The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1897-11-11
dreaded subject, Philip skillfulry In

Stt why We ndun I tnOuHnt OF tnat De-
fore. We can find some quiet place
Down south where we can be comfort.
able, and we can take Helen with u.s.
Philips heart smote him when he sci
himself to demolish this cheerful plan.
Having had time TO think about il, he
had demonstrated TO his own satisfac-
ton the uselessness of trying to dodge
his fate. lie had succeeded in twisting
DIR. Perevin's warning into n formal
sentence of death; and he had made up
his mind to take the physicians adj
vice, not for recupcrative purposes. but
for reasons which were purely senti-
mental. He would go away into the will
dcrness where he could find a quiet
place to die, and would so save his moth
er and Helen the ~day-to-day sorrow of
the intermediary period. IL was all
very foolish and boyish, doubtless; but
Philip was only an overgrown boy at
best, so far as individuality was con
cerned, and Mrs. Thorndyke had her
self to thank for il. And so he pro
ceeded to put his theory into practice.
THAT would all be very pleasant; but
don't you see that | must go alone IL !
mean to live out of doors and rough It?
me to GO into the woods with the tur-
pentine gatherers, or in a logging camp.
! don't know that ] especially yearn for
such an experience, but I'd do that or
anything else to please you and Helen"
Don't be impatient, Philip, dear; /
know were a pair of foolish women,
but there is always the look of your
uncle Granville in your eyes, and"
Mrs. Thorndyke sat down and began to
cry softly into her handkerchief.
Philip was beside her in a moment.
There, there, little mother, you've let
this thing worry you till you're all un-
strung. You mustn't, you know; Pere-
vim says hat Tm-that all / need is a
change of climate. You won't know me
wien i get back"
When one is habitually truthful the
lips lie clumsily and the face usually re-
fuses to corroborate the falsehood; it
was therefore fortunate for Philips
plan that his mothers emotion pre-
vented her from seeing the untruth.
And see now how great a matter so
small a thing may turf aside. IL Mrs.
1horndyke had looked up she would
have believed Philips face against his
words, and there would have been no
solitary migration and no case in
equity-no moral upheaval and no
strangling Of a carefully educated on
science. And, besides, Philip might
have died comfortably at home, with all
the accessories of civilization to make
il easier.
Preparations for the journey. and the
arranging of matters connected with
the estate, kept Philip so busy for the
next few days that there was no time
TO indulge in painful rehearsals of the
approaching l~eavetakings. AS n conf
dunt in the business affair was neces'
sary, he told his solicitor, not the exact
truth, but what he had made himself
believe to be the truth, and was thus
enabled to keep his mother in Ignorance
of his careful provision for her future.
When it came to making the will, Col.
Van Cott,w was a family friend of the
~Thorndykes, and of the Morrissons as
well. put in a word.
you say you wan to leave it all TO
your mother; does that include the sum
set apart for a marriage settlement on
Uelen?"
Yes" Philip ran his hand through
his hair and then tugged at his nous
tache. You see, it's this way" he ex'
plained: 81 know that's what Helen
would wish If she could be consulted.
Cha hog ,1u-ars alia.ta1 20 tho caff1a.
ment, and she says she will insist upon
turning il over to my mother when it
comes into her hands. l thought II
would simplify matters TO include IL
with the rest"
al knew about that" replied the law
yer, taking up his pen again; "aDd 50
] thought perhaps you might want to
leave il as an anchor to windward in
case your mothers property ever be
came involved. don't like your obsti-
macy in the matter of Investments;
mean the way you both keep all your
money tied up in Hallam's bank stock
II know that's always been an eye
sore to You, colonel, and | could never
understand just why it should be. Hal
lam is as safe as the subtreasury. and
he always pays good dividends"
THAT may all be-" replied Van Colt
testify; ~ don't know anything to the
contrary; but it cuts no figure with the
principle of the thing. It's n plain case
of putting all your eggs in one basket;
and that's never a good thing to do"
Philip wrestled "A moment with a new
sense of responsibility. II guess your,
right: though ] never thought much
about it before. It's hardly worth
while for me TO make transfers now
but I'd be glad IL you could get mother
10 do it," And the making of the will
went on without further interruption
During these days of preparation
Philip found il convenient to avoid be.
ing much alone with Helen. Since tell.
ing her of his intention. he had beer
besetby a fear that she suspected a more
serious reason for the journey than the
one he had given her. The fear was not
wholly urfounded. for. on the following
day. Miss MORRISON had gone straight
TO DIR. Perevin. Fortunately for tina,
gentleman's reputation as a keeper OF
family secrets. he happened to be en-
gagged when she called. and so had time
TO reinforce his caution. Helen waited
quaking, in the reception-room, losing
the vantage ground of attack in the
same proportion that the physician
II. L.. n.