The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-09-15

EASY, old boy; 'twasn't the woodpile that
said it. Brace up your head; you've done
nothing to be ashamed Of Besides, your old
father can see through the back of your
head, anyhow; he's been practicin' at it ever
since you were born"
Phil seated himself on the woodpile, looked
| in the direction where his father was not, and
| said:
| II like Lucia very much. She's a new
face; she's different from the girls about
here. She's somebody new to talk to, and
she can talk about something besides crops,
and COWS, and who is sick, and last Sundays
sermon, and next months sewing society,
| That's ALL"
YES" said the old man. 1T doesn't
seem much, does its Enough to have made
millions of bad matches, though. and spoiled
millions Of good ones"
| Phil Yves silent for moment; then he
said, With laugh:
Father, 1 believe you're as bad as old
Mrs. Tripsey, whom mothers always laugh
ing at because she thinks mans in love il
he sees her daughter home from prayer meet
ing"
'P'r'aps so, my boy-p'r'aps-and maybe
as bad as you, for every time there's a bad
thunder storm you're afraid the ightning'll
strike the barn. Do you know why? It's
| because your finest colt is there. Do you see?'
Phil did not reply, so the old man con-
tinued:
"I'll make it clearer to you You're my
finest colt; there's more hghtnings in girls
eyes than ever saw in the sky; you don't
know when it's going to strike, and when it
hits you you're gone before you know it."
"Much obliged. III see to it that keep
myself well insulated" said Phil.
Nevertheless, Phil studied Lucia whenever
he had pportunity-studied her face when
she read, her fingers when they busted them
selves with fancy work, her manner with diff
ferent persons, as it changed according to her
idea of the deservings of those with whom she
talked. At church he regarded her intently
from the beginning of the service to its end
analysing such portions Of prayer, hymn, or
sermon as did not seem to meet her views
He even allowed his gaze to follow her when
she looked more than an instant at other
young women, in the ignorance of his mas
culine heart wondering which of the features
of these damsels specially interested her; his
mother could have told him that Lucia was
merely looking at bonnets and other articles
of attire, instead Of at their wearers. He
wondered what she thought; he told himself
where her character was at fault and how it
might be improved. In short, he had ample
mental leisure, and she was the newest and
consequently the least understood of his va
rious subjects of contemplation.
1t is impossible to devote a great deal of
thought to any subject without becoming
deeply interested, even if it be unsightly,
tiresome and Insignificant. Lucia was none
of these, for she was a pretty girl. 1t is
equally impossible to see a familiar subject
of thought in the act of disappearance with
out personal sense of impending loneliness,
and a wild desire to snatch it back, or at least
go in search of it. Therefore, Philip Hayn
needed not to be in love, or even to think
himself so, to be conscious of great vacancy
in his mind as the train bore the Tramlay
family rapidly toward their city home, and
to determine that he would avail himself of
the invitation which the head of the family
had extended