Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-11-11

ton of having handsome man always
at her elbow to hold her fan or whisper
happy nonsense in her ear had its erect
upon her, so that Celia declared she out
shone even her own bright self. The next
morning when she stood before the bril-
liant audience to deliver her valedlctory
she was glad for the first time that she
was carrying off the honors Of her class,
for directly in front of her sat Phil
watching her with a look she had never
seen in any other mans eyes. His admit
ration made the honors seem more worth
while. When. she was done an usher
brought her a great armful of splendid
Jacqueminot roses. and she flushed to
think OF the sender.
''You were superb" Phil whispered
amid the congratulations after the exer-
cises were over.
answered, for under the ribbon she had
found his card.
He lifted one of the blossoms and held
it near her cheek. Jacks are your roses
by some artistic right. 1 shall always as
sOciate them with YOU"
That afternoon there was a coaching
party, and by Julia's arrangement she
went with Phil on the box seat, but she
declared vehemently that she would not
have him near her al the faculty's recep-
ton that evening. Julia laughed; when
a woman is sure of man a game like
this is very amusing. So that evening
Phil again followed in Testers train,
dancing with her, sitting with her on the
balcony or in some quiet nook, and Julia,
from a circle of admirers, smiled her sat
isfaction on him, But Lester was excited
and restless. What did that intent look in
PhiPs eyes portend? What was this new,
sweet emotion knocking at her own
heart? She began to be afraid, and was
glad when at last it was all over and she
III. v-faf
early, before the others, she went to bid
farewell to her old haunts about the
grounds. At the boathouse was Phil
Blair. oars in hand.
Come" he said, '1et us go for little
row on this enchanted stream.
She hesitated, but he drew her to the
boat, and for half an hour they drifted
on the placid water, but they did not see
the cool, white lilies looking up at them,
nor the red sunrise clouds overhead; they
saw only each others eyes.
A few hours later the three friends
stood in their sitting room for the last
time.
Remember" said Julia, zone year
from now we are to keep a tryst here and
tell each other what fate has brought
us"
we will remember" the others an
swered, and they went slowly out.
The year went by. Lester had spent
ii teaching at the college; Celia and Har-
ry had been six months married; but
something was amiss with Phil and Julia.
Their marriage had been postponed,
though to the world Phil was a model
lover; only the girl missed something
from his manner and his voice, some
thing without which she felt all else to
be void and empty.
1t was the anniversary of the COM
mencement. Again the June sunshine
xrrhs thr01IWh the rOlInUn
campus, but there was a silence in the
house and a knot of crepe on the door.
A carriage came swiftly up the drive and
the two women in it were pale and sor-
rowful.
our tryst day and we are to keep it
with a dead Lester instead of our blithe,
brown bird we loved so we'll" sobbed
Celia.
Professor Pope wrote me that she
worked all winter as in a fever. He
thought she was unhappy, but she would
never tell him the cause. At Christmas
wanted so much to have her with me,
but she would not come, Julia said.
Celia turned her face away; she was
dull at mathematics, but she was quick
to read human hearts, and she had long
ago guessed the loan of Julia's lover had
worked mischief for the two persons most
nearly concerned. Lester would not go,
because she feared to put herself in
Il
farther jeopar1ize her friends happiness;
but Julia had never guessed the harm her
intended kindness had done.
AS they stood few minutes later, be-
side the casket in the hall, weeping for the
smile they would never see again, Pro-
lessor Pope entered and placed two un-
opened letters in the cold hands on the
pulseless breast.
"she said she had no right to read these
on earth, but she wished them buried
with her that perhaps I'm Paradise she
might know their contents, and 1 prom
Used 1t should be So he said, weeping
bitterly.
Julia bent down and looked at the writ
ing on the envelopes, and when she stood
up she was like some beautiful marble
statue.
"And these roses?" she whispered
hoarsely pointing to the mass Of Jacque-
minots that covered the lower part Of the
casket.
'0They came an hour ago addressed in
the same hand as the letters. The death
notice was in yesterdays papers, and so
suppose they were some friends fare
we'll"
Eyes, they were his farewell" Julia
said, still in that tense whisper. Then with
Celia's arm about her, she stopped and
kissed Testers cold brow. Il loaned you
my lover against your will, my little
brown bird, and in so doing broke
three hearts-for now I know. I know"
And so they kept their tryst, these old
friends, in the soft June weather; and
Julia's heart was filed with bitter self
accusing; but Celia, looking farther into
the future, said, as she held one warm
hand and one cold one in her tender clasp:
''They were both true to their ideals of
right. dear Julia, and all will yet be we'll"
The naval hero wrote a book.
In which his comrades all were scored.