The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-12

| when his adversary was ready to begin
tormentlng him again. Simon hurled
these words at his head. as II they had
been q stone: my papa's name is
Philip"
There were howls of derlsion on all
sides. Phillip who? Philip what? What
is he? When did you find your Phillip"
Simon made no answer, and, unway-
cring in his faith. he detied them with
lis eyes, ready to be mnrtyred rather
than run from them. The school,
teacher delivered him, and he went
home.
For three months the big workman,
Philip, passed frequently near Blan-
chOttes cottage. and sometimes he ven
tured to speak to her when he saw her
sewing at the window. She replied po-
lItely, always gravely, never laughed,
and never permitted him to enter.
Nevertheless, trihe concelted, like all
men, he imagined that she had more
color when she was talking to him than
ordinarily.
But hawed reputation Is SO difficult
to make whole again. and always re-
mains so brittle. that in spite of Blan-
chotte's sensitive reserve. the country
people were already gosslplng. AS to
Simon, he loved his new papa dearly,
and took walk with him nearly every
evening after the days work was done.
He went to school regularly and min
gled with the pupils, but never replied
10 their taunts,
One day, however, the boy who had
heen the lnstlgator Of the attack said
TO him: You told lie; you haven't a
Papa named Philip" why not2" de-
manded Simon. much perplexed. The
boy rubbed his hands Because. II you
cid have one, he would be your NAM
mas husband
Simon was disturbed by the Justice
cf this reasoning; nevertheless he re-
Piled. Hes my papa, all the same"
THAT may be-" declared the boy, but
he isn't your papa at all, you know !
Blanchotte's son bent his head and
walked dreamlly over to Uncle Lolzon's
smithy, where Philip worked. The
smlthy was as II buried under the trees
IT was very dark, only the red light Of
a formidable flre illuminated and re-
fected five blackSmIths with bare arms.
who were hammering on their anvils
with a terrible din. They were stand
ing, blazing like demons, their eyes rlv-
eted on the red hot iron that they were
shaping, and their heavy thoughts rose
and fell in unison with their hammers.
Simon entered unnoticed, and, softly,
slipping up to his friend, pulled him By
the sleeve. Philip turned. Suddenly
work ceased; all the men were watch
ing attentively. Then, in the midst OF
the unaccustomed silence, slmon's little
frail voice was heard: Say, Philip
Nilchauds boy Just told me that yon
we're not my papa at ALL why not?"
demanded the workman. The child re-
piled with all a child's nalvete. BE
cause you are not mammals husband"
No one laughed. Philip remained
standing, his forehead resting on the
back OF the large hands holding the
handle of the hammer which stood on
the anvil. He was dreaming. His four
companions kept their eyes on him.
and Simon, so tiny among these giants,
was anxIously listening to what one OF
the smiths, the spokesman for the rest
was saying to Philip.
"All the same she's good, honest
girl, plucky and steady, in spite Of her
misfortune-she'd be good wife for IN
honest man"
Yes, that's true" chimed in the three
others. The man continued; rs 1t her
fault II she tripped onee3 He had prom
ised to marry her. and know more
than one that's done the same thing
and is not thought the less of to-day"
Eyes that's true" the chorus took up
the refrain.
He went on: "God only knows what
the poor thing has put up with to bring
no her boy, and how she's cried since
she left on going anywhere but to
church"
ITS all true" said the others.
Then nothing was heard but tho
blowing OF the bellows. Philip bent
swiftly over simon. "Tell your mamma
I'm going to have talk with her this
evening" Then he pushed the child
out By the shoulders.
He returned to his work and with one
accord the fiye hammers fell again on
the anvils. so they beat away Mt the
Iron I'M nlghtfall. strong powerful
happy. But as on fenst-dny the great
bell OF the cathedral sounds above the
peal OF the other bells. no Philips ham
mcr. dominating the blows Of his COM
rades, fell every other second with
dcnfening thud. and he himself. his
eyes anamc. wrought irupas'ioned amid
tha sparks.
The ky was studded with stars when
he knocked at Blnnehoite'H door He