Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-01-16


forest engulfed her.
Philip fished in the same pool next
morning. The morning after he sat ON
the big rock and stared into the laurel
oh the third morning the stiffness of
cue FOREST closed down on him oppres-
S'ely. lie remembered the closet that
u,sciphned his little boy days; the
cream OF the instrument that took out
MS nrst tooth, the ache Of his heart
"hen MS dog Ffdo died. She meant
10 stay away. it was premeditated
cruelty Having reached this conclu-
sion re hung himself out of the woods.
crossed the creek, went through a corn
heiu mat ended abruptly in a straw.
oeEry bed, sensible cornfield. and there
IL was miracle-he found her.
her lace dimpled at sight of him.
one heid up bunch of berries. "Ajn't
they pretty?" she said
Fretty! scoffed Philip, looking into
ner eyes, they are the most beautiful
things in the world"
An do you love 'em7" her face was
taxing on It's witch look.
les SAID Philip, he meant to make
me speech, Il love little wild things
me there was cascade of laughter.
me strawberries" ne ended, lamely.
DO we now?" she tainted.
Fhlllp looked at her helpIessly. With
the panoramic vision of drownIno
man he saw the woman OF those other
umes-womcn of snowy pattern ana
somewhat coarse fibre II seemed ~
MN as he looked down at the flower
IKE lace Of the wilding who was bis
torment, his delight.
In spite of ner gayetv ber cocuo+r,o
nliip found that Bettie-she had told
nln Sne was "Jes Bettie"-had little re-
serves OF her own. Always she seemed
10 aim TO be behind veil He thought
tnat ner life bloomed wide like a rosa
at MS coming, and ne asked: "Was it
oul before | came, BETTER" "Jes a
gray sky, she sighed And now7s
MI got rainbow in hit" shs
laughed
90 cIeVeriy did she mix bitter and
sweet for him; so cunningly did shs
repel to encourage, flout to fatter. that
fhllp flung an ancestry that stretched
over seas at her shabby little feet
yer mar wouldn't like hit" Bettie
tenecteo one day. A mental picture OF
MS mothers aristocratic hands uplifted
III horror at the mesalliance came to
nillp' another of Bettie's mother
ieahihS over rude counter and doing
out grlts aud gossip to her rude Gus
TONER'S. His jaw set Bette" he
said, his youth, his hope, his love i'm
MS voice, you'll learn our WAYS. won't
your
Betue's face crinkled with ifs ola
wickedness. II amt much fer learn
ways" she said, and Philip smiled az
her with wistful fondness.
Some two weeks after PbiIin,s ,n,t,s
uon into duck on the rock" enlight-
eminent came to him in the shape OF a
sunday edition, great educators. Sun
day editions. He knew the tantalizjnp
small race that looked at him from thu
printed sheet-how well ne knew n
and the soft little gypsy hands touch
WITH one leaplng bound, he had gone
on being foolish SO long. wisdom came
to him
N4'h an angry throbbing ache in bis
throat lie pac"ed his grips. The little
Drown sSing had won. as she said She
would
nave come 10 say good-by." hs
said sui!ly. he had sworn he would NOT
see her, and thank you for instructina
SO awkward a novitiate as in the lit
tie game you play so we'll"
Bette dimpled.
1t rams like a story" he continued
In Already. the daughter of n muIti-
millionaire meets a poor. but honest
young man who has the misfortune 10
De stupid TO the point of not discrim,.
mains between an orchid and a noun
tam ualsy' She teaches him an an
eieh' Sahe-the most amusing game
now in existence"
To you?' Bette paled under her
tan.
To You" Philip bowed ceremonious-
Iy. Victor, whether you spin ducks
or scalp wooden Indians"
Thank YOU" Bette spoke politeIv
i won't detain you. No doubt Won
want TO pack"
My luSSage has gone on" said Phil
Up with dignity. He held out his hand
Bette tried to smile, but the corners
of her mouth were stiff.
Won't you say you are sorry. Bet
tie?" Nv
Bette wouldn't.
Wont you say something?"
Philip turned away. He didn't lool,
back at the turn in the road, as every
story reader knows that he should.
"Oh, Phil, Phil, Phil" Bette had
been running and her voice came in
little Sasps, I'm not sorry! The dear
bad devil tempted me. I'd Just given
my clothes to little girl met, a vain
little thing, because l wanted to be
poor and shabby and free. I didn't lie
to you. | ran away because I wouldn,t
take greatness in the shape of a for.
eign lord. / haven't got any friends
left because | did it-every body's down
on me. 1 gloried In your caring not
because OF my misfortunes and my
money" Betties lips were getting
Quivery. but in spite of them, and"
sobbins, you don't care a-a-a"
But Philip had crushed the sweet lips
into silence.