The Pageland journal. [volume] (Pageland, S.C.) 1911-1978, 1914-11-18
FOUND HER HIMSELF
BY MARTHA M'cULLocH-WIL-
llAMS.

Copyright. 1914 by tho Mcclure Nswspa-
per syndicate)
Granny, the names are so hard.
can't / just say, They went on and
begat one another to the end Of the
chapter?" Phil asked earnestly, his
brow puckered deeply. his fingers
moist.
He loved granny dearly-there were
parts of the Bible he loved likewise
to read to her. But the begats! There
his hslting tongue always got him In
trouble
Commonly Phil was as docile as
today he was restive. What boy Of
twelve wouldn't have been restive
with all the school streaming past to
the big lot, where the home nine OF
big boys was to play off a match
with q nine from town?
So when granny shook her head,
saying almost sternly, Read on!" he
tried to be obedient. but broke down
In spite Of his twelve years. Tears
blinded him. his choking throat re-
fused utterance. He dropped the Tes-
lament and dug fists into his blinking
eyes. Granny stared at him unseeing
but her ears told her his distress.
She was about to speak when Lisa
and Nancy burst in, crying breathless-
ly. "Oh. goody! Phil hasn't gone.
Mother says IL he'll take US We can
go to the game"
The Acton twins were just his age.
and lived near enough to be playfel-
lows.
"Phil's cryin'! What for!" Lisa e1-
claimed.
Granny cleared her throat Il sup
pose 1t Is because he hates reading to
a poor old blind woman" she said re-
bukingly. I'll pray the good Lord not
to remember and visit it on him"
"I-I-you know-I-" Phil STAN
mered with an appealing look at Lisa
She laughed outright-he fed pre-
cipitately-not toward the lot. but his
haven Of refuge. the hay NOW.
Nancy found him there, and coaxed
him to come forth. She had made 1t
right with granny-would stay her
self and read to her. Phil and Lisa
might be in time If they only hurried.
He could not look at her; his heart
was too full-nor see her, his eyes
were too dim. But In his mind she
shaped herself anew as the most COM
forting and beautiful creature ever
made.
Times whirligig took Phil far from
the home Of his boyhood. At seven
and twenty he was as handsome and
promising young lawyer as the
town Of Exmouth could boast. His
uncle, the Judge, had taken him there
after granny died. adopted him, sent
him through college, and taken him
into partnership in reward for win
ming first honors at the law school.
Just one thing more, son." he had
said when Phil first sat down oppo.
p in the private ofice. Get
married. Quick. want to play with
your children a good while before !
die"
From the Judge this was astound.
ing. He had been held almost q child.
hater. Those 30 holding did not know
the truth-that he had buried his
heart IN the grave of another mans
wife. She had left behind a daughter
almost her image. What so natural
as that the Judge should scheme hope
fully to make her the mate of his
adopted son? Craftily, of course. He
was too wise for open speech in the
matter. Phil would, he knew, feel
bound to follow his wishes. His boy
must be happy in his own way. Be.
sides, Evelyn was so charming.
Notwithstanding Phil went seattle,
less; played best man when Evelyn
married, and even forbore to kiss the
bride.
That night hs said to the Judge
whose disappointment he had some.
now sensed: please, sir. forgive mo.
But, you see. Evelyn was dead tug.
or for my first sweetheart. Let me
tell you the story, then you'll under.
stand how / am immune to the EVELYN
type"
The Judge laughed uproariously over
the telling. 1t ran through all the
tauntings. teasings and small humilf.
ations Phil had had to endure at that
Ldsa's hands.
why don't you take me out to the
old place? I'd love to see where You
played as little boy" SAID the Judge.
Thus 1t fell out that a month later
Judge Gregory and his nephew
knocked at the Acton door Mrs. Ac-
ton opened It. and looked at them
questioningly, but before they could
speak tall, slender young woman
with blue eyes and an infantine smile
precipitated herself upon them crying.
fhii! I'd know you in the middle of
Africa. Come right in. ! want to
show you my baby"