The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1917-12-01
PHILLIPPA SANDS
BY SUSAN SANFORD.

oahu uC4dAlLg.
''It will not need to be locked
against me, Miss Burton, 1 bid you
good evening"" he said, rising, hands
stif1y at his sides. With q ceremoni-
Gus bow he walked steadily toward
the door. 1t burst open when he was
two feet from 1t, thrusting him back
into the room. AS he Strengthened he
saw fronting him wild-rOse face, with
star-eyes, blue as the sky, now full
Of innocent concern, with red lips that
cried, "Oh, have hurt you? l am
50 sorry-it was very needless Of me !"
Don't cry, Phil-Mr. Hayden was
just leaving-else / should present
him." Anne said with q smile of soft
malice. Hayden stared. So this was
Phillippa Sands, Of whom he had heard
such tales. An audacious f1irt, even
limited at as correspondent in a pend
ing divorce he had felt more than JUS
tilted In begging Anne to have done
with her-Anne, who was like a sister
to him, only dearer.
81 believe in omens," he said, "fac-
ing about. Therefore, shall not go
unless you insist on it." His eyes
asked for mercy.
"Stay-if your pressing business
can wait" Anne said, as ungraciOusly
as hospitality permitted. Phil opened
her blue eyes wider than ever. She
caught up q book and ran away, say
ing over her shoulder: Il came to
get it-wOuldn't sleep a wink tonight
! if did not find out just how the end
came. l know, of course, she is going
to get him-after hating him half way
throughput don't know how"
MAY I apologize?" Hayden asked
as her footsteps grew faint outside.
Anne looked at him steadily.
"Why" she asked. "Phil is-just
the same. l told you she had been
shamefully led about. You stood in
awe Of Mrs. Grundy until you saw
her."
'Are you jealous like those others"
Hayden hazarded. Anne laughed
scornfully.
Il don't know how to be-" she said.
mot of anybody. Least of all Phil
lippa. You saw how resented your
slurs. Still, l am a little curious"
'As to what?" said Hayden.
"Why beauty excuses" said Anne
with dry chuckle. Hayden flushed.
'It may reasonably excuse" he said.
"And that with nothing ulterior. The
sight Of anything 80 charming makes
one who knows life understand the In
stinctive jealousy it wakes in the un-
lowered" .:....
1t was handsomely said. Coming
from Hayden 1t meant everything.
Anne smiled at him, but could not
help saying, "You wouldn't trust me
to judge for myself"
Hayden reached for her hand,
pressed 1t between both his own and
answered, ~ think 1t was because
don't care to have you do anything for
yourself. I'm so much bigger and
uglier and rOugher. I like to find
for US both. What do you say?"
'NOthing-untiI you've had a fort
night of Phillippa," Anne bubbled, her
eyes dancing. IF 1t leaves you con-
stant, then I shall never have misgiv-
ings. That is, of course, supposing I
make up my mind to say Yes"
1--WE will tell her, of course" Hayden
said with decision.
Anne shook her head. Nothing to
tell-yet," she said. Besides, that
wouldn't be fair. You both are so
human you could hardly resist forbid
den fruit"
In the last day of the fortnight Hay
den walked with Phillippa through an
enchanted October world.
Il am so glad it is like this-our last
day" breathed Phillippa, standing
bare-headed beneath a golden maple.
She faced him, looking him full in the
eyes. Forgive yourself for loving
me-" she said clearly. "You never
meant to do it-no more than did
it came-aIl in a flash"
"Yes !" Hayden assented bowling his
head. "But why talk of forgiving my
self? If you love me-we can defy
the whole world"
LACSpI AAuSJ L lllllIppd SdIu SO1Lly.
"And-my conscience. Don't Iaugh-I
have one. Could I ever be happy,
knowing she sat in shadow" !.
''She would not sit there-she is too
fine, too strong. Besides, she left me
free of her own choice" Hayden pro-
tested doggedly. "That proves her
wisdom" H
SIT shall not prove my treachery,"I
Phillippa interrupted. $50 it Is good
by for always. I'm going early tomor-
row. shall never come back" |,
Hayden entreated, argued-she was
firm. He tried to take her hand-she
eluded him, and ran down the slope,
never stopping till they came to the
back gate of the garden. Phillippa
flung open the gate, darted through 1t,
and rushed upon her friend, crying:
Don't you dare cut roses for anybody,
sister Anne-remember, I want all of
them when I CO." Il
"You are not going" Anne said, snug