The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-04-23
SrlecirO iaistrIIanB.
THE BOSOM FRIENDS.

Mabel Clarendon anu Jullh montgomery
had been friends from early childhood
They were each only daughters OF wealthy
parents; but the great financial crisis of ten
wears AGO had reduced them % comparative
poverty aud had left both orphans. From
the wreck Of their fortunes each secured o
trile: and. ia their trouble, being drawI
closer together than ever. they vowed eter-
nal mendship, called each other "%sisters,'
put their scauty fortunes into one common
purse, aud found that with great economy,
and the proper management of the talents
which Heaven had given them, they conld
escape the grasp of poverty.
Mnbel's specially was music to which
accomplishment she added drawing and
French. Julia's chief accomplishments
were a thorough knowledge Of German and
Italian, and the art of making wax flowers
OF a delicncy aud beauty such as was ah-
solutely marvellous.
These g-entlewomen lid not lack pupils:
Il was a very fine thing for scores Of com
parntively rich women 10 boast that their
daughters were being finished in the mat
ter Of education by the once rich, fashion
able, and ~wcll-knowu Miss Clarendon and
Miss Montgomery.
After three years of industry aud econ
omy, these Young ladies felt tbatthey could
afford 10 mako each other a gilt of the
whole summer time, and enjoy il in their
own way. This female Damon aud Pythias
took mp their abode in u pretty cottage,
close by the sea; and there, with the as
s~istAnce 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 ms life in q
fairy tale. But one day 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
MS an Apollo,
Both Julia and Mabel were heart-frec. In
their days Of wealth and fashion they had
merely danced and tlirted with their male
friends, like others Of their class; and since
then opportunity had never tempted either
of them 10 lose their hearts. Now II was
different they were unemployed, aud n
chance acquaintance soon deopened into
something more serious.
julia gave up her whole mind to the all
miration Of Victor Lansing's wonderful
blonde beauty, rendered still more remark
able by the pallor of recent illness; and she
discovered that blue eyes ina man were
even more attractive than in n woman. In
short, she loved for the first an only time
in her life.
With Mabel Clarendon, admiration aud
kindly regard We're Mt first the only feel
ings she entertained for her new friend;
and she occupied more the position of n
quiet looker-on than AN active party in the
trio.
As for Mr.. Lansing, if he had any decid-
ed preference at first, II appeared to be for
Miss Montgomery. Julia WAS q oman to
captiyate n mans fancy, and TO engage his
%profounder attention, and fix it too;and for
the first time, she exerted herself 10 win %
mans heart. Perhaps il she had oXertod
herself less, her success had been greater;
although the object of her attentions often
questioned himself, seriously, as to whether
she had not conquered. That he found Jul
liza fascinating and almost irresistible, he
could not deny; although he thought Ma
bel the more beautiful of the two. Often
he smiled tohimself to think that hs could
not, on II wager, have decided with which
of the two he was in love, if with either.
Nonsense he declared to himself ut
last. 81 love neithar of these lovely wo-
men, or else by this time / should have
found out which it was. I've had enough
Of %sea-bathing and solitude. | shall 90
home"
But that evening, when Lansing called
20 bid his friends adieu, lac suddenly dis.
covered Mabel 10 be unusually brilliant IN
conversation; 80 that lac forgot the object
of his visit, and thought no more of goinl
home for several weeks.
Certainly, l love Mabel Clarendon" IA,
thought, as he walked slowly aud medita
lively toward the little country iun wher,
he was staying. Shes the most beautilu
girl ] ever saw; and quite ns occomplishe,
and brilliant AS Miss Montgomery NOR,
modest, too, for she never makes any dis
play of her accomplishments. Not tina
Julia Montgomery does 80, either. She ha
too much taste; but she contlives perfectly
to make one feel what a superior e%rcaturl
she IT," sf.r .t $40. r
After Victor had left them, Julia tookul
her candle and left the room without
word. She did not know that shehadn neg
lected 10 say "good-night'-her mind wa
too thoroughly ~preoccupied. The Grs
pang OF jealousy had torn her heart who
she perceived Lansing's devotion 10 he
friend, and the storm thus raised within he
ID breast had frightened her. She dared nC
understand her own feelings, and she reese
lutely forbade herself 10 think OF Mabel a
all in connection with them; that was VIII
she forgot her, Alone, in the silence ofhe
own room, she placed both hands over he
t%hrobbng, tortured heart; butall her effort
could not repress the groan bathurst iron
her lips.
'1f Victor lansing does not love me,
she thought, 81 shall die. Well il mus
die, Ishall try to die quietly and show n
sign. - D fllt T'a
Mechanically she prepared for bed, pu
out the light, and closed her heavy eyelid,
but all that night she never sleptfor on
instant, r.I.rf
Next morning, at the breakfast-tablt
Mabel observed and could not refrain froI
remArking Julia's death pallor. She kisse
her tenderly, and anticipated every wish
but Julia turned away with n sick hear
and shuddered at her touch. Mabel Clal
endon understood but did not resent hi
conduct. i-
"She loves Victor" she Thought mag
unanimously; ''and / do not. Yes, / wi
school my heart 10 look upon him as M
best friends husband, and as my brother
before 1t is too late. Think II hope Victo
loves Julia" ur-- ads "a
With this idea first in her thoughts, Ma
bel retired into the background and OF
the few occasions when accident left he
and lansing In each others society, sh
occupied every minute OF the time inpraise
Of Julia.
But this did not prove the way to oblite