Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-04-04

her face toward me, although she
dropped her eyes-~"Phyllis, whom
have you promised my place at your
side tomorrow morning"
Phyllis was silent, but something
like a sob shook the slender form be-
side me, and ! felt my heart softening
again. Perhaps, after all, undue
pressure, or even Compulsion, had
been brought to bear upon Phyllis in
this matter. | am poor man, com.
paratively speaking, and there are
plenty of richer fellows floating about
Chicago. ! never had looked upon
Phyllis father and mother as wealth
seekers, or even designing match
makers, but It easy to be deceived In
people Phyllis was true as gold and
faithful ~ gas collector, | knew; but
she loved her parents dearly, and was
very yielding by nature--sometimes
And If Phyllis no longer loved me-
could not finish that train Of
thought am not one of the In
divduals who court pain and suffering
uuutl lllt Bhlnt VI lltN Nttl6dllbllH,
merely to see how terribly thing
may hurt or how long the smart of a
wound may be borne without tlinch-
ing. | placed my arms about Phyllis
again. drew her head tenderly down
to my shoulder and kissed her few
vently. was sure it was n sob which
shook her just az lifted my own
head.
Darling" said, my whole nature
thrChing in response to that murmur,
darling, tell me; | won't be angry
not with you--indeed | won't be.
my sweet one But let me know the
worst at one-please, Phyllis, if you
love me ever so little Is it member
OF my own sex who is to accompany
You to church tomorrow morning?"
Phyllis made no answer, but from
the manner in which she burrowed
sleeve | understood her to mean
Yes"
"Do your parents desire you to ac-
company him. | asked next, and
once more the burrowmg movement
was translated into an affirmative.
phyllis" | said my heart sinking
as put the crucial question, do you
love this fellow who is to take MY
place tomorrow morning."
And once more | knew she was try
ing to say yes"
More than you love me-"
My voice trembled "a Httle-I
couldn't help n--and the form my
arms still surrounded shook with the
emotion which could not be re-
strained. but the head which
crowned It telegraphed mo" thls
time, and emphatically took heart
sufficiently to become a trhe sar.
castle.
The fellow t. rich, | SUPPOSE" /
ventured stIfiy an undisguised sheer
in my tones,
mo" came the answer.
But he will be by and by" was the
way in which tempted Providence
next
Il think hope so, said Phyllis
in a smothered voice.
raised her head dramaticalgy-I
could bear no more-and looked upon
her face, She was actually laughing
Mt the knowledge that she was break
ing my heart folded my arms upon
my breast instead of about her and
strobe across the room, leaning upon
the piano AS | looked at her the
laughter died out OF her countenance
and trouble came up in her face,
She looked like anything but girl
who would thus trifle with a mans
purest affections, teach him to love
her dovotedly, and all for what?
Merely to throw him over carelessly.
Just as she discarded worn garment
or an old glove. for the sake of a man
with few base dollars coming to him
by and by, Perhaps. after all. had
been little hasty and Phyllis was
the victim OF parental compulsion
And yet-she had said she loved him.
and she certainly had laughed
scarcely knew what to do or say