Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-11-19

i
srsts and Philip Returns to the Lin
be-iost
l@HILIP AMMON walked from
HUI among his friends humilfat.
I(6 ed and wounded man. Dawn
was near when he reached
II ,me. but the Hrst floor was lighted.
FIe staggered up the steps and was In
Etan.ly admitted. The library door
stcod open. while his father sat with
u book pretending to read At Philips
entrance the father scarcely glanced
ur.
"Come ont' he called. Il have just
tod Banks to bring me a cup OF coffee
hcfore I turn in. Have orc with me-?
Father" said Philip. may l talk
With you little wh.ie:"
| "Ot cour>e," answered Mr.. AmmUn.
Il am not 2t all tired. l think |. must
have been waiting In the hope that
you would come. want no ones YER
Sion Of this but yours. Tell ME the
straight Of the thing. Phil"
Philip told all he knew, while his
father sat In deep thought THE friend
for whom you wanted the moth Is a
girlT' be asked.
ii lie girl of whom I wrote you last
summer and told you about In the fall.
1 helped her all the time l was away"
"Did Edith know Of herr
II tried many times to tell her, to
Interest her. but she was 80 indifer-
ent that 1t was insulting. She would
not hear me-"
who is this girl. Just what Is she
doing and what is she likef''
Philip gave a mans version Of the
previous summer.
You are very sure as to her refine
ment and educationT" he asked.
I'm almost two months daily asso-
ciation could q man be mistaken She
can far and away beat Polly. Edith or
any girl Of our set on any common.
high school or supplementary branch.
She has the biggest. tenderest. most
human heart l ever knew In girl"
The book leaves slid rapidly through
his fingers as the father drawled.
What sort Of looking girl is sheT
"Tall as Edith. q little heavier. pink.
even complexion. wide open blue gray
eyes with heavy black brows and lash
es so long they touch her cheeks. She
has rope Of waving. shining hair that
makes q real crown on her head, and
It appears almost red In the light. She
is as handsome as any fair woman I
ever saw. but she doesn't know It"
"And you were in daily association
two months with girl like that! How
about 1t. PhilT'
IF you mean did I trihe with her.
,o~ cried Philip hotly. II told her the
.e.ond time met her all about Edith.
never met any girl so downright no.
tie IN bearing and actions. ! never
..atrl anything al I hated leaving her
,r we were dear friends. like two
holly congcnial men,"
Yet you left such girl and came
.ark whole hearted to Edith Carl!
Surely! You know how 1t has been
with me about Edith all my life"
Yet the girf you picture Is far her
superior to an unprejudiced person.
when thinking what man would ne
culre in Il wife to be happy"
IL never have thought what l would
require TO be happy. only thought
whether could make Edith happy. l
have hccn an idiot. What I've borne
You'll never know. Tonight Is only
one OF many outbursts like that. In
varying and lesser degrees"
"Phii, l love you. when You say you
have thought only Of Edith. I happen
TO know that It Is true. In some ways
tonight would be blessed release II
you could take 1t: but you cannot. 60
to bed now and get some rest Tcmor-
row 60 back to her and flx 1t up"
"You heard what I said when left
her. I said 1t because something IN
my heart died a minute before that,
and realized that 1t was my love for
Edith Carr. Sir. It is truth that have
thought only Of her up to the present
Now I will admit l am thinking about
myself. Father, did you see her? Life
Is too short, and 1t can be too sweet
TO throw away in battle with an un-
restrained woman. l am no hgnter-
where a girl Is concerned. anyway.
Could you spare me a few daysf !
wonder II I could not hide at Uncle
Eds in Wisconsin for awhileP
"Phil. are you sure Of what you just
have saidT
.Death cannot return to life, father.
NV love for Edith Carr is dead. hope
never to see her again. Let Us not
speak Of 1t further"
Then. Phil" the father leaned closer
and looked at the son tenderly, "Phil,
why don't you 60 to the LimberiostT
"Fatherr'
"Why not7 No one can comfort q
hurt heart like q tender woman; and.
Phil, have you ever stopped to think
that you may have a duty In the Linn
berlost II you are freei She might
care to see you. You can soon tell"
A long time Philip Ammon sat in deep
thought. At last he raised bis head.
well. why not?' he said. Years
could make me no surer than l nm
now. and life Is short. Please ask
Banks to get me some coffee and toast.
and ! will bathe and dress so ] can
take the early train"
go to your bath. will attend to
| YOUR packing and everything. And
PhiI. II I were you would leave no
addresses"
Not an address!" said Ammon.
mo. even for Polly"
When the train pulled out the elder
| Ammon went home to flnd Hart Hen
dersOn waiting.
"where Ia philr' he demanded.
| HE did NOT feel like facing hts
| friends at present. and l am just back
from driving him to the station. he
said he might 60 to Slam or Patagonia.
| He would leave no address"
Henderson almost staggered. "Hss
not gone-and left no addressf You
don't mean 1t! He'll never forgive
herr
Never Is q long ume. Hart" said
Mr.. Ammon. "And It seems even long
or to those Of Us who are well &C.
quainted with Phil. Last night was
NOT thu ,aat straw n was the whole