St. Landry democrat., 1893-03-18

the place of the peachblossom of old, and
the smoothncss of the hair which once
had curled so softly about the brow,
Hugh Morgan could not but recognize
her This was certainly Phyllis. And
yet the children said she was dead
"Phyllis" he cried aloud, unable to
contain himself, and his voice broke as
he spoke the name which had not passed
his lips for more than ten years.
At the sound of that name, spoken by
that voice, the lady started as the Pro
fessor had started when the child Phyllis
had pronounced it, and crimson tide of
color rushed over her pale face She
loosened the clinging arms of the chill
dren,. and taking step toward the Pro-
fessor, stood with strained eyes staring
at him.
''Hugh" she cried.
Bluntly and confusedly he stammvrcd: !:
''But the child said you were dead"
The immobility of his face was all
broken up with the strength of the con
t1icting emotions that possessed him, his
gray eyes glowed under the prominent
brows and his strong hands trembled.
Phyllis was scarcely less moved herself,
but woman like, seeing his excessive
and almost overmasterng agitation, she
came to the rescue by control
ling herself into calmness of voice and
manner.
"The children's mother is dead" she
said, gently.
"Thcy are not your children?" said tho
Professor, passing hand over his brow,
as if to sweep away the mist of bewilder-
ment that obscured his understanding.
''They are my brothers children" said
Phyllis Wynne. "IIe has just been ap-
pointed minister at a Presbyterian Church
at c. She named large town
some miles distant II have taken care
of the children since their mother died
few months ago, and we have come here
for q holiday"
And you-you are widowed, then?'
blundered on the Professor.
Phyllis Wynne looked at him strange
ly.
Il have never been married, y she said.
simply, and the crimson color again dyed
her delicate face
The Professor stared at her moment
in Mortified amazement, scarcely able to
seize the import of her words. Then he
broke out in a passionate way, his voice
loud and stern:
"Thcn what tiend sent me that false
notice of your marriage-your marriage
with Colonel Llcwellyn?"
"Oh, Hugh. Hugh.' cried Phyllis
Wynne, swiftly, her voice sharp with
pain. Through her quick woman's mind
here had flashed the explanation of all
hat had been so incomprehcnsible, the
realization of all that Hugh, as we'll as |
'he herself had suffered, and with it a |
contrasting vision of what might have
,cen. ooh, Hugh what an awful mis-
axe! My cousin of the same name,
Phyllis Wynne, married Colonel Lie
yelyn?"
MY Cod" cried the Professor,
what a fool | was, What fool.'
A dead silence fell between them. No
detailed explanation was ncccss, ry lust
hen. Each understood that either
through the mistake of some officious
neddler, or through the deliberate vii
Amy of some rival of Hugh Morgan'>,V v
hey had been kept apart through the
'est years of life, each embittered by
he thought of the others faithlessness.
hey stood side by side, looking gravely
t the cleaning sea. Their hearts were
eating with the same momentous
hought, but neither yet dared to give
xpression to it. The children, gathering
heir yellow poppics and twining them
bout their hamper, looked up curiously
ow and again at their aunt and their
cw friend, and wondered why their
ices were so serious and yet SO excited,
nd why, after talking SO seriously, they
ad now fallen into complete silence.
The silence could not long be main,
incd unbrokcn.\ 1t grew too pregnant
lth strong, struggling emotion The
rotcssor suddenly turned to the woman
i his side.
''Iiavc we met again too late, Phylis2'
J cried. as it too latc?'
AS the question passed his lips his face
ew very white, and his gray eyes filled
it'll an intense and painful eagcrncss.
lyllis kept him in no suspense. Her {
swer came at once, in a broken cry of
We
"Oh, Hugh! it is not too late-it I
uld never have been too late,' And,
r blue eyes shining through tears, she
'ctchcd out her hands to him.
The wonderful children, pausing in Y
cir work, saw their Aunt Prvllis
thcrcd to their new friends heart. She
IS held there closely, while soft whis- |
red words passed from lip to lip, and t
radiance of uuspeakable happiness
wned over both faces. The years of
fferlng and separation seemed compen- =
.ed for in that one moment of exquisite
d perfect joy.
The stones of the old ruin blazing in
August sunshine gazed at the Pro St
sor in amazed reproach. But he paid
heed. The archaologist was lost in 81
? lover Strand Magazine.
OLLA PODRIDA, !,