Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1907-10-19
'PHILLIPA'S
SIMPLE LIFE
By Constance DARCY Mac


dead clruc.t. rusticlty, brea !lfast foods
and all?" tcascd Keith IIilIiard, Smi!-
ing as he spoke. for PhiIipa Ramsay.
In the role of reformer, was Il perSo:
to conjurr with she wore an air c.
huality that Keith had never seen be
fore. and in her dark eyes was the
gleam of an unaltcrable purpose The
box of chocolates that he had brought
her remained untouched on a table
near by-a silent witness of Phillipa $
change of heart
Even her house dress had a touch of
earneStncSs. The trailing Shimmcring
gowns that had always seemed part
and parcel of her personality were re
placed by gray homcSpun. Her hair
brow and coiIed low ON the back Of
her neck. Most significant of all
from beneath the edge of her skirt
peeped forth Il pair of slippers with
low heels.
Life" said Phillipa seriously, lis
altogether demoralIzed. We spend too
much time over fuss and feathers We
are hampcrcd by all this"-a wave of
the hand included the Imohtru, i've lux
ury of the Ramsay drawing room. its
books and pictures and rosily shaded
lamps. "If we hHd just the simple
necessities and no more, think how
quietly and sanely we should live
From this time on am doHc with the
frills of existence. And toMUrrow |
leave for the mountain camp where
l shall spend the summer with half Il
dozen people who share the same
point of view"
Iilliarls lips twitched Il little
isn't this rather-rather sudden"
he queried
ITS none the less sincere" returned
Phillipa spiritedly
And that means You are done with
the city and the things of the city
forever?"
"Forevcr" echoed Phillipa solcmnly.
ooh, Keith. think how beautiful it is
going to he! Dawn and sunset and
storm and glimpse of the stars
through the open tent flap, And to sit
around Il blazing fire and eat the
things prepared with our own hands,
''And where do come in in this new
and splendid scheme? Am never to
see you again. or am / to subsist on
letterS?"
IF YOU would only join our colony"
Phillipa glowcd with enthusiasm. Mi
and Mrs. Marsden and Richard Fen
wick and
1T sounds alluring, but meantime
what would become of my clients"
'>lou could give up the law alto
gether," said Phillipa serenely, land
become a wOodSman.'
This is only June. Perhaps I'll run
up two months later" said Hilliard.
lingering over his goodby.
'Do.' urged Phllipa, apparently un-
aware of the look he bent ON her, for
her eyes had the farof gaze of one
who was seeing visions.
1t was clear morning on the LIST of
August that IIilliard walked briskly
down the slope leading from the Hill
below. On one side stretched the vel
vet eXpanSe of the golf course, where Il
chatterinS group We're starting an
early game; on the other was the ten
mis- court the rackets of the players
flashing in the sun. Sounds of Eff
teen love" reached IIiliard as he step
ped into the launch that was waiting
nt hn II Ia.
directions and then settled back on the
cushioned seat.
Camp Idle Ease was five miles away,
at the other end of the lake, place
rendered secluded by reason of Its
rocky approach, which required the
coolneSs and precision of Il well trained
boatman. The launch flashed through
enough to suit billiards. impaticnce. 1t
was weeks since he had had more
from Phillipa than haSty postal card,
and his blood raced at the thought of
seeing her AS the launch nearcd the
landing, Steered in and out between
the moss grecned powders, he scanned
the shore for glimpse of her. Some
one in n gray walking skirt was stoop-
ing over smolderIng fire, She raised
her head. 1t was Phillipa,
"Oh, Keith" she cried, you've come
at last"
The hand she held out to him was
brown and hard. The mark of a burn
ran from wrist to elbow She was
worn aud thin, and a tiny furrow
showed between her brOWS ON the
ground lay a pile of pots and pans and
what seemed to be the charred re-
mains of a days baking. But IIilliard
tactfully ignored the signs. He chat
ted of mutual acQuaintanceS. of all
that had transpred since he and Phil
lipa had last met 1t was only when
he mentioned that he was stopping ut
the Hllcrest hotel that Phillipa paused
to refer to her present mode of life.
ITS beautiful" she declared in
tone that held more OF challenge than
IF comment.
Sure" he agreed heartily. THE air
g simply great! But where are the
others" he asked, with n glance at
the seemingly deserted camp.
"Oh, two have gone for walk and
one to pick flowers. and two are writ
ers and have place where they work
farther up in the woods"
"And one does the dishwashing and
baking and tends the fire." said Hill,
lard, with keen glance.
Phillipa flushed.
'"ro each his portion" she quoted.