The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-22
PHIL
BY MILDRED WHITE.

The storm was coming. James Bur- {
rows let out the speed of his red car,
hoping to reach the village five miles
below before the rain should descend.
The sky grew darker as thunder rolled
about the encircling hills.
To the city lawyer the rough wind
ing roads seemed almost impossible,
impatiently he decided to seek shelter
at O farmhouse not far distant, than
hesitated undecidedly, as the sun
cleaned for moment in promise. AS
he slowed down near the gateway, a
bent old man peered up at him.
"Good morning, uncle the lawyer
greeted, but the old man did not re-
turn his smile.
bad evening, mister" he replied,
"gOin' to have one of our bloWups.
Better stop, hadn't We an wait inside?"
Thanks" Burrows responded, Il
think l can reach the village before
the storm breaks, and have supper
/ there"
The old man shook his head. Don't |
! believe it, he said, were alone here, |
Phil an me, but l reckon Phil could |
pick up something for you to eat"
Turning, he cupped his hands and |
called to a blue-oyeralled figure hoe |
ing in the distance.
Phil" he screamed, "Phil" The
lad bending over his work apparently
/ did not hear.
Never mind" Burrows said, ''Ill
take a chance and ride on
'sWonder-" the old man asked, eff
you could carry me along to the next
house down there? See it?-the red
one?"
Certainly" the lawyer agreed, and
the former seated himself In the car
with evident pride.
When Burrows had disposed of his
companion, the storm descended I'M
expectedly. Great sheets of rain swept
against him, the wind threatened to
blow his small car from its course,
lightning flashed whiplike around the
hilltops. Swiftly he turned about,
with difficulty, making his way back
to the old mans house. UNLIMITED he
/ sheltered his car in the great white
, barn, and dashed breathlessly up the
, steps of the porch.
: phil was there before him, evil
IDENTIFY the youth also had rushed to
safety. His fresh face shone startled
, beneath the brim of his old felt hat
r Mt the strangers approach, but he went
/ on stolidly scraping the mud from the
E soles of his rubber boots.
h San old man-your father ! sup
0 pose" the lawyer said, Suggested
: that I wait here until the storm has
i abated" Burrows smiled. "He also
t intimated that you might pick up
r something for me to eat, I'm furiously
: hungry" y" 4>noG ttsmr"H snT m ?
r The boy lounged in the doorway.
5 THAT was grandad," he answered Ia
}. conically. His eyes studied the stran-
d ger. perhaps, I could find some
thing" he said suddenly, and disap-
peared in the house. His heavy boots
tracked the clean scrubbed floor, as
the lawyer followed him inside, the
rain-soaked old hat still rested upon
Pills head, as he deftly placed tempt.
ing food upon the table.
"St down." he said at last abruptly
and himself dropped into a wide armed
chair at the opposite end of the wood
en- table.
"You and your grandfather live
alone?" Burrows asked incredulously
of as he buttered a flaky biscuit, ''thel
id who makes these?
IN Me" the youth answered, his tont
of was sullen. Cooking, farming, ev
rt erything-I do it all, but won't mucl
IN. longer. Grandad's going to be married
an again" q sheer curled the red lips
that's where he's visiting now"
he and them the lawyer asked inter
de ested, ''What are you going to do?"
It's Phil shook his head Respondent!
sct Don't know" he replied. "Never ha
y; chance to prepare for anything, ha
er. fight with grandad every day l wer
ost to school, but did the work morning
EAR and evenings, and 1 made it. Now,
nj the young voice broke discouragin,
ny ly, ''he don't need me any more"
we Sudden unaccountable sympath
d. famed in the lawyers breast.
'lS "Phil," he said, eff you will CON
ate with me-tomorrOw, I'll give you
Vi start in the world. Help is scarce
MS this time, l need you in my office"
on SIlluSOn SpOlS 6loNCu III Tic loSi
- round cheeks, quickly he rose to h
ne feet. "You mean," lie said, shat you
81. take me there to the city, that you
help me tO-live."
The lawyer nodded silently. The
ia with sudden passionate motion the ls
~ buried his face in his arms, his Shot
~ ders shaking with sudden sobs.
81. 'Oh! l can't 60" he cried ar
DO snatched the felt hat from his hea
: About the round childish face, fell
; in mass of golden hair, angrily Pl
cont caught the hair aud drew it like
rial cloak about her, you see,' she sal
This Il am his granddaughter, Philip
th,, The overalls and boots were but Il
ba farming costume. I allowed you
ton think what you believed"
rges Tragic disappointment fingered
Il L., es%a OF ri