The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-07-26

no more Dut chre6ReO nim WhObe llfeS
long care had made her forget thai
she was m0therless.
Just az the sun was setting Philip
and Helen were married at the side
of John Armstrong; bed. As thu
last words were said peaceful, hap
py smile illuminated the face Of tho
dying man and grasping a hand 81
each he said, God bless you," AMI
passed away.
The memory Of that hour remained
with Helen many day; the uttel
strangeness OF her surroundings added
to her desolation. Philip saw to hei
physical comfort, but dared not offei
word Of consolation to the girl
whose sorrow seemed crushing. Shs
appeared not to be aware of his ex
istence and only answered In mono
syllables any remark he made.
You will return to New York,
presume?' he said as they walked
back from the lonely grave afte. the
burial.
Eyes, Immediately" Helen answer
ed.
In the early spring of the following
year, Helen went to Old Point Comfor
with the mother of her dearest s.hoo
friend, Lenda Horton, with whom she
has made her home since her father's
death.
She found herself growing brightel
and happier, the change and outdoor
life doing her much good.
One morning as she was riding ovel |
the long bridge that connects Old
Point with the village of Hampton
she passed man who looked at heI |
very steadily for moment. He was
tall, rather dark, clean shaven and
well dressed.
by Jove, it's Helen, as sure as
al alive" he exclaimed. II hadn't
hoped to see her SO soon,' he thought
my boat has been in an hour and |
have been putting off the evil moment
of sending up my card; fear she
won't receive me very warmly"
Suddenly he saw her dismount and
examine her wheel. She looked about
hopelessly and seemed to be at a LOST
to know what to do. Philip hurried
toward her and said: MAY be o.
any service to your
p "Oh, thank you, am afraid l hay(
punctured one OF my tires" she rel
Piled and Philip was surprised at hci
beauty as she turned her face toward
him. II am not an expert wheelwo
man, l hardly know what to do
DO you carry repair outfit? ]
may be able to mend it,"
'Why, l don't know, lle"e are LOTT
of things in that little satchel, per
haps there Is a repair outfit"
Philip could scarcely repress smile
at the woeful ignorance of this young
woman in regard to her wheel, but he
looked into the little satchel' ant
brought to light tools with which I'd
mend the tire. While he was busyina
himself about it, he thought of his
peculiar position. There he was gal
lantly assisting his own wife, He
saw that she did not recognize him
in his changed dress and shaver facti
and he was glad that she did not, al
he felt sure that she would not hav,
smiled so brightly or talked so pleas I
antly had she known.
"Do you ride much? Don't you think
you ought to learn what to do in case
of accidents!'
Il am beginner and I never 60 fat I
from the hotel yet suppose ought F.,
to learn about my wheel, but l don't
believe am a mechanical genius,i r
she laughed. Its really much nicer &
TO have some one do it for me' b
Il hope l may always be SO forum, |,
ate as to appear at the right momentn u
Helen drew herself up to her full l.
height of tivefeet-four, and replied as
roldly as she could: THANK you very q
much: it is finished, believe" She n
took the wheel from him, and, mount
ing, rode back in the direction of the Il
hotel. As Philip stood, hat in hand, d,
he reflected that she might be a little 4
difficult. He fell to wondering If il n
was possible to rent a wheel, and ,e
about decided not to make his identi, IL
ty known just yet. DC
Mrs. Horton and Helen were at din, n
ner when Philip stepped into the din
ing room, and in following the waiter ",
to his seat he passed their table, Hell III
en- inclined her head very slightly! "a
she evidently did not consider her n,
morning meeting sufficient introduc. d
ion. of
In the afternoon he lit cigar and Is
'trolled along the piazza. There was III
very delightful in being DC
'ack once mere amid the comforts ii,
md luXuries of the east after years tal
If hard work rs a mining engineed |
n the toughest parts of the 'westj vi
'he little refnemants of life appealed 40
o him strongly. A group Of ladies' del
ated at the shady side Of the piazza, WI
18th their embroidery, seemed an ini
lluable addition to the scene, amt uei
hen he heard clear, familiar voted u ~.
nong them he felt more than eyed .ne
lat life was very good. Only d wv
nse of duty had brought him east w.
e promise to his friend, the best
lend the world could give, had been ga.
s guiding star the last eight or nine ny
onths and the time hau come wher W.
! felt 1t right to see for himself how u.s., ".s
s little charge was. Now that hs uln
rs here and had seen Helen he fell 'n "a,
laccountably hnppy. "A man mus l..
we some one to live for" he mused ~ ~!
nd even If it's young girl who, TO, ~ ~
you know, doesn't care whether
II live or not, its better tnan sci 'n ~,
h life" His thoughts We're inter. u..
pied by few words that came 20
I'M the group Of ladies': Eyes, love u1 -,
ride. Alone? Oh, don't mind that -
e country Is so pretty about here ] ns
uld never be lonely" How clea, WIZ
d child-like was her voice. He
lld not hear the words of I'll, others TT
her answer was plain: Not bill deer
it. Why shorld be afraid? Moth ,ofY
; ever happens-I mean, of course pith
1t nothing is likely to happen" into
Then you, are going to keep our md,
lie encounter this morning to your brio
f." thought Philip very WE'LL then into
lady, you anu have secret be side.
cen u.s. of +