Year: 1877

Tor L naQ no secrets from nllu. ~ WAS
at this time that he sickened and took
to his bed first. He was too fond of
hunting and fishing in the sloughs a.
long the river. Almost always he
would come home dripping wet, and
not until he had been so for hours
would he make the necessary change
of clothing. This was too much for
one of sixty years to bear, and when
his vigorous constitution did give way
the end came all too soon.


During papa's sickness I wrote to
Philip ALMOST daily, covering page
after page with my great happiness,
mingled with tears for my poor papa.


His letters were like those of a
business man, concise and pointed
They were always much too short, but
when ! had read and re-read them,
and weighed and studied the weight
and import of every word, | excused
the brevity because Of business duties.
No matter I argued it is all right
for men think more and say less than
women


But finally his letters grew fewer
as we'll as briefer. Poor papa wasting
away and my heart was almost bl oxen
at the thought of losing him. If
Philip only knew and could see all,
surely he would be more cons!derate
of me at such a time.


AT last the blow came, papa was
taken away, and l was all alone in the
world. Now, thought, philip will
surely come to me in my bitter sorrow!
But he only wrote briefly, and, it
seemed coldly. But he had been
named III the will as one Of the exec
utors of papa s estate if he accepted
the tryseshe FAUST come and 60 through
the necessary legal forms.


'Distrust had lately crert into my
heart, lately so full of love. How
could | keep it, More than once the
terrible question would come: Does
he indeed love me? The answer was
that agonizing doubt so distressing to
body and soul.


They said | looked pale, haggaad
and ghsstly, when the probate judge
called to see he, bringing with him a
letter from Philip to me, inclosed in
one to himself


"Hs has declined to serve as execu-
tor said the kind old judge This
is his second letter to me. In his first
he desires particularly to know the
amount Of the property, and if devils
ed absolutely to you without trustee
or restraint. Since he has learned
the contents of the will, it seems that
he thinks for so small an estate some
neighbor will do as we'll so be asks
to be excused.


lie knows the contents OF the will,
then? asked the judge.


Yes. | sent him copy of it, was
his reply. And he bsde me goodbye,
and God-blessed me, leaving Inc to
my sorrow and my letter.


4 sat there 1azed, and fearing to
open that dreadful letter. But it
must be read, and | broke it open to
read it, but | could not. | put it
away at night, hoping to be more
courageous in the morning, But !
vas not. At last | took it out from
the envelope and managed to read it
through, but not at the first effort.


1T was as cold and formal as if |
had been q delinquent debtor instead
Of the ahinauced bride of Philip Kim
berlee 1t was quite brief. lie ex.
pressed regrets that my poor papa
should have thought it necessary to
appoint him, residing IN Chiago, as
one Of his executors. He was so far
distant and his time was so completely
taken-'required' was his worldly
his business that he could not accept
the trust. In three lines more he
hoped | would think as he did, that
our hasty engagement had better
never be thought of more. That was
all Of it.


And you released the william, Of
course? his eyes blazing with emotion.


/ released Philip Kimberlee from
his engagement to me, and then for a
year or more went about in that daz-
ed, broken way which simple women
have when they misplaced their
hearts.


The scoundrel next married the
daughter Of a rich man, whom he
ruined in business. But the broken
hearted father and daughter are now
at rest. Philip Kimberlee is my
brother law. And the head of the
strong man was bent in unspeskable
grief for moment.


That is my story, Mr.. A,len,' she
said, rising to her feet flushed and
trembling. "Since you gave me your
confidence so frankly, l could not, l
felt, do less, We are both under the
shadow of the old love yet


He too rose and took her hand,
when she nurmured


Good bye, Mr.. Allen, hope we
may both be happier when the shad-
ow shall have passed away; good
bve.