The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-03-15
Selett Stotp.
A SOCIAL STUDY.
BY CARRIE FENNER MOORE.

"Come and sit by me, Phyllis dear, this
will be our last evening together" said
Robert Raymond, leaning back in COM
Portable rocker on vine embowered piazza.
"Our last evening"" exclaimed Phyllis,
''have you sudden news that makes your
return to town imperative?'
eyes, sweet girl, have received sud
den news, but it did not come by post or
telegraph he replied.
Glow then p she asked.
"By intuition
"From whence
"From my heart
Phyllis laughed, low musical laugh,
and turning, drew a clematis blossom to-
ward her and laid her face against it.
"How long is it, dear, since Jim fshed
me out of the bottom of that ravine, and
brought me to you mud bespattered and
disgusted?' p he asked.
''Four weeks" she answered gently.
''When look into your eyes and hear
your voice feel that those four weeks are
the actual span Of my existence" he said
in voice expressing some emotion.
"What nonsense" she murmured.
eyes, that is what it is, Phyllis dear.
1t is nonsense for a struggling artist to ruin
his prospects and high social standing by
following the impulse of his heart, he
answered her.
II do not understand you," she replied.
:sSou know 7 love Won ?''
"You have said so.
''Have not expressed it in thousand
different ways?'' he exclaimed reproach-
fully
Phyllis remained silent.
II wish you would come near, dear, |
must speak seriously; must make you un-
derstand how it is, he pleaded earnestly
Eyes, she said quietly, as she seated
herself in the chair next to him.
ooh, why are you only country lass!'
he cried, as he saw her pure profile out
lined against the sunset sky.
''Is that a crime?' she asked, looking
straight at him with her wonderful eyes.
''You have no social standing, no money.
Oh, nothing that counts as value in the
world [ have worked so hard to become a
part Of" he said, almost fretfully.
"Has it been worth while?' she asked.
'It is the only thing to do he said,
''as far as happiness goes, | have known
more right here with you, and going
sketching and fishing with your brother
Jim than l ever dreamed of before; but it
is fame and position that are the real things,
not mere sentiment and content" Robert
explained
Il don't agree with you," she said
softly, II think love and happiness are the
only things worth striving for
''Being a woman that is quite natural, "
he laughed ''Fancy me, Robert Ray
mond, burying myself and my talents here
in the country, and living out my life in
Arcadian simplicity just because l love
you. Could you accept such a sacrifice p
eff you loved me, mean the real love,
it would not be sacrifice. You would
never think of it as such, she answered.
II love you better than l have ever
loved BEFORE he said earnestly, "but
you cannot understand, because you
know nothing of our world. If married
you I should lose all that 1 have been
striving for during the last twenty years. -
"And the sacrifice would be too great p
''It is not to be thought Of" he said,
apparently not noticing the little ring of
irony in her voice. ''But [ must 90, dear
one, | am going very early in the morning.
This must be our goodbye. [ have lin
gered too long already. II must 60,
and he rose and reached out both hands
to her.
She placed her own in them and looked
at him seriously.
"Have you thought, Robert, what it
might mean to me when you are gomez
He looked annoyed and then surprised.
81 am afraid l haven't, dear girl, he
said. 'I-why, Phyllis, you are not go
ing to mourn, are you?'
Phyllis laughed. How he loved to hear
her laugh.
"Good-bye, Mr.. Raymond she said
blithely. ''Do not feel any uneasiness on
my account. We have had pleasant
time together, and in parting I should like
to express one wish for you.
"What is that p he asked, rather be-
wildered by her quick change of manner.
cit is that the experiences of the COM
ing years will so enlarge your nature that
YOU will think sometimes of others, and
that you will come to understand the mean
ing of what is real in life
She was gone before he could answer
her, and he did not see her again. He
tried to congratulate himself that he had
gotten off so easily, but as he journeyed
back to town, he did not feel the satisfac-
ton he had anticipated
"Hello, Raymond. When did you get
back Haven't seen you for perfect
age said Jack Norman, cordially.
II came back week ago. answered
Robert, ''but have been working pretty
hard, and didn't get round to the club.
How are you, and how have you passed
the summer p
pleasantly enough. I went across the
water for rest and that sort of thing, you
know" replied his friend, but what have
you been up to, you don't look as though
the summer had agreed with you tip-top
Come in and let's have something while
we talk it over
II went into the country said Robert
as soon as they were seated, Thought L
was going to do lot of work, but some
way didn't accomplish much. -
"Girl or mosquitoes asked Jack,
watching the rings of smoke curl up from
his favorite cigar
II am not sure replied Robert, with
a short laugh. "'Tell me, Jack, what do
you consider the real things of life p
'What' this you are springing on me
old man, you must 60 easy when you are
starting off on new line. -
tsJ ;uet 1yantad to know - ranliad Rob-