Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-05-14
CHAPTER II.
TWO BROTHERS.

Inc hlluOH near WHICH ne SHL WAS open
and fragrant breeze from the garden
mingled with the perfumes of his
havana The book which he tried
10 persuade himself he was reading lay
on his knees, while his eyes rarely
glanced over its lines, but Oftener fol-
lowed the blue curls Of cigar smoke as
they vanished in the distance. There
was an expression Of cOntentment upon
the young mans face, and sometimes a
faint smile for an instant moved the
corners of his mouth.
Ralph Warringham was happy.
Who would not be happy two days
after he had been assured by the pref
test, cleYerest, loYellest girl on earth
that she loved him more than her life
and that she would be his forever?
Ralph did not doubt for a moment that
Miss Lyons professions Of love were sin
cere. Other actresses might be tickle,
but his Lucy was purity and cOnstancy
persOnided. He was ready TO challenge
the world to mortal combat for her fair
name.
Such is the blindness OF infatuation.
As he sat musing, his Imagination re-
called the form OF his beloved. All,
well he remembered every smile, every
graceful feature. And would he ever
forget any of those sweet words that
filed his soul with unutterable happi-
nEE1s nc AAA4 nAcA seen anu aunAIEu
Miss Lucy Lyon as she appeared on the
stage in her various roles OF light com
edy- Her youth and beauty, as we'll as
her clever, lively play, captiVated him,
and he obtained an Introduction. She
proved to be as charming in the green
room as on the boards, and he sought
and easily gained permission to call upon
her at her hotel. 1t was but a short
time before he became quite intimate
- L 4. .
eff, that she permitted any familiarities
on his part She was propriety itself in
her conduct toward him, and this only
made the sway she obtained over his
heart more absolute. Had she behaved
otherwise his sentiment would have
proven only fieeting fancy, and never
ripened into the passionate love he now
felt.
Miss Lyons engagement in the city
came TO an end, but when she departed,
her admirer kept up an eager corre-
spOndenee, TO which she replied with ap-
parently equal eagerness AS yet not a
word of love had passed between the
two But when Miss Lyon returned,
Ralph, whose passion had been famed
by her absence into an all-consuming
flame, no longer restrained himself, and,
without care for prudential considera-
ton, declared his love, offered his hand,
anu was dEGtDLGu. VI EOuISb ne was
accepted, some cynical people might say.
What actress, or what other poor girl,
for that matter, would not accept the
hand of 4 sutton who was at once hand
| some, clever, young, wealthy, of the
| highest social standing, and who pro-
feSsed to love her with all the ardOr of a
noble and generous heart? But this con-
sideration never entered Ralph's mind.
He was in love, and not for a moment
4 he HaN !. Is
with equal fervOr and disinterestedness.
He went home that night as in a
dream. Never before had the stars shOne
so brightly, nor the atmosphere been so
clear, nor the flowers exhaled such sweet
OdOrs. The cabman who had driven him
home was not a little surprised when his
~fare" gave him a live-dollar note, and
told him TO keep the change. Cabby
knew nothing OF love, and probably as
cribed the Doctors laYishness TO intoxi-
cation. He took the five dollars, how
ever.
Well, DIR. Warringham was intoxi-
Gated. But he was intoxicated with
that strong wine which every one uaffs
at least once in his life. Miserable he
who never tasted the strong wine of
love!
All night the Doctor, in 4 Mans,
was in paradise. But next ing he
least For the first time since he had
seen Miss Lyon il occurred TO him that
his family would hardly think OF her as
he did.
How was he TO tell his mother that he
proposed to marry an actress?
The thought was anything but agreea-
BILE, and Ralph was in that frame OF
mind when men Will not suffer them
selves TO be bothered by disagreeable
thoughts He brushed it away as he
would a fly.
In that frame Of mind he continued
during the next few days. Whenever
that thought rose in his mind he made a
violent effort TO escape from it. Some
times il occurred TO him that he was act
ing the part of a moral coward. But
that was another disagreable idea, and
he brushed it away also. His dreams OF
love were too sweet 10 abandon them for
the reality of life. He INDUCED in them
wherever he went-at home, at the club,
when calling on his patients. Did the
| patients suffer from their physicians
state of mind? Perhaps they did. Some
people are said to have a prejudice
against cooks and doctors who are in
love
Notwithstanding those haunting, dis
| agreeable ideas, Ralph had succeeded tC
| come as near to perfect bliss as mortal
| by his study window that afternoon
/ smoking, musing, dreaming and some.
] times feigning TO read
The form of that young gentleman in
the rocking chair by the open win
/ dow would have been a splendid subject
| for painter.
Ralph Hutchinson Warringham wa:
| decidedly handsome. His features had
/ the regularity almost of the statues oil
aurfuuffv His broad forehead ind afaf
| the cleverness which everybody admitted
! he possessed. His well-develOped chiI
l gave TO the face an expression of energy
and pertinacity, while the full lips anC
/ the blooming complexion were signs thai
/ a healthy sensuality was not wanting
I His hair was OF a chestnut color, and he
( had the good taste not to follow the bar
! barrie fashion which crops 4 gentleman!
/ hair as short as that of a jail-bird- Hi:
] dress was elegant but sober, as become:
! a physician. Ralph Warringham haC
| decidedly the exterior of gentleman.
The same air Of good breeding and re-
/ finement could be observed in his sur
roundings. No loud, gaudy color:
| married the harmony Of the impression
/ which the furnishings of his study made
| upon the observer. Everything in the
room, the tables, desks, chairs, book
] cases, were solid but simple. Every
/ thing was evidently for use, not for mere
| show. For this very reason, the ensem
I BILE was so much more artistic. Even
1 tho pictures on the walls might be saiC
/ to be there for use They consisted o.
/ portraits of celebrated physicians anC
/ subjects relating TO the medical prOfes
/ sion.
RalDh's reyerie was interrupted by the
entrance of his brother Walter. Blu
! the two brothers were no sticklerl
for etiquette in their mutual intercourse
After a brief salutatiOn Ralph fell bacl
into his musing attitude, while Waltel