Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-09-19

berlost.
|@H1I.1P AMMON walked from
among his friends a humiliat-
ed and a wounded man. Dawn
- was near when he reached
home. but the first floor was lighted.
He staggered up the steps and was in
stantly admitted. The library door
stood open. while his father sat with
q book pretending to read. At Philips
entrance the father scarcely glanced
up.
"Come on! he called. II have Just
told Banks to bring me a cup Of coffee
before turn in. Have one with me"
Father" said Philip, may l talk
with you a little whi1e?"
"Of course answered Mr.. Ammon.
Il am not at all tired. l think l must
nave 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 be knew, while his
father sat in deep thought. THE friend
for whom you wanted the moth is a
grip" he asked.
The girl Of whom l wrote you last
summer and told you about in the fall.
l helped her all the time l was away"
Did Edith know of her?'
Il tried many times to tell her, to
interest her. but she was so indiffer-
en- that it was insulting. She would
not hear me-"
who is this girl, just what is she
doing and what is she like?"
Philip gave a mans version of the
previous summer.
You are very sure as to her refine
ment and education?" he asked.
I'm almost two months daily asso-
citation could a 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 a girl"
The book leaves slid rapidly through
his fingers as the father drawled.
"What sort of looking girl is she?"
"Tall as Edith, a 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 a rope of waving, shining hair that
makes a real crown on her head, and
it appears almost red in the light. She
Is as handsome as any fair woman l
ever saw, but she doesn't know it,"
"And you were in daily association
two months with a girl like that!. How
about it, Philip"
"If you mean did l trife with her.
no" cried Philip holly. II told her the
second time | met her all about Edith
l never met any girl so downright no.
BILE in bearing and actions. l never
hated anything as I hated leaving her.
for we We're dear friends, like two
wholly congenial men,"
"Yet you left such a girl and came
back whole hearted to Edith Carl"
Surely! You know how 1t has been
with me about Edith all my life"
"Yet the girl you picture is far her
superior to an unprejudiced person,
when thinking what a man would re-
quire in a wife to be happy"
II never have thought what l would
require to be happy. l only thought
whether 1 could make Edith happy. l
have been ar idiot. What I've borne
you'll never know. Tonight is only
one Of many outbursts like that, in
varying and lesser degrees"
phil, I love you, when you say you
have thought only Of Edith. l happen
to, know that it is true. In some ways
tonight would be a blessed release if
you could take it: but you cannot. Go
to bed now and get some rest. Tomor-
row go back to her and fix it up"
"You heard what 1 said when / left
her. I said it because something in
my heart died a minute before that,
and I realized that it was my love for
Edith Carr. Sir. it Is truth that l 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 it can be too sweet
to throw away in a battle with an I'M
restrained woman. l am no fighter
where a girl is concerned, anyway.
Could you spare me a few days? l
wonder if l could not hide at Uncle
Eds in Wisconsin for awhile!"
"Phil, are you sure of what you just
have said?"
Death cannot return to life. father.
My love for Edith Carr is dead. l hope
never to see her again. Let us not
sneak of If further"
"Then, Phil" the father leaned closer
and looked at the son tenderly, "Phil.
why don't you go to the Limberlost?'
"Father!'
"Why not? No one can comfort a
hurt heart like a tender woman; and,
Phil. have you ever stopped to think
that you may have q duty in the Linn
berlost if you are free? She might
care to see you. You can soon tell"
A long time Philip Ammon sat in deep
thought. At last he raised his head.
well. why not?" he said. Years
could make me no surer than l am
now, and life is short. Please ask
Banks to get me some coffee and toast,
and ! will battle and dress so l can