Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-08-27
,,,.,o.ms Moreover, she was amol-

+iful she was. DO Ni"hS !" .I lies
that in those days she looked lo' Wv ,s.o,1
of rank and riches from the iH''i "no 800
her? She knew that she was q".e.. "o
women, and expected qleeh ~ a' ~.
the crueest have spoken. or s''''' opo""'
against you. Forgive them , ~ S,o,
W. we're frends-great friends. ouch
x-..,,ashir is loy.'s banp. 1t buoys 1a!Se
,,a,,os =. II hills to security; 1t leads astray;
:. ,s staff which breaks suddenly ana
,ronnds the hand which leans upon II. 30
,;..Io II seems 10 need to make friendship
rro,v into love: and yet how seldom tiiati.
tle il added! The love which begins WIN
hate or dislike is often Tucker thah til"t
,rhicb heoins with friendship. Lovers can
not be friends. o;r,-
ph;lirna and her mother left my neigh-
horhood. They went to London tor a"iiile.
hoard from them occasionally. ana once
mr. twice. when in town, called upon 'Ieni.
Time went BY. worked hard at my pro-
fession the while. striving, by sneer 'oi,' 10
drive away the dream from my life. Alas!
I stroye in vain. To love Pnlllppa WAS 10
love her forever!
One morning a letter came from liei'
tore il open. The news 1t contained was
grieyous. Her mother had died suddenly.
Philippa was alone in the worid. 90 lar "S
knew. she had not relative lett; ana l
believed. perhaps hoped, that save myself
she had no friend.
Ineeded no time for cons deration. Ihat
afternoon was in London. II could hoV
comfort her in her great sorrow, coulo aI
least sympathize with her; could uhdertaho
the management of the many business oe'
tails which are attendant upon death.
Poor Philppa! She was glad to see me:
Through her tears she flashed me look OF
gratitude, did all l could for her, ana
stayed in town until the funeral was over.
Then l was obliged to think OF going home.
What was to become OF the girl?
Kith or kin she had none, nor dld sne
mention the name of any friend who would
be willing to receive her AS l suspected,
she was absolutely alone in the world. AS
soon as my back was turned she would nave
no one on whom she could count for Sympa-
thy or help.
1t must have been her utter loneliness
which urged me, in spite of my better Judg-
ment in spite of the grief which still OPP
pressed her, to throw myself at her feet ana
declare the desire of my heart. My words
cannot recall, but think-1know plead
ed eloQuently. Such passion as mine gives
power and intensity to the most Impractical
speaker. Yet long before MY appeal was
ended knew that pleaded In vain. Her
eyes, her manner told me she loved me not.
Then, remembering her present helpless
condition, checked myself. l begged her
to forget the words had spoken; not to an
swer them now; to let me say them again
in some months time. Let Inc still be her
friend, and render her such service as l
could.
She shook her head; she held out her
hand. The first action meant the refusal OF
my love; the second, the acceptance of my
friendship. l schOoled myself to calmnesS,
and we discussed her plans for the future.
She was lodging in house in quiet re-
spectacle street near Regents Park. She
expressed her intention of staying on here
for awhile.
But alone!' exclaimed.
"Why not? VIA. have to fear? Still,
am open to reason, if you can suggest an
other plan"
could suggest no other. Phiippa was
past twenty and would at once succeed
to whatever money had been her mothers.
This was enough to live upon. She had no
friends, and must live somewhere. Why
should she not stay on at her present lodg-
ings? Nevertheless, trembled as thought
of this beautiful girl all alone in London.
Why could she not love meo Why could she
not be my wife? 1t needed all my self-re-
straint to keep me from breaking afresh in
to passionate appeals.
/ AS she would not give me the right to dis
pose of her future, l could do nothing more
babe her sad farewell, then went back
to my home to conquer my unhappy love,
or to suffer from its fresh inroadS.
Conquer it! Such love as mine is never
conquered. 1t is mans life. Phiippa was
never absent from my thoughts. Let my
frame of mind b. gay or grave Phiippa was
always present.
Now and then she wrote to me- but her
letters told me little as to her mode of life :
they were short friendly cpistles and gave
me li.tle hope.
Yet was not quite hopeless. | felt that
had been too hasty in asking her for her
love so soon after her mothers DEATH Let
her recover from tie shock, then l will try
again. Three months was the time which
in my OWL mind resolved should elapse
before again approached her with words
of love. Three months! How YEARLY they
dragged themselves away!
Toward the end of my self-imposed term
of probation fancied that brighter. gayer
tone manifested itself in Philppa's letters,
Fool that | was. augured well from this.
Telling myself that such love as mine
must win in the end, | Went to London, and
once more saw Philppa. She received me
kindly. Although her garb was still that OF
deep mourning, never, ] thought, had she
looked more beautiful. Not long after on
first greeting did wait before | began to
plead again. She stopped me at the outset.
'Hush," she said; Il have forgotten your
former words; let us still be friends"
Never l cried paSsionately. 'Philippa
answer me once for all, tel! me you can love
me!'
She looke'. at Inc compassionately. "Hov
can best answer you?' she said, musingly
THE sharp,st remedy is perhaps the kind
ct. Basil, will you understand Inc when
say ii is too late?''
100 late! What can you mean? Ha.
another
The words died on my lips as Philippa
drawing ring from the fourth finger of he
left hand, showed me that it concealed
plain gold circlet. Her eyes met mine i'm
ploringly.