Sharp County record., 1912-06-14
The .Sel6shness
Of Pride


rustic bench. The silver light Of a full
moon filtered through the leafy COW
ering of the secluded nook, making
fantastic patches of light that danced
in grotesque disorder when the soft
summer breeze stirred the leaves over
head
Both Elsie Poole and her companion,
Philip Matthews, were III at ease,
Elsie nervously toyed with her fan,
and the toe of her satin slipper, peep
ing out from beneath her chiffon gown,
tapped restlessly on the closely clipped
grass underfoot.
Philip, too, was perturbed, He had
been deeply In love with his fair COM
panon for many weeks, and now, as
he gazed into her limpid eyes and con-
templated the perfect form, the ex-
quisite beauty of her face, the velvet
softness of her skin, it was almost
more than he could do to restrain the
mad words of love which struggled for
utterance.
But he dared not tell her Of his pas.
sion.
What right had he, clerk on
small salary, to love the daughter Of
wealthy banker?
81 am sorry you must go back to
town tomorrow, Philip. Wouldn't 1t
be jolly If you could remain up here In
the hills another week? Elsie said,
Just to bring the conversation around
to personal topics.
Thank you Elsie, you don't know
how hate to leave here-you. shall
miss all this-but it will live long in
my memory"
"You must come again: there will
always be a welcome for you in our
home. Now we must join the others"
LET us say 'goodby' here, under
the roses"
"Goodby?'
Eyes; you know leave at in the
morning. cannot expect you to dis
turb your rest at such an early hour"
"Goodby Philip. wish-I-oh,
well, good night and goodby!"
Silently he bent over her hand and
pressed his burning lips to It's soft
surface.
The next moment she was gone, and
the light of the world had fled with
her.
On the train the next morning Philip
bought a paper, and the first thing
that met his eye as he glanced over
the headlines was
POOLE G. HARTLEY FAIL
Banking House Closes Its Doors
Many Smaller Firms Go Under.
Announcement Causes Dismay in ~.
nancial Circles.
As he read the account OF the abso.
lutte failure Of Elsie's father and his
business associates, Philip made a
great resolve He would 90 back to
Hillcrest on the first train, and be-
fore Elsie had seen morning paper
would ask her to be his wife.
His pride would not allow him to
tell her Of his love last night; but now,
when he knew OF her fathers ruin, he
would not let her pride prompt her to
refuse his offer He left the train at
the first stop, telepboned the bank
which employed him, got the details OF
the failure from fellow.clerk to make
sure there was no mistake, and board.
ed train for Hillcrest,
lie found Elsie In the breakfast
room, gayly entertaining her guests
with stories OF her childhood days on
Il western ranch,
"Why, Philip, you didn't go, or you
missed your train; how jolly to have
you with US another day." she ex.
claimed as he entered the room. Beg.
gng a word with her alone as soon as
he could he took hor again to the rose
bower, and there told her Of his love
and begged her to marry him,
"Dut, Philip, couldn't think Of It.
There IL such difference In our posi-
tons !, millionairos daughter, and
YOU only u bank clerk! Why, you
couldn't provide me with evening slip.
pers, not to mention bread and butter
No, certainly not, Philip, | cannot
marry YOU"
For moment Philip was stunned,
Then anger blased up In him, com.
plotey drowning his finer feelings, for
L.. IL. Ialul nal Ga.I. llIla