The Denver star., 1918-07-20
OLD ROOTS
BY MILDRED WHITE.
(Copyright, 1918, Western Newspaper Union.

perfect face and faultlessly garbed fig
ure Of his fiancee. Truly he might be
an envied man. Jane Austen's posi-
ton was also beyond reproach. Philip
wondered vaguely how he had attain
ed to 1t all. Very far away seemed
his boyhood's country home and the
simple people who had been his moth
er's friends. For Philip. too. held well
n prominent part In the great clty's
business life.
The courted and popular young Jane.
had seemed to drift into his possession
as easily as the rest of his good for
tune. Sometimes, as now. sleeping
conscience awoke to remind him OF
past promises and past obligations.
But impatiently Philip hushed the con-
science. What has a successful man
Of the world to do with a country lads
vows? They had long been outlined,
like former tastes and customs.
When he had started full Of enthusi-
asm upon a college career, using the
proceeds of the sale of his vacated
home for this purpose. Constance Dare.
had been his boyish ideal OF all that
was desirable in woman. He remem.
bered still the tears upon her dark
lashes, as he had said good-by, the
tremble of her soft red lips. Now, he
remembered too, that her gown had
been one of muslin. the hand stretched
in farewell across the hedge. had been
roughened little, by home and garden
toll. Philip had intended to be true.
Why, 1t was for Constance sake that
he had aspired to the highest. But
the great outer world Is so full of in
teresting and absorbing things. gradu-
ally Philip forgot.
There was no other excuse for him,
he forgot. Into his life came many
girls. beautiful, attractive. At last
Philip had yielded to the charms OF
Jane. With delightful frankness the
sought-after debutante selected him
for her cavalier. and now, they We're
betrothed During the first days OF
their engagement Philip glorted in self
congratulation. Jane was altogether
adorable, perfect. Then, uncontessed.
the round Of gayety into which she
persistently drew him became bur
den. Philip desired to be alone, to be
allowed to think out seriously prob
lens Of business which demanded his
attention.
Jane was grleved by his absence;
again he yielded to her insistance.
Tonight" Jane was saying 1--WE
must go to the Schuyler dance. tomor-
row luncheon at the country club and
in the afternoon"
Tomorrow" said Philip decidedly.
'I must be at the Office"
"If you are going to be an old grub
Of husband" Jane pouted, aud all
at once, and unaccountably. across
Philips stagnant memory flashed a pic
ture Of his sweetheart Of long ago.
"Philip," Constance had told him.
"when you and are married. shall
try to help with your success"
"Jane, DEAR" he confessed impul-
sively, "have I ever mentioned being
engaged long ago? There was really
nothing serious about the affair, for I
left the village, and forgot; but you
ought to know. You will not be jeal-
Gus Of past, will you Jane?"
Contemptuously the girls laugh rang
out.
jealous of village maiden, Phil"
she Knocked, "now no doubt village
old maid. Mel" And Philip smiled
Mt her own comparison. But his heart
was troubled and his mind III at ense.
He must hereafter devote himself to
his work. Determinedly he did 50, real
izlng the while the coldness Of his be-
trothed's disapproval.
In the hot office, engaged with his
problems. he knew that Jane was not
sacrificing one whit her pleasure. Here
and there he read accounts Of her pres
ence. "Jane," he called one day over
the phone, "may come out this eve.
ming for little restfuI time? I am
to some AFFAIR.""
Jane's voice laughed back over the
phone.
II have grown tired trying to uproot
you Phil" she said, "and l am afraid
1t Is useless. All through your life
you will cling and cling to old quiet
ways. ! don't want to be quiet, Phil.
or sensible ever. / live on excitement
and change. SO good-by. Don't feel
hard to me Phil; we grow In different
places, and roots are deep"
YEARLY Philip Wentworth closed
the door of his office. Duly he pussed
into the s;Snmer air, with half unc0n-
scious longing he boarded country
bound trolley. Some place, he must
find rest. And as the green meadows
flashed into view, Philip knew that
Jano Austen yO,lnD and gay was right
Always she must soar through life a
butterfly, while his roots would cling
to the quiet places.
AS one in dream he walked down
the familiar village street. paused wist.
fully to gaze over the top Of the hedge
into the old Dare garllnn and there In