Portage La Prarie was indeed an enterprising little town and
possessing many of the characteristics of earlier settled districts.
On Main street are to be seen several fine buildings, fine stores
and fine residences, while Pacific and Belliveau hotels are quite
imposing.
And the education of the youth is not forgotten. On an elevated
position commanding a fine view of the town stands the new
schoolhouse, a pretty and imposing structure with surroundings in
keeping with such an institution.
And to this habitation the young lawyer was to be consigned. He
could not see his way out of the arrangement to which he had
partially given his consent. And when Mr. Sharpley's letters were
read and re-read, Phillip Lawson was in no enviable state of mind.
To do or not to do--to do was invariably the answer. Then there
arose another side to the question, which the young man hardly durst
think of.
"I may stay here until my hair is gray, and what matters it? I have
no reason to think that there ever will be any hope for me in that
respect."
Here Phillip fell to musing, and what his musings were, we may
divine from the foregoing speech. He considered Mr.
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