Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-04-28
SeletteO lNlstelIanu.
THE BOSOM FRIENDS.
BYEL1zABETa CAMPBELL.

Mabel Clarendon and Julia Montgomery
had been friends from early childhood. --'
They we're each only daughters of wealthy
parents; but the great financial crisis OF ten
Years ago had reduced them to comparative
poverty and had left both orphans. From
the wreck of their fortunes each secured a
trife and, in their trouble, being drawn
closer together than ever they vowed eter-
nal friendship, called each other sisters,
put their scanty fortunes into one common
purse, and found that with great economy,
and the proper management of the talents
which Heaven had given them, they conld
escape the grasp of poverty. ...
Mabels specially was music to which
accomplishment she added drawing ano
French. Julia's chief accomplishments
were thorough knowledge of German and
italian, and the art of making wax flowers
of delicacy and beauty such as was alb
solutely marvellous.
These gentlewomen did not lack pupils
it was very fine thing for scores OF com
paratively rich women to boast that then
daughters were being finished in the mat
ter of education by the once rich fashion
able, and well-known Miss Clarendon and
Miss Montgomery.
After three years of industry and econ
omy, these young ladies felt that they could
afford TO make each other gift Of the
whole summer time, and enjoy it in then
own way. This female Damon and Pythiaf
took up their abode in pretty cottage
close by the sea; and there, with the AS
sistance of little French maid, who had
chung to Julia through all the change OF
fortune they dwelt in the most charming
manner.
The first two months of this delightful
retirement passed as pleasantly as life in q
fairy tale. But one ddy in the first week Of
July the wicked genius Of the fairy stories
found out this little paradise. His name
was Victor Lansing, and he was handsome
as an Apollo,
Both Julia and Mabel were heart-free. In
their days Of wealth and fashion they had
merely danced and firted with their male
friends, like others of their class; and sine
then opportunity had naver tempted either
of them to lose their hearts. Now il wai
different they We're unemployed, and {
chance acquaintance soon deepened int,
something more serious.
Julia gave up her whole mind to the ad
miration of Victor Lansings wonderful
blonde beauty, rendered still more remark
able by the pallor of recent illness; and sh'
discovered that blue eyes in a man wer,
even more attractive than in woman. II
short, she loved for the first an only timt
in her life,
With Mabel Clarendon, admiration ant
kindly regard were at first the only feel
ings she entertained for her new friend
and she occupied more the position of {
quiet looker-on than an active party in til,
trio.
As for Mr.. Lansing, if he had any decid
ed preference at first, it appeared to be fo
Miss Montgomery. Julia was woman tc
captivate mans fancy, and to engage hi
profOunder attention, and fix it too and TO
the first time, she eXerted herself to win
mans heart. Perhaps if she had exertet
herself less, her success had been greater
although the object of her attentions offer
questioned himself, seriously, as to whethe
she had not conquered. That he found Ju
liza fascinating and almost irresistible, h
could not deny; although he thought Ma
bel the more beautiful of the two. Oftel
he smiled to himself to think that he coal,
not, ON wager, have decided with whicl
of the two he was in love, if with either.
'Nonsensep' he declared to himself a
last. 81 love neither of these lovely wo
men, or else by this time should hay
found ont which it was I've had enougI
of sea bathing and solitude. | shall e
home"
But that evening, when Lansing calle
to bid his friends adieu, he suddenly dii
nouara1 Mabel to No unueu,l1,, l,,,l1,nDI
conversation; SO that he forgot the objet
of his visit, and thought no more Of goin
home for several weeks.
Certainly, love Mabel Clarendon" Il
thought, as he walked slowly and medti
lively toward the little country inn whel
he was staying. "She's the most beautfl
girl ever saw; and quite as occomplishe
and brilliant MS Miss Montgomery NOR
modest, too for she never makes any dil
play of her accomplishments Not thi
Julia Montgomery does so, either. She Ina
too much taste; but she contriyes perfect
to make one feel what superior cReatur
she is. +"
After Victor had left them, Julia took II
her candle and left the room without
word. She did not know that shehad nel
too 'u .t " guy Boou,nlBnN Lher inilu wa
pana Of iealonsy had torn her beart whe
she perceived Lansing's devotion 10 h,
friend, and the storm Tins rnised within h,
breast had frightened her. She dared M
understand her own feelings, and She res,
lnteIv forbade herself 10 tbini Of WoheI
oil in connection with them; that was WI
she forgot her. Alone, In the silence ofh,
throbbing. Tortured heart. bntall her effor
could not repress the proan that burst fro
her lips.
,Gf Victor Lansing does moi love mo