath of relief
SIS that all? ?" he said kindly, with tn
serene acquiescence of age in the inevi
d, table folies of youth. my Dear Doris
men of my age do not expect to be
girls first lover"
Doris felt as if she had subjected heI
self to an unnecessary humiliation. He
: face crimsoned as che answered rathe
coldly -
"Perhaps l need not haye told you
But l vase advised good while ago t
take 'NoblesSe Oblige' for my motto, an
l have"
you have done all that is noble an
right" said Sir Philip, "and believe me
/. l appreciate your confidence. But
! you can assure me that you care for n
one else now, it is all ask. You do nc
love this other man-whoever he is
still?"
"Still?" she flashed out Indignantly
"Still 2" Am | not Doris CarewW
, But when Sir Philip had gone, Dori
crept away to the grassy verge of tn
, cliff and threw herself on the soft tuI
in a passion of shame and pain.
!, might be true, it was true, she told hel
self vehemently, that she did not lov
Wilfrid Lyle now,-her marriage woul
prove that to every one, even to hin
) even to herself; but not the less wa
earth desolate, and heaven fair.