Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-12-27
A CHANGE OF HEART
By BELLE MANIArEs
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 CCopyright, 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Col nHIL LAWToN's dark eyes wistfully
 followed the fair form of the young glrl who fitted about the room. She was bestowing all her glances and all her little attentions upon her father, Gen. William ThornburnJ almost ignoring the presence of the man who adored her.
 Presently servant entered and hand ed Miss Thornburn a card
 ''Oh, it's Miss Lee! She will only make a formal call. I will be back soon,' and with lingering caress upon her fathers bronzed cheek, she left the room.
 Phil looked up disconsolately.
 "I might as we'll confess, General, that tried my fate with Eloise this morning, and-she has given no hope.
 The generals grey eyes saddened.
 ''Is that so, Phil7 am truly sorry and disappointed, but Eloise is only a child. She was startled, and doesn't know her heart yet '
 The young man shook his head dis couragingly.
 II had no reason to believe that she returned my love, general. She has al- ways treated me nicely and courteously, but with a good-natured tolerance"
 Faint heart, Phil! Try again
 "No," replied Phil slowly. T don't want to lose even her liking. I think I will take my departure now before she returns Your days together are so few that will not intrude 8 moment longer"
 A few moments after Phil had taken his leave, Eloise returned to the li- brary.
 Alone, papa! Where is MT Law ton?" g eg
 ''He has gone, Rloise He asked me to say goodnight to you for him. He said he thought he would want our last few days together uninterrupted"
 ''He is very considerate, papa. In- deed, we do! Every minute of it.
 "He told me, Eloise, what passed be- tween you and him this morning"
 The girls face flushed and she looked embarrassed.
 ''Did he? We'll, aren't you glad that ] am going to remain your little girl always?"
 'If were to be here with you, Eloise, I'd be 10th to give you even to Phil, but now that I am ordered to the Philip pines-to country where cannot take you. it would be a great relief to me to see you the happy wife of the man of my choice for you-the son of my lifelong friend-a man of honor, and to know that your future welfare was as- 1 sured." E
 Eloise looked puzzled.
 ''Now, papa how absurd! I am to l be with friends, and you'll be back in ] two years, and then we'll be chums to- l gether again."
 ''My dear little girl! The fortunes ] and future of soldier are very uncer- ] tain, and you cannot know the anxiety and responsibility of father for his only child who is motherless."
 ''Why, papa, did not know you felt ! this way about it!"
 "It would give me great content. Eloise, to go away knowing you were the wife of a man who would give you his love and protection as well as a home, but if you do not care for him, 1t cannot be, and we will think no more about it.
 But Eloise did think great deal about it, and naturally in thinking Of l it, she bestowed more thought upon Phil Lawton than she ever had before. After l dinner, when the general sat down to his cigar and evening paper, she knew { he missed and wanted Phil, who had been such constant companion, not only of late, but in the days when she had been away at school and had known him only through her fathers letters.
 There are times when man misses and yearns for another man, even if the dearest woman in the world is about" she thought philosophically. She slipped from the room and dis patched little note to Phil, telling her father was lonesome for him and would he not come over to the house-for her fathers sake.
 He came promptly and she gave him a grateful welcome. The general imme- diately frightened up and opened an ah : I imated discourse with the young man on the question of trusts. EIoise, sitting apart in the shadows, listened and watched Phil Lawton's strong face with newly awakened interest and curiosity. 1 Heretofore she had bestowed but a cas- ual thought and glance upon him. Turn ing suddenly, he caught her absorbed and interested gaze, and burning blush spread over her face at the knowlea2s 2 that she was detected in her close ob- servation and scrutiny of him.
 She rose abruptly and crossed the room to the piano. Some unaccountable impulse moved her to sing softly an old fashioned song that Phil had once men, tioned as his favorite. There was a momentary silence after the last note had died away. Phil, too moved to 1 continue prosaic talk on trusts. rose allieklv and announced his deDarture.