Marguerite Verne | Page 8

to do any such thing; so go now and take the coffee while it
is hot, else I shall have to bring more."
Lottie Lawson shook her head with all the determination of a miss of
fourteen, and emphasized the fact by settling herself very cosily into a
low seat to see that every cake is disposed of to her satisfaction.
"Have you anything to tell me, little one? You know I can talk and eat
at the same time," said Phillip, sipping his coffee with the abandon of
an epicure.
"Indeed, I have not one bit of news worth telling. I hear anything
except a lot of the silly stuff the girls bring to school."
"Well, that must be worth something, arising from such a variety of
sources," replied the young man, his grave face expressive of the fund
of true humor within.
"Suppose you heard of the quarrel between Maud Harrington and
Hattie Reynolds?"
"No; what was it about?"
"Oh! I can hardly tell you; but it was at recess, and nearly all the girls
were out, except three or four. Maud said that Carrie Wilson's mamma
had been calling at Mrs. Simpson's and that she said that Mrs. Ashley
told that Hattie's sister Belle was the most dowdy-looking girl at the
Langley's party."
"How did Hattie find it out?" asked Phillip, with all the gravity he
would exercise on one of his clients.
"Oh! you know listeners never hear anything good about themselves.
Hattie was listening and never said a word about it until she got home,
and then Hattie's mother went to all the folks who were mixed up in it
and they had an awful time of it. Oh, yes, and what do you think?----"
Lottie gave another piece of news of much more importance to her

brother than the preceding one, but he very quietly kept his own
counsel, and soon after dismissed the little maiden, that he might take
up a few hours of hard study. The student lamp was lighted, and new
fuel added to the grate. Phillip Lawson sat himself down; but it cost
him great effort to concentrate his thoughts upon the work before him.
Still he labored on and fought manfully with the intruding thoughts,
that, despite all resistance, would at times be heard. But duty gained the
victory, and it was not until the young man had placed the much-prized
manuscript in its resting place, drawn his chair nearer the hearth, and lit
a cigar with the blessed expectation of having a puff of the weed, that
he again reverted to the banished subject.
"How the child could hear such a thing! Much as I dislike gossip I
should, like to question her further, but I dare not encourage such
things in a child," murmured the young man, involuntarily pressing his
hand upon his brow, as if bent upon study. And it Was a study both
pleasant and unpleasant. It presented two pictures--one fair and
bewitching, which lit up the student's face with its reflection, while the
other, dark and lowering from its deep and gloomy appearance, shed a
cloud of despondency and sadness upon the thoughtful brow, leaving
thereon an expression that was fretful and annoying.
"If the fellow were worthy of her I would not care so much, I could and
would live it down; but for me to see her associated with him through
life, it is something dreadful. And what am I to do? Warn them of the
danger myself? oh, no; that will never do! I will be accused of plotting
to secure the prize myself. But you will certainly do it in justice to the
man whom you value as a true friend, if for nothing else," were the
burning thoughts that forced themselves uppermost, and bade the
young man reflect very seriously. "Yes, that is a motive sufficient to
nerve any man; but there is a deeper one--yes, I will admit it--a selfish
one." There was a struggle going on worthy the soul of this
noble-minded youth. He was trying to solve a problem which vacillated
between right and wrong. It was no common task, for when duty
pointed the way, the form of self overshadowed the path, and showed
only fitful gleams of light.

"I will be cautious; but she must not be sacrificed to the artful wiles of
unprincipled tricksters while I have an trinity. Come what may, I must
and will speak out!" Phillip Lawson thus resolved, with a sense of relief.
He knew now how to act, and his mind was clear, calmly awaiting the
hour to carry his resolutions into effect. But how often do a few
careless words change the whole course of action which hours of
thought had premeditated.
Phillip Lawson's high-toned resolutions by these means