The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-01-10

earth would induce him to make love to
Freda Trevelyan, still, if he did yield
to that dreadful temptation, he could
have loved her thousand times better
by far than ever he could have loved
poor fluffy haired Aggie. And Aggie in
turn felt that, though it would be treason
to think of Angus Stuart when she was
actually on her way out to India to
marry Phil Gilman, still, if things had
gone otherwise, she could have loved
that handsome soldier a thousand times
better than ever she could love poor
philosopher Phil, with his cut and dried
deputy collectorship away somewhere
up country!
They had both one consolation. Per-
haps when Aggie turned up, after five
years. development, she would no longer
be the pretty little fluffy haired fairy he
once admired, but real live woman
something. don't you know, like Freda
Trevelyan! Or perhaps when Phil turn
ed up he would no longer be quite so
sober and grave as of old Five years of
Indian life might have frightened and
sharpened him up into something re-
sembling Angus Stuart!
Not very cheering frame of mind,
I'm afraid, in which to approach the
most solemn Of all human engagements !
The Indus was telegraphed ON in the
ordinary course from Port Said, from
Suez. from Alden. The night before she
was due to arrive at Bombay, Phil Gill
man and Freda Trevelyan sat long talk
ing together. Freda's face was down.
cast. She was not glad to think that
must be the last night, or almost the
last night, they would spend together
OF course no well conducted girl would
ever dream Of falling in love with an
other woman's affianced bridegroom,
but human nature is weak, and though
we mayn't quite fall in love under such
special circumstances we sometimes
can't exactly help producing very
good imitation of the genuine article.
And Freda Trevelyan certainly liked
Phil Gilman exceedingly. He was so
bright and SO clever and SO different
from the other men she met at her un=
cle's: IT was a lovely evening, I've OBJ
served lovely evenings are peculiarly
dangerous. They sat long and talked
together on the veranda alone Sir Ed
ward Moulton, most correct of men
chaperons, thought there could be no
possible harm i'll Freda's sitting out
with that pleasant young Gilman the
very night before the girl he was going
to marry arrived from England. So
they sat there and talked-and grew
more and more confidential, till at last
faint tremor showed itself in Freda's
voice, and even Phil was conscious of
feeling in his throat and a regretful
moisture in his eye as he said "good
night" to her.
He paused and held her hand. 81
could have wished''- he began.
Freda started back, half alarmed.
''No, no, Mr.. Gilman" she said, an
ticipating his words, .'Yop may feel it,
it you will, but you must not say it,
stThen you knew what I meant!"
Phil cried, leaning eagerly forward.
Freda's bosom heaved and fell. Chow
could help it," she asked. "You must
have felt knew it.
Phil looked at her earnestly. ":What
ought to dogs he asked. "You see how
things stand. loved her dearly once.
Now-yes, 1 will speak the TRUTH
love some one else better. No, don't
start away. want you to advise me, tc
nelp me, to counsel me. Is it right o1