The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-03-05

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8:9@| Philip had a guilty
feeling that every
one he passed knew that his engage
ment with Gladys Lawton was broken,
and that there reposed in his left.hand
pocket, to be returned to their owner,
one dozen little notes on heavy white
paper, monogram G.. L., and in his
right-hand pocket diamond scarf pin
and six dainty handkerchiefs, with fluffy
borders, especially designed to tickle
ladylike little nose. Why Philip
defed custom in returning these arti-
Giles in person the little God of Love
alone knows.
A far more imposing array Of gifts
and love tokens was being collected at
the other end of the line, for Phil was
generous soul, and his lady love
most chary Of her favors. Letter
writing she detested, and Phil at an
early stage Of their engagement had
been employed as secretary. The an
swers to his daily notes were, to his
disgust, usually given by telephone.
AS to the handkerchiefs thereby
hangs q tale, for Gladys was one Of
those most unfortunate beings-a girl
without a pocket-and could be traced
anywhere by the trail of pretty mou-
choirs she left behind her.
Pills hand iuvoluntarily frightened
over the packet which aroused such
bitter sweet remembrances. One lit
tie square Of linen, with wide fu6les
of lace, he .pilfered the day they be-
came engaged, and was sacred in Phil's
sight, for it had wiped away two
happy tears from Gladys big
blue eyes. Another had been
put in his pocket for safe keep
ing one evening as they were going
to see o famous tragedian. keep it
for me, Phil, for I know I shall cry"
said Gladys, fully conscious of her
weaknesses. It was not needed, for
the play proved more glad than sad,
and Philip added the bit of cambria to
bis rapidly growing collection.
Gladys had o pretty habit Of wear
ing fluffy handkerchief tucked CO.
quettishly up her sleeve, and another
of Pills souvenirs had been used one
happy night to bandage a finger he
had bruised in raising window.
He smiled to himself as he remem-
bered how many times he had heard
an agonized whisper, "Please lend me
your handkerchief, Phil, I can't think
what has become Of mine" This COM
mon occurrence had caused Phil, in
making his toilet, to invariably add an
extra one for Gladys and her emer-
gencies.
Phil heayed a sigh that would have
been credit to the stagiest lover, and
his honest heart thumped hard as he
walked up the steps of Mrs. Lawton's
house "Ah, we'll, Gladys is the only
girl in tho world for me; but our first
quarrel is to be our last, for she does
not care for me, that's evident, fool
that was And he pulled the bell
so savasely that Polly, the
maid, fairly flew to the door
Pills eyes dropped as he met
he beaming gaze of Polly, the maid.
Polly, who had opened the door so
sympathizingly through all the stages
of his courtship-she, at least, would
be sorry there was to be no wedding,
and Pills voice faltered tride as he
asked for Miss Lawton.
'She is in the library, sir" Polly
said in her usual encouraging tones.
Phil hesitated. The library was the
private sanctum where Gladys received
only her intimate friends. Warning
felt that it would be hard matter to
end his engagement in that room.
II think I will wait in here" he
said, going toward the drawing-room.
ooh, sir, Mrs. Lawton has moth
er's meeting in there" said Polly, and
led the way to the sacred precincts SO
familiar to him of late. No one was
there, and Waring sat down in a re-
mote corner, feeling i'll at ease with
these surroundings. When Mrs. Law
ton had become such club woman
that her drawing-room was in constant
requisition for meetings Of all sorts
and conditions of women, Gladys had
arranged o little parlor Of her own.