The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-04-09

SCis tdAiHS up HIS pen dSdlHS anu sc
l thought perhaps you might want tc
leave it 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. "
81 know that's always been an eye
core to you, colonel, and I 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 Cott.
testify; 81 don't know anything to the
.ontrary; but it cuts no figure with the
principle of the thing. It's plain case
Of putting all your eggs in one basket;
and that's never good thing to do"
Philip wrestled moment with a new
sense of responsibility. 81 guess you're
right; though never thought much
about it before. It's hardly worth
while for me to make transfers now
but I'd be glad if you could get mother
to do it," And the making of the will
went on without further interruption.
During these days of preparation
| Philip found it convenient to avoid be-
| ing much alone with Helen. Since tell
ing her of his intention, he had been
beset by a fear that she suspected more
serious reason for the journey than the
one he had given her. The fear was not
wholly unfounded, for, on the following
day, Miss Morrison had gone straight
to DR.. Perevin. Fortunately for that
gentleman's reputation as 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
! strengthened his defenses by delay.
When she was finally admitted, she
threw away her one chance of success
by abandoning strategy for assault.
doctor, I want you to tell me all
about Philips trouble" she began.
''Why are you sending him away? and
why won't he talk about what you told
him?"
The doctor was suavity and consid-
crate sympathy personified. "Why, my
dear young lady, one would think that
Philip had been ordered to Siberia! Is
it so remarkable that I should have sug-
gested a change of scene and climate ?"
'N-no, l suppose not; but, doctor,
please tell me why you advised him to
GO alone"
1t was a very sweet face, lighted by
appealing eyes of the clearest gray, and
made altogether lovely and irresistible
by the touch of pathetic anxiety, that
was turned toward the physician.
Moreover. DR.. Perevin had said nothing
about the advantages of solitary exile,
but he stood by his patient Loyalty.
ITO have advised him otherwise
would have been like preaching him q
sermon with the text left out. What
he needs is out of door life, and that
doesn't mean change to the dissipa-
tions of a summer or winter resort"
The doctor paused, and then added,
automatically: sand I count on your
help to make this possible; you must
dissuade Mrs. Thorndyke if she has any
idea of going with Philip"
Helen's faltering acceptance of the
condition imposed by this appeal ended
the interview, and she left DR.. Perevin's
office with her trouble increased in in
verse proportion to the success of her
errand. 1t wanted but three days of
the time that Philip had set for his de-
parture. and during this interval the
distress of the man, who thought his
knowledge was definite, was not more
real than that of the woman who knew
nothing and feared everything.
From the time when his mind had
clarified sufficiently to allow him to
grapple with the conditions of the new
point of view, Philip had begun to dread
most the parting from Helen. That was
because the new point of view had
shown him, among other things, the
neither side of his love for her, and he
found it good to look upon and tender
and self-sacrificing, as such love for
such young woman should be. 1t was
a merciless aggravation of his misery,
he told himself, that this knowledge
came so late; that he had to look back
at Helen from the brink of the grave, as
it were, before he could realize what her
love was worth and what it would cost
to give it up. He cried out against the
peculiar hardness of his lot in much
bitterness of spirit, saying that his case
had no parallel. Wherein he lost sight
of the truth, old as the complaint of
the man of Uz. that blessings are as
but the water for footwashing until the
fountains are dried up and the we'll
springs are no more.
Taking all things into consideration,
Philip developed more strength of char
acter than he had reason to expect
the Morrissons. He meant to play the
part of the good-natured patient who
obeys his physicians orders without
prejudice to firm belief in their un-
importance, and this was not particu-
larly difficult in the presence of two
elderly people who had known him
from infancy. If appearances went for
anything, there was certainly little evil
dence of i'll health in the well-knit ath-
letic-looking young man who leaned
against the mantel, laughing and talk
ing easily about his approaching de-
parture. He caught glimpse of himself
in a mirror as he talked, and hope al
most struggled into life again. 1t was
but a passing moment of eXaltation,
however, for he knew we'll enough that
it was distance and the shaded light of
the chandelier that effaced the fine lines