The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-10-05

ayes, ] love to ride. Alone? oh, l
don't mind that the country is 50
pretty about here could never be lone
~" How clear and child-like was her
voice. He could not hear the words
of the Others but her answer was plain:
mot bit Of it. Why should | be
afraid? Nothing ever happens-I
mean, of course, that nothing IS likely
TO happen
"Then you are going to keep our
little encounter this morning TO your
SELF" thought Philip; "very well, then
my lady, you and have secret be-
tween us.n
After some search Philip succeeded
in renting wheel and before he had
been at Old Point twenty-four hours
he started for ride. He went slowly
over the bridge hoping TO find Helen
and sure enough he soon overlook her.
She acknowledged his bow and thus
encouraged he rode along side of her.
'Your tire is all right, l hope" /" he
remarked.
"Yes, indeed, thanks to your dexter
ity, it's as good as new" replied Hell
en-, graciously, and Philip found HIM
self thinking that girl never looked
quite so pretty as when on a bicycle.
at is a charming morning for a
ride said Philip.
.'Yes, / am glad it is pleasant, AS /
am going to the Indian training
SCHOOL,
"Wby, 50 am l." said Philip, COM
ing to a sudden conclusion on the sub
ject, '.may ride with your"
''Since We are bound for the same
place We may as well go together" I"
consented Helen. There was no need
Of being priggish, and, besides, she
thought dolefulIy, married woman is
always safe.
"Don't your friends worry about
you when you go off alone? Now, for
instance, since you panctured your
tire yesterday, won't they fear some
aceident?" questioned Philip, artfully.
''Oh, no, you see did not tell them
about the tire" she colored slightly sit
was such little thing
$50 they do not know about it?
Weii," he continued, musingly, "may-
be that is better" Helen looked at
him inquiringly, but he rode on stud
ying the view so intently that she
could learn nothing from his face. She
felt just what he had meant her to feel,
that their meeting had clandestine
element.
The morning passed quickly and
pleasantly and when they drew near
the hotel Philip asked her If he might
accompany her the next morning.
"Yes. if I go out" she assented
cooIly.
soar acquaintance is little uncon-
ventional- | suppose you don't even
know my name, which, by the way, is
Brown"
"Oh, not Brown" Helen burst out
impetuo usly.
"Yes, as common a one as that
Don't you like it?'
'It has rather unpleasant associations
for me. But, of course, as you say, it is
not rare name, it would be foolish to
allow it to prejudice me-"
These words, uttered with kind in
tent, had a most depressing effect upon
Philip, who now saw clearly that
Helen had deep-roOted antipathy for
the Philip brown of her memory or
imagination, and he knew that his
only hope of winning her friendship
was through her ignorance of his real
identity. He determined to make the
most of his time before she should
discover by accident or otherwise that
he was her husband.
The morning wheel ride became a
habit with Philip, and he and Helen
always met, sometimes by accident /;
sometimes they planned to do so.
Each day Philip became more m
vineed that life without Helen would
be flat, stale and Improbable. There
Were times when she became almost
conf iential, but she always checked
herself aud withdrew into the prim
dignity that amused him immensely.
"You never told me anything about
yourself" said Philip, once when they
were resting in a shady nook after
hard spin.
"YOu ought to know great deal
about me, having ridden with me
every morniDg for the past fortnight.
Ridin, bicycle is a great test of a
disposition, they say" answered
II lien.
81 do know a great deal about your
disposition, so much that l am anx-
lou 10 know about your life,n said he,
10 king tenderly at her. "YOu have
n .ver told me your name and | have
eyaded I'm ling it out at the hotel in
in the hope that yo1 would tell me
yourself"
II haven't told you my name, be-
cause'-she paused, and then con-
thu ID, defiantly-"becaus / hate it.
and It's thu same as yours Please
don't ask me why. Please go away
aud leave mel am miserable - She
turned her face away aud Philip fam
cied she was crying. He longed to
take the pathetic little figure in his
arms and tell her that he thanked God
that their names were the same, but be
only said: Forgive me, if I have
hurt you; l would rather die than
cause you to suffer. Please let Us be
friend again"
He took her hand for moment, and
Helen turned her flushed, tear-stained
face toward him, aud, Withdrawing
her hand, said, with brave effort to
be calm AMI forceful: "Mr. Brown,
you must not speak in that way to
me-"
"But don't you see," said Philip.
taking her hand again, ''that you are
very dear [, me?"
'I can't let you; / am not free"
Her voice trembied, ami she released
her hand from his grasp once more
"Please do not make il any harder for
me an married - She burst into