Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-21

woman nature long time, my boy, II
you don't wish to be terribly disappointed
| by mistaking one sentiment for another.
You should have very good reasons before
you imagine woman can love you. You
must give me better reasons than any I've
yet heard before ! can imagine that Miss
Raybright can think Of you as anything
| more than an interesting boy. You must
anaiyze your own feelings, too; don't i'm
agine because married at twenty-oue and
was happy as long as your dear mother
lived, that heaven will be equally merciful
| 10 you In your ignorance. Beside, had
gone through a heartbreak before I finally
succeedeo. Twas entirely my own fault;
the girl was not in the least to blame; but
II set me to thinking seriously about love
and making myself less selfish and more
many. VI course, you admire Miss Ray
tell me; but love-the real article-must be
a plant Of slow growth II there's to be any
neaith and strength to 1t. As to the posi-
putty OF Miss Raybright loving you, there
ous."
rs it?" said Phil. defiantly, and turning
nasnlnS eyes upon his father. Suddenly.
though, he turned his face toward the
tatingly: you said you wanted better rea-
sons than any gave you. Well she-she
mas squeeaed my hand-very tenderly-two
OF Otot tnfee times. while l was saying good
at last he said:
"A good woman's interest in a good boy
n more, Phil; I'd stake my life on
boy" calculated Phil, so vigorously
that two or three youngsters who were
playing In the sand dropped their shovels
and looked up to see who was addressing
them. The father gently replied:
Yes, boy'-to her. You're the manifest
| Fellow OF your age that ever knew, and
to some girls you'd appear as old as the
hills: but not to her. Time has given her
too much advantage over you"
Father. you are real cruel and ungal-
liant to keep harping on Marian's age. One
, would ,, think: to hear you talk. that years
On the contrary. I've always found that
the older a woman grows the sweeter she
| becomes. But in this case. really my boy,
you must take my word. instead Of your
own Impressions. Suppose that 1 were to
prove to you. by some of her family friends
who are here. that she is-say, fifteen years
Older than you"
Wits are very long-Aved race. you know.
so probably I should outlive her. You've
always boosted that your father was
younger at eighty than most men at fifty"
replied Let's drop the subject for the
present Go on admiring Miss Raybright-
admire her with all your might; 1t will do
you great deal Of good. Teach yourself.
though. to respect her too much to lessen
her respect for you by talking love. l
shouldn't like my son to lose the friend
ship Of a woman like that. I'm not afraid
in the least Of her falling In love with you;
to prove 1t. I'll take you, her. and her
mother out driving or sailing every day I
can remain here; I'll throw you together
all 1 can. You needn't be ashamed to talk
and act as you feel before me-"
Trewitt returned to the hotel, and re-
Joined some Of his acquaintance new and
old. while Phil. Junior. continued to pace
the beach, inflicting upon the delicious and
unoKending air of early April a count
enance clouded with gloom and cigarette
smoke. Never before had he found his
father unreasonable; Of course. his father
handsome that all the pretty women at
the hotel adored her. as they wouldn't were
she so much older than they?
Fifteen years his senior? Ridiculous! But
| even II she were. was not beauty eternal.
when 1t was full Of soul?
He strobe to and fro. apparently wanting
no company but his own thoughts. Finally
he entered the fort. by way Of the water
battery for ne had heard that there was a
cannon there-gun forty-which had a ro-
mantle history. 1t was a legend of Old
Point that II fellow asked a lady to walk
with him to gun forty it was equivalent
to a proposal. He reached the gum leaned
gloomily against the carriage, and won
dered why 50 many men. some OF them
worthless. probably. had been made happy,
while he was compelled to endure all the
discomforts Of a wet blanket thrown upon
his heart-and by his own father, too!
Years hence. when he would be approach
and be more sympathetic. should son Of
his be in the condition which he. Phil. now
found himself.
The approach of other visitors reused him
through the fort. along the south walk OF
the parade. where, to his establishment
and somewha- to his Indignation. he en-
countered hi father and Miss Raybright
looking at sire trophies of war, and chat
ting as me rrily as II between them they
were not rlaking misery for very tender
heart. AS II to make his indignation more
pervas.ve. Fhil whe, recognized by his
father was addressed as "Bub" and order
ed to Join the couple and make himself
agreeable. Miss Raybright did not seem
the least embarrassed bv the meeting. as
Phil felt she ought. and when Trewitt. who
had little knowledge about almost every
thing in nature. broke the tip Of q twig
from one OF the old live oaks on the parade
and showed Miss Raybright from the con-
formation Of the leaves. how Fort Monroe
was the northern limit of that species Of
the genus Quercus, and the lady listened
with an expression Of great interest, as
stem. 1t seemed to Phil that twas a heart
better than heart Of oak that was being
cast under foot.
All day long the youth lounged about dis
consolately, for he did not get a moment
alone with his charmer. His father monop-
olized the girl. even sitting at dinner with
her and her mother, the ladies inviting an
army officer, instead Of Phil. to take the re-
naming chair at the table. What was his
father up to? Between Philip Junior, and
Philip. senior, there had always been entire
confidence as frequently exists between
widowed fathers and only sons; vet the
young man was excited enough to be sus-
picious His father had the reputa ton, in
business circles. of being a man Of great
tact; perhaps he was making the most of
his opportunities to spoil his sons chances
by saying things which would lessen the
regard in which Phil was sure Marian held
him.
1t is unnecessary to say how far suspicion
may go. even in the best natures, when It
gets fair start. There was to be hop at
the hotel that evening. Phil knew that
Miss Raybright did not dance. or even care
much for looking at dance. Every one else
ed; the air was still and warm; the star
light would be bright enough to show the
way, yet dim enough to hide any one from
curious eyes. He would write her, declare
his love and beg her to write him an i'm
mediate answer to his room, and afterward
meet him on the piazza, and stroll with him
on the beach-h the answer was favorable.
He started quickly to act upon this inspi-
ration, but never before had his pen seemed
so dull. He wrote note after note. destroy
ing each before he began another. for man
though he believed himself, and fluent Of
speech though he usually was. his words
did not seem adequate to their duty He
tried to tell himself-and her-that his
tongue would be more able than his pen,
but this did not make his successive notes
seem more fit to be read by Marian Ray
bright He had noted how quickly her eye
book or story. and that she seemed really
yNoir nod hy 1oy nR ho In