The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-09-01


of the fire for her.
How good it seems to be with you
all again." she said, "the three dear
people with whom / played as a
child"
Presently she went on, "And now,
Evelyn is going to marry Bruce, which
is as it should be. l have como back
to give you my blessing"
The word was said lightly, but
Philip, watching her, saw the trouble
in her face. Did she still love Bruce?
Would this marriage make her still
more unhappy?
when went away" she said
after a silence, Il thought that my
return would be a triumphal entry.
sing-and now no one will care to
hear me-
Philip sank down on the fur rug in
front of her. "Is 1t all gone. your
voice?" he asked softly.
Il still have little voice." she said
"but no one cares to hear it."
And again there was silence. There
was constraint, too, in the atmosphere,
for Bruce and Evelyn had grown into
each others lives and away from
Christine's. Only in Philips heart
was the real welcome that she craved.
She felt this instinctively. and 1t
was her need of him, perhaps, that
made her ask later, when the four had
talked of many things, "Will you ride
back to the hotel with me, Philip? l
know Evelyn had a dinner engage
ment and Bruce will want to say
good-by to her without u.s."
Philip insisted upon stop at tea
room. where they ordered ices as an
excuse but ate nothing.
They talked of Bruce and Of Evelyn
and of the coming marriage. Evelyn
chose the better part" Christine said.
"a woman is only woman after all,
and housekeeping hearts are happ1'
est"
He felt that she regretted the loss
l, of Bruce, and tried to comfort her. Il
don't believe that you would have
been happy with him, Christine" he
said.
She looked at him startled. with
whom?" she demanded.
with Bruce, of course" he said.
"Oh!" she laughed a little. did
you think-why, Philip, I am glad !
gave up Bruce. If l had loved him !
could not have given him up. If had
| loved him no career could have taken
me away from him, and that was why
I went away to search for my pot Of
gold" She stopped for a moment;
then she went on with some hesita.
ton: There was some one else that
loved. Philip, but l was not light
enough or frivolous enough to turn
| from one man to another. felt that
! must give up Bruce and test my.
self-but the other man never told
me, Philip, that he cared"
Something in her voice madef hirf
| look at her startled.
would you have given up year ca,
reer for that other MANI" he de-
| manded.
YES" she said softly. 81 would
have been glad to have used my voice
for love songs and lullabys, Philip.
knew that was following phantom,
that my greatest happiness would not
must go away-because this other
man was true to his friend, and be-
cause l felt that l must be very sure
of myself"
II could not tell you You under
stand?" he asked eagerly. 81 did not
dream that you cared. and thought
Bruce's life was bound up in you"
II knew it wasn't" she said But
that had to be proved, and only my
going away could prove 1t. And | am
more than glad that I went away,
Philip, because l have learned now
that love Is the greatest thing in the
world. l saw so many women over
there living their pitiful little lives
women eaten up by jealousies and am.
billions and the craving for excitement,
and l learned that nothing makes a
woman happy but love and home.
All the modern theories, all the ad-
vanced arguments can never make
me believe anything else"
And then he knew that all his wait
ing was to have it's reward. He tolc
her, then, Of his dreams and of his
desires. He wanted her in his life. It
seemed to them both, as they went
out. that the world had changed;
there was a radiance about the star
lighted evening that was a reflection
of the radiance within themselves.
AS he left her at her hotel, Christine
whispered, II have found my pot of
gold, Philip"
"Where?" he demanded.
"At the other end of the rainbow"
she said Eat the end that was near
est home, Philip"