Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-11-14
A STRANGE STORY
BY mAooE WEST.

this June afternoon IN writing you o
the strangest love story that am sur
you ever heard-and the love story Il
my own. Are YOU not very much sur
prisedi
II Is true that I answered recently
your questioning Ms 10 any possible
present love anair. assuring you That
during my long time with Aunt Mll.
Hcent In Gooperstown. no young. old
or middle-aged man had paid me the
slightest attention And believe I
further went on to say that few men
find their way 20 this quaint Isoated
town. So. OF course. you must have
mentally resigned me TO the fate Of
single blcssedness. which I. myself.
have long considered ~ cheerful
spirit
But all this Is past and | am 40 he
married tomorrow glorious fomor-
row, Ruth, dear with all the flowers Of
the garden sending forth perfume like
the emanating joy Of my heart
Coming to Cooperstown with
girls yearnine for continuation Of
youthful pleasures. ! looked about for
young society But from the first but
one person claimed my Interest A
man whose ability In his profession
could no; be hidden even here and
who remained in the old family home
Of the lonely town In order to care for
a crippled elderly sister. This sister
had sacrificed much for him, raising
the orphaned brother from delicate
childhood 20 educated manhood Thus.
he now repaid her sacrifices--and what
II had cost him to renounce the wider
field Of opportunity In his chosen pro-
fession none knew. save |. as I first
saw him.
"Who Is that mani? / asked Aunt
Mlllicent. after his bow to her and
his flashing glance In my direction.
Aunt Millicent closed her lips in
a firm way that | later learned to
dresd.
Ills name" she responded. "is
Philip Dare. and the less you know OF
him the better"
"He looks" | defended like a man
10 be admired-respected.-
"He is" Aunt MillIcent answered |
dryly. especially the former. And
many an admiring heart has he broken. |
Il shall never marry Philip tells the
foolish girls, my life must be devoted
20 my sister,"
Aunt Mllllcent turned upon me
sharply: II saw the way he looked ut
you Just now. Nan" she said. ''remem-
Der. he is not to come near our house
while you live with me-"
But aunt's admonltion was unneces-
sary: Philip Dare came not 10 her
house His greeting was always
pleasant as we met at some village
or would exchange smile
with him in passing as he wheeled his
crippled sister about the quiet grounds
Df their old. stately home. and always
Ruth. you may laugh II you will
recalling my many girlish conquests-
ilways. I would return to Aunt Mill
'eut's. content with my glimpse of the
nan who had never from that first
meeting, been absent from my thought
When they spoke of pretty, merry
,iris. who daringly spent their evenings
ipon the wide verandas Of Philip
)are's home or picked him up upon
ome errand to carry him home in
heir cars--I still smiled i'm confident
abstraction as l bent over my sewing
'hllip. knew, cared for not one of
hem.
So perhaps a year passed. learning
othing of his companionship. knowing
i'm. Il would seem. but in fancy. Then
ne evening he came abruptly to stand
eforc me where | sat beneath tree
q the garden
Il have Ia go out Of town foe a few
avs" he said gently, ito be in con
ultation with other lawyers
Aunt came frowning toward us.
ould not even offer a friendly baud.
"Good-hy." | said For moment
ur eyes met. then he was gone but
was as though we had talked. he
nd I. OF the past thar was gone. and
al made promises 60 each other Tor
ic future TO come.
In his continued aloofness and APP
nrent indifference to myself aunt lost !
er forebodings.
'Now what" she mused do you sup
Dse brought Philip Dare in here? \
lssing notion. likely" she immediate
answered herself. ''He was always
lat way
when Philip returned from his trip
3 bowed. passing the house. and
aved my hand ia response. Ny heart
"a been with him throughout his .isur-
~. and | strangely felt that he knew
You remember. Ruth. dear, when
sitcd sou how disappointed You were
my lack Of interest for those things
used to enjoy-my thoughts were
ith Philip Dare ! was wondering
lxiously an the time IT the sick sis.
r grew more cxactng Il that new
eariness stili Swallowed hts dear pa
mt eyes
The sister died one month ago. Last
ght as I sni IN the garden alone.
lip Dare came 90 me A. be- sank
.wn on the sent at my side. he ciasped