The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-05
The STORY OF A
NDERSTANDlNG,
From the London Truth.

He looked down at the childish forlorn
inquire, half lost in the big leather chair,
and felt wild impulse to take it in his
arm. But he restrained the impulse
/ somehow
Well, he said, as quietly as he could,
III IS riddle, isn't it, / wish / could
| help you TO read it. Old Phil must be a
Iunatc-nothing less than a lunatic"
NO, Gwen answered, sadly he is not
lunatlc-1ar from it-but there is some
! thlng don't understand" She looked
up at Bob again, and laid her hand lightly
on his arm. Such a pretty little hand.
IL looked like 4 snowflake on MS rough
coat sleeve. 'Will you do something for
me!' she asked Il know | can trust YOU.
and you are Phils oldest friend but you
must say if you mind very much"
! Bob turned his head away, for he dared
not meet her eyes just then But he took
| hold of her hand and squeezed it hard
| Anything" he said.
| linen" Gwen went on, try and find
| out from Phil what it is that has come
between US, and if can do anything to
| put 1t right ] have tried and failed
! But you may succeed. win you try?'>
| Yes, - said Bob" just as he would
| have said IL if she had asked him to go to
the end of the world for her
That same evening he preached the sub
| lect to Phil II was rather big fence to
tackle, but he shut his eyes and rode
hard at 1t, going straight to the point in
| his laundering, honest way
Phil hesitated little at first, but in
the end he told the truth.
You see, old chap he said, tits like
this. The whole affair is CHASTITY mis-
take all through. l never proposed to
Gwen at all. "
Bob gave a great start.
You never proposed to her at all?" he
echoed. "Then how in heavens name
did you get engaged?'
"Well,'' said Phil, addressing himself
to the fire, lit happened in this way. You
remember Charley Thompson of the
tn, Well, l was staying down in
| Devonshire with him last summer and
there | met Gwen. She took my fancy
awfully at first, and l seemed to take
! hers; so we started a Irritation,
! and that worked all right until
| her sister Lily appeared on the scene
| When ] saw her-Lily, ] meau-I knew
| ! was done for. She's-shes different
| from other girls, somehow Well, | soon
| made up my mind to ask her TO marry me,
! but l was bit shy about it, and, like a
| fool, before speaking to her ! thought
would try and find out from Gwen if there
! was chance for me- l mentioned it to
! her one evening. and tried to ask her to
| put in good word for me; but l must
AA 70 AAtiNlN Oh IL ltllOb VI IuYSGll, IDE
! to my horror, she thought / was prOpos-
| ing to her, and before knew where was
! she had accepted me. It was all up with
| me then, | felt queer, l can tell YOU
! Bob; and when | found she had really
| cared for me all the time, when Thought
she was only playing me at my own game,
l hadn't the pluck to tell her the mis-
take she had made. | was a coward, l
/ know, but / literally could not do it,
| INST LET things Glide and tgrns cd
| TO luck to get me out of the scrape You
| see the result. Lack deserted me for
! once, and here | am-stranded. I've be-
| haved like a fool and a scoundrel all
round, and the worst of it is no one is
| satisfied | am miserable, so is Gwen, and
so is Lily-and all through misunder-
! standing. Is there anything [ can do to
! put things straight, old chap, without be-
| having more like a scoundrel than ever,
mean2 What would you do in my place2"
Bob thrust his hands deep into his
! pockets and nodded his head with great
! gravity,
Tell the truth, - he answered, tersely
| its the only thing you can do, and you
| ought to have done it long ago Jove it's
a tight fit, though"
Phil fairly groaned.
IF thought Gwen had given up caring
| for me Ia tell her fast enough" he re
| Joined, but don't think she has, and
and how can tell her. No, hang it all! |
can't. | shalt have to see the thing
through now, whatever comes"
Bob was silent for moment or two.
blinking solemnly at the fire.
Tell you what it is" he said at last.
| "Miss Warrington has plenty of pluck,
| and she's as straight as they make EN-
! You ought TO be straight with her, Phil.
| 1t seems to me that the more she cares
for you the more right she has to know
! the truth. I may be wrong-pm a stupid
| sort of chap, / know-but that's the way
! | look at it"
Good old Bob His honest heart and
| simple mind had led him straight to a
ttruth. that wiser men have often missed,
| The story is quite an old one now. 1t
| all happened last year. and Phil and Lily
are going TO be married next month.
And the others!
Well it was only one day last week that
| Bob said suddenly to Gwen:
| Il say, do youremember what happened
| year ago to-day"
And Gwen flushed a little as she an
! swered:
Yes, of course l do. was in trouble.
and ! asked you to hely me-and you
! did"
and did, ~ said Bob, and then he put
is hand over hers as 1t lay idly on the
arm of her chair. Tell you what it is. -
! he went on, looking at her with all his hon
est heart in, his honest eyes, Il wish
! you would let me 20 on helping you
! through. life, / mean. I'm not much
! good at talking but ! know what l
! mean, and I'll always do my best for YOU.
! Win you try me- viii YOU wenl"
And Gwen said, Il will"
Blindness Cured at a Grave.