Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-12


OF tho whole trip She had made UT
her mind to do so from the very day
when the commodore had invited her to
go abroad with him and Aunt Isabel
Hallock.
1t had been marvellous day. Phil
and Ted had been diligently picking
strawberries for preserving when the
old r. T.. u. cart ambled into sight and
left the letter of temptation In tho lit
tic white box on top Of the post at the
end of the lane,
Phil read it through before she ex-
ploded into n swift succession OF "Oh.
oh! oh! obs" and holted for the house
to tell her mother. 1t was sudden
and so almost unbelievable. 1t appeared
that the commodore was Obliged to so
abroad on business trip and Aunt
Isabel could not bear 10 let him go
alone.
"In these days OF dangers on the sea
from palatial leviathans. whereof the
Lord would never have approved, I
cannot permit myself to let benjamin
travel alone. If the time comes for him
10 go. ! want to be by his side. And
Two been thinking, Philippa, that the
trip would do YOU good. and you'd he
member. you're the quietest girl in the
lot, and given to music, and so you'd
better meet us in New York the 5th.
We sail the 10th, but shall want you
TO get some decent clothes.
The old dears always so meander-
ing, isn't She" Ted said. peering over
his sisters shoulder. Wonder If tho
commodore doesn't want an efficient
and lightfooted courier?"
IT suppose you'd better go, Phil" Mrs
y, lot, II,
girl beside her. Phil had remained CON
sistently blonde all her life. while the
other girls had "darkened," as she put
II. into almost brunet:es. But Phirs
hair hung in two wide braids down her
back, excepting when she dressed up
and wound them about her head Her
eyes were blue, not dreamy nor wistful
nor anything that was romantic. Two
wide. deep blue eyes looked out mt tho
world In comradely fashion, and found
everything in 1T very good Indeed
Ana now II was over, the five weeks
OF travel through France and Nor
mandy. old Brittany and Holland phil
hardly heard what the count was saw
ing as she leaned over the rail ana
looked ahead at New York's skyline
OF TAN buildings shaping out of the
morning haze. She knew perfectly we'll
that Aunt Isabel was Watching then,
from her deck chair even while she
discussed custom troubles with the
commodore ana Larry.
me whole situation had been ex-
planned TO Phil before she left her
staterooul
We've done everything we could for
you, Philippa," Aunt Isabel had said
plaintlveiy Here We have the royal
SUITE or bridal suite. or what ever they
cali II, and every one thinks, of course
YOU are your uncle's heircss I haven't
denied II, for II helps immensely ana
nom the commodore and myself are
really quite fond of you. You'vc been
very sweet during the trip, and clothes
nave done wonders for YOU, too, and
lheres no reason why YOU shouldn't
marry the count. have no doubt but
what your uncle would do the RICH,
ininE by you, though ! do hope the
castie Is we'll ventilated. He hates
stufy ruins. so I'd never Got him 10
visit YOU. I'm sure your mother cant
ga! but what I've made YOU a success
Yes. ma'am." Phil said, mildly. turn
ing. around on her little finger Larrv's
poEish silver ring. Plain II was. lust
q pano OF silver worn thin. with his
monogram engraved on il, but II had
peeh on her hand since a certain eve
iinE the third day out She regarded
II thoughtfully. Larry had not bocn
dehnite lie had not made any sort of
proper proposal. as Aunt Isabel
would have put Il. He had ONLY sIinncd
the ring from his own hand IN bcrs
as II lay beside him on the railing ana
had tried TO tell her how much she
meant 10 him, and how some day whnn
ne had made a success he would 70 10
Inc commodore ana ask him IN r;vo
her 10 him w sNc
Even now while the count talked in
ms SLOW, precise wa%i. 'cou,A,inr oli
terms OF love in forTal, bhrasing, she
,nousht OF Larry He had been the
Unknown quantity in Aunt Isabcrs
reckoning. The commodore had moi
him in Paris. stranded after trying ~
impress the continent with the value
OF certain make or spark plugs As
salesman he was a failure. bur tho
ihfnodore had made him private sec
s'E' courier and general major domo,
'hd he mad won his regard ana mo
Snrety Of work in the big general
Offices ont West 81
Phil glanced restlcssly. uuhann,Ix
toward her aunt and met Larry's ewes
surely ne knew what the count was
SAYING IL was all so silly. she thought
suddenly. so fun of make believe Sho
was not AN hcircss: She was Inc, =
oTessed-up doll. And Just then Larry
rose and came lcisurcly toward ,hcn,
although Aunt Isabel tried Ia d.t,in
MN win question. There was II look
OF determination in his brown owes ,rG
around his lips that set Pms hcar,
beating faster, even while. Inc con-,
was telling her OF how the Loire sven,
past the !ich lower meadows oround
foueinconrt her future home
Ihe liner was headed for tho IIua
son River now How she loved :, al,
her own home land. She llficd War
race in thankful greeting even To tho
gulls that circlcd ana dipped overhead
somehow there didn't seem TO be any
thing real excepting the l!ttlc siIver
ring. She hated the Cinderella clothes
she wore and even the string OF pcarIs
the commodore had given her Ana az
she saw Larry's cheerful boyish face
she did what Ted back home called
Phiis trick She baked
I'm awfully sorry" she told tho ~.
t!e courteous count, giving him her
hand but ] can't do as you wish. I'm
not the commodore's hciress. You kno,e
m JUST his niece hy marriage, ana thov
had both been Kind enough to give mo
this trip haven't 500 OF my very
own. Won't you 70 and talk to Ann,
ISABEL. please, and forget all about me-"
Madcinois"lie, II honor YOU" he
ali "a II