Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-02-11

tAA NAt1t : never q Spou tang 10 90.
Philip wrestled moment with a new
sense of responsibility. u guess you're
right; though l 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
30 do IT," And the making of The viii
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
heset by q 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
70 DR. Pereyin Fortunately for that
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 wa ted,
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. l want you to tell me all
ale at Philips tror BILE" 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
il so remarkable that should have sug-
gested change of scene and climate?"
"N-no, | suppose not; but, doctor,
please tell me why you advised him TO
20 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 a change to the dissipa-
tions of a summer or winter resort.
The doctor paused, and then added.
automatically; And l count on your
help to make this possible; you must
dissuade Mrs. Thorndyle if she has any
idea of going with Philip"
Helen's falteriug acceptance of the
condition imposed by this appeal ended
the interview, and she left DIR. Perevin's
office with her trouble increased in in
verse proportion to the success of her
errand. IT 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
|
eound it good to look upon and tender
and self-sacrificing as such love for
| such young woman should be. 1t was
q mercless aggrayation 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 u, that blessings are as
but the water for footwashing until the
| fountains are dried up and the well
| springs are no more.
Taking all things into consideration,
| Philip developed more strength of char
acter than he had reason to expect
when he went to pay the final visit 10
! the Morrissons. He meant TO play the
part of the good-natured patient who
obeys his physicians orders without
prejudice to a 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 ill health in the welI-knit ath-
! letic-looking young man who leaned
against the manteI. 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 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
OF emaciation and turned the hectic
/ flush into a rudy glow OF health This
was what he told himself in the un-
written language of underthought
while outwardly he was listening to Mr..
| Morrisson's questions.