The Washington herald., 1907-09-23


he spoke, for PhiIlipa Ramsay, in the
role OF reformer. was a person to con
jure with. She wore an air of fnality
that Keith had never seen before and
in her dark eyes was the CLEAN Of an
unalterable purpose. The box Of choco- |
lates that he had brought her remained
unopened and untouched on a table near
by-a silent witness Of Phnlipa's change
OF heart.
Even her house dress had a touch Of
earnestuess. The trailing shimmering
gowns that had always seemed part and
parcel Of her personality were replaced
by gray homespun. Her hair was drawn
back smoothly from her brow and coiled
low on the back Of her neck. Most sig
nihcant of all-from beneath the edge Of
her skirt peeped forth a pair Of slippers
with low heels.
Life" said PhnIipa, seriously, sis al
together demoralized. We spend too
much time over fuss and feathers. We
are hampered by-au this" a wave
Of the hand included the unobtruslve
luxury of the Ramsay drawing-room. its
books, and pictures, and rosily shaded
lamps. If we had Just the simple neccs-
sites and no more. think how quietly
and sanely we should live. From this
time on I am done with the frills Of ex-
istencc. And tomorrow I leave for the
mountain camp where I shall spend the
summer with half a dozen people who
share the same point Of view
billiards lips twitched a little
isn't this rather-rather sudden" he
queried.
It's none the less sincere" returned
PhIIlpa, spiritedIy.
And that means you are done with
the city and the things Of the city for
ever2"
Forever" echoed PhHipa solemnly.
/ ooh, Keith, think how beautiful ii is
going 70 be! Dawn and sunset and storm
and a glimpse Of the stars through the
open tent flap, And to sit around
blazing fire and eat things prepared with
our own handsr
And where do come in in this new
and splendid scheme2 Am I never TO
/ see you again, or am I TO subsist on
/ IettersT'
If you would only join our colony"
Phillipa glowed with enthusiasm. Mr..
and Mrs. Marsden and Richard Fenwick,
and"
1T sounds aIluriug But meantime
what would become Of my clients?"
You could give up the law alto
gether" said Phillipa serenely, "and be-
come a woodsman."
This is only June. Perhaps III run
/ up two months later" said billiard. lin
gering over his hood by.
/ Do" urged Phillipa, apparently una
ware of the look he bent on her. for her
/ eyes had the far-Off gaze of one who was
seeing visions.
| It was a clear morning on the 1st of
August that billiard walked briskIv
down the slope leading from the Hill
/ crest Hotel To the lake and b0athouse be-
low. On one side stretched the velvet
| eEpanse Of the golf course, where chat
teTing group were starting an early
game: on the other was the tennis court.
the racquets of the players flashing i'm
the sun. Sounds of Fifteen IOvet"
reached Hilliard as he stepped into the
! launch that was waiting at the boat
house landing. lie gave his directions
and then settled back on the cushioned
seat.
Camp Idle Ease was five miles away.
at the other end Of the lake, q place rem
dered secluded by reason Of its rocky ap-
pT0aCh. which required the GOODNESS and
precision of a Well-trained b0atman The
launch flashed through the water At fun
speed, but not fast enough to suit Hill
/ liard's Impotence. Il 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
] To- f5s
/ out between the moss-greened powders.
| he scanned the shore for a glimpse Of
1 her. Some one In "a gray walking skirt
/ was STOPPING over smOldering fire She
| raised her head. 1t was Phillipa.
ooh, Keith she cried, you've come
/ at last,'
/ The hand she held out to him was
brown and hard. The mark Of burn
ran from wrist TO elbow. She was worn
/ and thin. and tiny furrow showed be-
tween her brows. on the ground lay
| pile Of pots and pans and what seemed
/ 10 be the ChaTTed remains Of days bak-
/ ing But billiard tactfully ignored the
| signs He chatted of mutual acquaint-
/ ances. of all that had transpired since he
| and Philipa had last met. It was only
when he mentioned that he was stopping
at the Hillcrest Hotel that Philipa
I PrttSSd ~ AtA1A ~ AASA bISSIAL AilOAG VI
/ life
IT'S beautiful" she declared, in a
tone that held more Of challenge than Of
/ comment.
"Surer' he agreed. heartily. "The air
/ Is simply great, But where are the
others?' he asked, with a glance at the
! seemingly deserted camp.
/ ooh. two have gone for a walk. and
one to pick flowers, and two are writer's
and have a place where they work, far
| Their up In the woods"
! baking and tends the fire." said billiard,
with a keen glance.
Phillipa flushed.
ITO each his portion" she quoted
And TO some a triple portioni Appar-
! emily this is one of those camps where
there is one worker and five strikers"
eff you came here to criticise-" be-
gan Phillipa.
Far be It from me-" said billiard
hastily. by the way, the day after to-
morrow we're having a hop at the hotel.
/ It promises to be quite an event"
I suppose there are a lot Of girls
there?" said Phnlipa, bending to stir the
| fire
"Stunnersr' cried billiard with enthu-
! siasm. Well, good by, Phnlipa. I'm
awfuly glad you're happy, and III see
| you soon again"
Wont you stay for luncheon" urged
| Phillipa, in a tone which implied that he
| had better not.
Thames no I've cot 70 cot boclr c1,,,