Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-11-05
CHAPTER NNlI.
Amelia $ Awakening.


in comedy and catches him in the
act of what might be called an aCgres-
sive Irritation there are two W.. OF
bringing the scene to a cH,&aN he
author either makes his wife inrrtdi-
bly, gullble and an easy prey, tAere-
fore, to her smart husbands ingenious
If impossible explanation; or, in dcs-
span ol We King out the situation
naturally, he writes Curtain, AID he
spectators are left TO supply the s,Quel
according TO their several falcies.
Often enough it happens in real life
that the chief actor in domestic
drama longs for quick curtain, or,
as it is more commonly expressed,
that the earth might open and swal-
low him up" but the curtain never
falls, and the earth never opens.
1t might have been expected, per-
haps, that the genial, entertaining Mr..
Fhilbrick would be equal to the very
awkward emergency with which he
was confronted but there are limits to
every mans possibilities, and Phil
brick had come to his. Whatever his
game might be, it was up, beyond the
power of anybody TO save it, and he
was the first to recognize it, There
was nothing for him but retreat. Hay-
ing delivered, so TO speak, his braZen
introduction to his wife, he turned to
her, his lips forced into a smile of as
surance, with the words:
Shall we return TO the hotel my
deai ?"
Not so fast, she retorted, and made
as if she would address Professor
Drummond, but Louise interposed:
Mrs. Philbrick," she said, going
forward with extended hand, had not
warned us of your coming, and has for
gotten to introduce me. | am Miss
Drummond Your husband is a great
friend of ours, and | am charmed to
meet him
All three looked at Louise in amaze
ment Her face was highly flushed
and her voice a bit unsteady, bit
otherwise she seemed to be perfectly
composed. She was so eagerly insist
ent in pressing her welcoming hand
upon Mrs. Philbrick that that lady was
forced to take it, and having grasped
she held it while she looked into
Louise's eyes and said:
Tell me the truth, Miss Drummond
Nothing is to be gained by playing a
part with me, though you begin Won
derfully | have only sympathy for
you My husband never told YOU of
my existence.
Her glance was keen and searching,
and Louise quailed before it. The part
she had assumed was too much for her.
Tears showed in her eyes, the flush on
her checks gave way to pallor, and she
turned to Philbrck.
Where is your assurance" she
cried bitterly that YOU compel me to
suffer this"
Louise found herself addressing
Philbricks backWhen he had gone to
his wife and attempted an impossible
smoothing over of the situation he had
shrugged his shoulders and faced away
as a silent acknowledgment of his utter
defeat.
Professor Drummond, meantime,
lad been standing as if paralyzed by
the unexpected disclosure. His lips,
were parted, and his hands half raised,
Anger ragged within, found no express
sion because his fear was greater,
What ought he to do? He knew he
ought to feel and express indignation
for the imposture practiced by Phil
brick, but he dared say nothing lest
he arouse the man to active hostility
and his feelings were more concerned
with his own safety than with SYM
patty for Louise. Had it been posi-
bic for the professor to learn that
there was a Mrs Phlbricl in existence
he might have held the threat of ox-
Osurc over PhilbriCk's head but here
she was. the exposure was made, and
all hold upon a possible enemy was
lost
Iouise's attempt to save her pride
gave the professor a cue to which he
tried to speak
There is evidently some misunder-
standing here" he said feebly; IF
there was any fault in the matter it
was mine, | assure you, Mrs. Philbrick
yielded to an impulse for fun and was
just playing a practical joke on your
husband whom | regard very highly
as a friend"
IT was a cruel joke to me, papa,
said Louise TREMENDOUSLY. You see
what false position you've placed me
in.
These were valiant efforts to bring
about peace. and while Professor
Drummond for the first time in his life
felt positive admiration for his
daughter, Philbrick felt, perhaps for
the first time, a sense Of shame He
turned slowly around and without any
trace of his characteristic confidence
said.
4 am exceedingly sorry. Miss Drum
mond, that | had any share in the
practical joke. might have stopped
it"
No no. interrupted the professor,
seeing his vantage clearly now. 1T
was all my fault. It was bad taste on