Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-09-05
A PHILOPENA WOOING,
Or
Miss Harl0VG'S Love Story.

Cut W uiuutI, anu iieilHel lHC UiAASi
nor the diners received any of his at
tention, for it was entirely occupied
by Miss Harlowe.
He could not have told what was
the first course, nor what was the
last, nor what had been said by the
lion of the evening, Lieut.. Barnum of
Cuban fame; but he knew at just what
droop Miss Harlowe's curling lashes
looked prettiest, he knew every de-
tail of her gown, he knew just how her
brown hair turned to gold where the
rays of the electric globes fell upon it.
Miss Harlowe held out a twin nut
in her pretty palm. will you eat
philopena with me, Mr. Armstrong;"
she said.
1t was marvellous what softening
effect those lashes had on her brilliant
eyes, one felt the difference when she
looked straight at one and when she
looked up from under their silken
fringe. Some people said she had
hard eyes. Armstrong did not think
so. He bent over the small hand and
took up the nut as if it were jewel.
Il will do anything that you ask me
to do" he said. But what happens
when one eats a philopena?"
"Oh, you cannot accept anything
from me and I cannot accept anything
from you. If one of us does and the
other cries philopena!' the unfortu-
nate is obliged to give a pawn"
Those are very hard conditions,
altogether unfair" said Armstrong.
Eat it," Miss Harlowe commanded,
at her plate. There is always a way
to get around the hardest conditions"
she said softly.
"Phillipa carried on as usual this
evening"" remarked the hostess to her
husband when the last guest had
gone. 81 declare, that girl is simply
dreadful. She is the dearest, prettiest
thing, but she seems to think that all
men were created solely for her
amusement"
Mrs. West had tender heart, and
all the evening she had carried with
her the recollection of the pathetic
gratitude in John Armstrong; eyes
when she told him that he was as
signed to Miss Harlowe. She gave an
uIoEending yellow soft pillow vicious
dig, which might have led one to sup
pose that for moment she had trans
formed it into Miss Harlowe's golden
head. Then she gave her husband a
hug and kiss as if to atone to all
men for the cruelty of all women.
"My dear" said he, John Arm
strong is able to take care of him.
self"
But Mrs. West knew he wasn't.
Phillipl was sleeping the sleep of
the just. Probably it was the sleep
lessness of the unjust that John Arm
strong was experiencing.
He had been warned Other moths
who had futtered about the fame ex-
kibfted their singed wings, or expati-
ated on the altogether vingless con-
dition of still more unfortunate vic.
tins. But where is the moth that was
ever saved by good advice?
''She is as beautiful as a picture.
md with about as much heart" said
Travers.
'She is beautiful, and she has
heart to match her face" replied
Armstrong. You fellows have never
been able to reach it, that's all. She
isn't woman to be lightly won, and
[ like her for it,
Lightly won! Good heavens!
That's just it; she doesn't want to be
won; she only wants to be wooed
John, my boy, | admire your delicious
self-conceit and your stubbornness,
but | tell you she is just playing with
you"
II do not care to discuss Miss Har-
lowe any further" said Armstrong
coldly. And Travers knew that he
had said as much as he dared.
Phillipa sat in her drawing room,
waiting for John Armstrong. She was
smiling to herself as she remembered
that she had told three men that she
would not be at home tonight
HE comes out of his shell when
there is no one else here" she said
to herself. What a great, noble head
he had! And what will. | will tell
him about the other men"
He came directly, and she well
coined him very sweetly; but as she
looked in his face she saw a certain
firmness about the lips and a steady
light of purpose burning in his eyes.
and she shivered little. Like Ira
vers, she knew that she had gone as
far as she dared.
She became desperately gay, but
Armstrong was in no mood for rail
lery. He sat silent and watched the
play of the light on her hair, the deli
cate rose color that burned in her
cheeks, the quick dropping and curv-
ing of her lips.
Then he leaned suddenly over her
He was tremendously in earnest, his
ghtforward nature could brook
no preamble. She certainly under
stood him by this time.
'Phinipa." he cried you know that