The Monitor-register., 1897-04-02
PHIL COULDN'T GUESS.

The prosperous village lawyer spoke
rather abruptly, rustling among the pa
pers with impatient vehemence.
Philip Leslie looked up with an absent
minded, wondering stare, his brown
ourls rumpled, and his broad Scottish
face sunburned and flushed, while bis
fingers were splashed with ink, and his
ofhce coat worn in no very picturesque
style.
Harry B9lt laughed. sitting at the OBJ
posite desk.
Don't ask Phil any questions, sir, he's
in the clouds. But If my testimony is
considered of any value l should say that
he had spent the morning in the woods.
getting flowers for Miss Wares vases"
Judge Ware shrugged his shoulders.
Profitable work. But never mind"
he added, pleasantly, as he saw the color
mount holly into Philips face. Sup
pose you hurry up the Injunction, Mr..
Leslie. l shall want it this afternoon"
81 will have it ready, SIR" said Philip,
piunging his quill recklessly into the
huge wooden inkstaud and rattling away
over the paper at a railroad rate, while
Mr.. alt, serene and calm at his desk.
contrived to do everything in the most
graceful manner.
Philip, looking up now and then, be-
came vaguely conscious of his compan.
ions easy superiority.
Il am not like Harry B9lt," he thought
81 am not handsome and slender and soft.
voiced and easy l am only a clumsy
hard-headed clown. No wonder Gerty
Ware always prefers him when she goes
out auywhere-no wonder that every one
likes him best"
He sighed and dropped a huge blot,
and had to begin his work all over again.
Are you through, Belt ?"
Yes. | am going to practice that
Spanish duet with Miss Gertrude now
You mind the Office, will you, leslie ?"
"Yes, FL mind the off Co." said Leslie,
with a sigh-this time more careful of
the surplus ink npon the pen.
The Injunction was all ready-the
sweet Spanish music had died away
Harry Belt was smoking a cigar upon the
office steps, and honest Philip stole across
the entry into Judge Wares sitting room,
where Gertrude, the lawyers only child,
was hemming a strip of snow-white Swiss
muslin by the window.
She was a fair haired young lady, with
violet-gray eyes. cheeks as fresh as a wild
rose and a saucy little nose, turned up
just the least bit at the end, as if to ex
press defiance to the world 10 general.
And Harry Belt aud Philip Leslie were
both desperately in love 18th the lawyers
pretty daughter, and had been for the
last three or four months.
Gerty Ware looked up as a step sound.
ed on the Threshold, aud honest Philip,
staring in oper-mouthed admiration at
the ros~e-shadowed cheeks and violet
gray eyes. caught his foot in the carpet
and STUN bled headlong into the room, in
a manner more precipitate thar graceful.
Gerty gave a little scream
"Oh, Philip. that's just like you! How
you do startle me-"
"I'm sure | beg your pardon, Miss
Gerty," said Philip, crimson and feeling
90 if he should like to a~nnihilate his
"'PF4lssXk ess4E.v-uuu ! s.o uoru IL IL, WYNN
basket. and mind you don't upset that
vaseu'
Philip Leslie deposited himself care
fully in a chair and sat very still and
stiff. Gerty burst out laughing.
"Oh, Phil! one would think you were
strung on wires and the machinery had
got loose, somehow"
"Gerty, did you like the flowers?
"What fl DIVERS ?'
Philips countenance fell.
"The flowers l brought from the woods
this morning"
"Oh, yes, they were pretty"
Gerty sewed on indifferently. Philip
tried to think of something to say as he
leaned forward with his elbows on the
little work table, and tried to push his
hugh forefinger into a fairy thimble.
"Gerty-"
"Oh, dear, there goes my work basket"
Il was too true. By an unconscious
nnnrnnarE oF hiy arm Drill bod SAINT tho
spools and balls and bodkins and needle
boxes rolling into the four corners of the
ROOM. He descended after them silently
and swiftly, going on all fours like a mon
strous auadruped.
"Oh, Philip. Philip!" sighed Gerty.
eyes, 1 know I'm clumsy, Gerty. said
the Law student, 'but, You see, l can't
help it,"
"Can't help it," repeated Miss Ware, a
little scornfully. "Jast wait until l have
a husband-you'll see whether or not he
can help being clumsy"
"Until you have a husband ?"
Eyes," said the young lady, giving her
fair curls a saucy toss.
Phil had got his elbows on the table
again, and was lingering an ivory paper
knife o 10 a most destructive manner.
"What will be be like, Gerty ?"
Well-let me see. He must be good
looking, of course"
"Yes-of counsel" echoed Philip, with
sinking heart, as he thought of Harry
Belts Greek features and blue black hair
aud mustaehe.
Sand tall"
Harry was five feet eleven.
SWELL ?"
"Aud very graceful and self-possessed."
Philip dropped the paper knife here
and had to go under the table for it, com
ing out presently with a face like a fresh
boiled lobster.
Sand he must know everything that
ever was and play on the guitar" con-
tinued Gerty.
Harry owned a superb instrument.
"Aud sing"
Phil had a voice like a high gale of
wind at sea when he tried to sing.
And above all things he must be-oh,
take care, Phil, pleased"
But Gefty's warning had come too late.
The delicate little Bohemian vase, with
it's long-stemmed white flowers, had gone
over, and the table was deluged with
water.
Philip pulled out his pocket handker'
chief and went desperately to work, with
a face of scarlet, while Gerty laughed
and scolded alternately.
"The fact is, Phil,H she said, merrily