The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-08-01
A FRIENDS LOYALTY.

the class Tor his coWardly assault on tne
new boy" Phil Penrose, the two had been
the stanchest of friends, albeit they were
quite unlike In temperament and DISPOSE
ton. Philip was quiet, studious, reserved,
and somewhat delicate, while John was big,
athletic, impulsive, and, although natural
ly bright, impatient of study. Each found
in the other some quality to admire and
emulate. Both youths fitted for Harvard,
and were loyal chums throughout their uni
versity course. That finished, however,
their paths In life separated. Philip studied
medicine and became q successful practi-
toner In his native New England town.
John adopted business career, connecting
himself with a Chicago firm of which his
uncle was q member. But their friendship
did not end with their separation They
eorresponded regularly, keeping each other
in touch with their affairs. John fell In
love with the dearest girl in the world"
and married her. but Philip, who for some
reason had always disliked and avoided wom-
en-, remained a bachelor-the despair alike
of maneuvering mammas and scheming
spinsters.
After that marriage heletters between the
old friends were not so numerous, but still
they wrote that Philip knew that, though a
new love had come into Johns life, there
was still the same warm place for the old
friendship.
About two years after Johns marriage
Philip was stunned at receiving letter
from his friend apprising him of the fact
that his wife had left him for no other rea-
son than that they had quarreled, and that
John, in a moment of temper had said
something for which he was afterwards
sorry The shock to Philip was all the
greater for the reason that, up to that mo-
ment, he had believed Johns marriage to
be as ideally happy as as any marriage could
possibly be, and the news had the effect of
deepening his constitutional dislike and dis
trust for women
1t was about six months after learning of
Johns marital misfortune that Dr. Pen
rose called one day to attend patient on
q neighboring street. 1t proved to be
young widow named Mrs. FELTON,, residing
with her mother, and evidently newcomer
TO the neighborhood. He saw that she was
seriously i'll, and showed marked symptoms
of pneumonia, and also that she was laborins
under strong nervous excitement. 1t was
needless to say that DR.. Penrose treated her
to the best Of his professional skill, and
with such success that by the next day
there was a marked improvement in her
condition. He found his new patient and
her mother to be extremely reticent about
their affairs, yet during his attendance on
the former he learned that she formerly
lived in western city; that her husband
had died recently, leaving her in straitened
circumstances, and that she had come east
In the hope OF obtaining employment as
O teacher or governess. He decided, how
ever, that her illness was aggravated by
some severe mental trouble, of the nature
OF which he was ignorant.
1t Is possible that Mrs. Felton's recovery
was less rapid and less complete than 1t
should have been, all things considered; at
all events, Philip continued 10 call on her
long after one would have supposed there
was any need of his professional services.
Perhaps 1t was because the doctor was but
man after all, and therefore could not
be blind to the fact that his mysterious pa
tient was handsome young woman with
a peculiar charm of manner; yet greater
beauties than Mrs. FELTON, had smiled upon
him without ever quckening his pulse. Per-
haps 1t was the appealing sadness in her
large eyes that attracted him; perhaps 1t
was the unwavering reserve and dignity OF
her manners and the fact that there was not
q trace Of coquetry about her, for the doc
tor had horror Of coquetry, and until re-
Gently had believed II to be dominant
feminine trait.
The upshot Of the matter was that DR..
Philip Penrose, without having any GER
tain knowledge Of Mrs. Felton's past life,
asked her to be his wife, and was firmly re-
fused. Pressed for reason, she answered
that she did not love him. To which he
calmly replied that, as she was the only
woman he ever would or could love, he
| Intended to win her affection and was will
ing to wait years, If need be, to attain that
result. Philips determined attitude forced
more explicit reply from Mrs FELTON,,
and she finally admitted that there was
an insurmountable obstacle 30 their union
In that her husband was not dead but Hv-
ingl
Quiverng like stricken deer under the
blow, Philip began involuntarily piecing to-
gether In his mind certain ideas, the chief
of which was that FELTON, had been the
maiden name Of Johns wife, and on a sud
! den the awful truth flashed upon him. John
Carletou-he Is your husband" he said,
husldly. For answer she burst into un-
comfortable weeping. When little calmer
| she told her story; of how John had be-
gun to entertain an unreasonable jealousy
OF her; of how they had qparreled, and
that he had said words to her that her pride
could not brook, and Of how, In a moment
OF madness, she had gone away, determine
never to live with him again; Of her sub
sequent repentance of her rash act, and
of how pride and shame had kept her from
returning to him.
Whatever may have been the state Of
Philip Penrose's mind that night as he sat
IN his study, his pen never faltered In the
message 1t was writing to John Carleton
The answer that came by return post was
to the effect that John Carleton utterly
repudiated his wife, he would never for
give her dssertion Of him and was about to
seek divorce.
And 30 there came to Philip Penrose the
greatest temptation Of his life. All through
the long, weary night he wrestled with It,
and when morning came 1t found him aged
and worn, but with grim, determined lool
on his face. Into the letter that was tc
plead for the honor and happiness Of the
two beings he loved best on earth he threw
all the eloquence and passion Of which he
was capable. With what magical power
he wrote may be judged by the reply:
Dear Old Boy; You have conquered
You have shown me plainly wherein wa,
wrong and the way to happiness again.
long to clasp my wife In my arms. Goo