Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1869-04-16
The Bosom Friends.
ny ELIZABETH CAMPBELL.

gomcry had been friends from early
childhood. They were each only
daughters of wealthy parents; but the
great financial crisis of 10 years ago had
reduced them to comparative poverty,
and had left both orphans. From The
wreck of their fortunes, each secured Il
triile; and in their trouble, being drawn
closer together than ever, they vowed
eternal friendship, called each other
"sistcr,' put their scanty fortunes into
one common purse, and found that with
grca, economy and the proper manage
mcnt of the talents which Heaven had
given them, they could escape the grasp
of poverty.
Mabel's speciality was music, tc
which accomplishment she added draw
ing and French. Julia's chief accom-
plshmcnts were thorough knCwleugC
of German and Italian, and the art OF
making wax flowers of n dclicacy and
beauty such as was absolutely marvel
Gus.
These gentle women did not lack pu-
pits; Ii was very fine thing for scores
of comparatively rich women to boast
hat their daughters were being finish
cd in the matter of education by the
once rich, fashionable and well-known
Miss Clarendon and Miss VI ontgom-
cry.
After three years of industry and
economy, these young ladies felt that
they could afford to make each other Il
gift Of the whole summer time, and
enjoy it in their own way. This female
Damon and Pythias took UP their lode
in a pretty cottage, close by the sea and
there, with the assistance of little
French maid, who had clung to Julia
through all he change of fortune, they
dwelt in the most charming manner.
The first two months OF this delight
iul retirement passed rs pleasantly as
fairy life in Il tale. But orc Il ~ in the
first week of July, The wiclieu genius of
the fairy stories found out this little
paradise. His name was Victor Ian
sing, ard he was handsome as an Apol-
10.
But Julia and Mabel were heart-free.
In their days of wealth and fashion they
had merely danced and flirted with their
male friends, like others of their class
and since then opportunity had never
tempted either of them to lose their
hearts. Now it was different; they
were unemployed, and a chance ac-
quaintance soon decpencd into some
ii ing more serious.
Julia gave up her whole mind to the
admiration of Victor Lansing's wonder
full blonde beauty, rendered still more
remarkable by the pallor of recent ill
ness: and she discovered that blue eyes
in man were even more attr .ctivc
than in woman. In shoIt she loved
for the first and only time in her life.
With Mabel, admiration and kindly
regard were at first the only feelings
she entertained for her new friend and
she occupied the position of quiet
BOXER on more than an active party in
the trio.
AS for Mr.. Lansing, if he had any de-
cided preference at 1Irst, it appeared to
be for Miss Montgomery. Julia was a
woman to cap,ivate mans fancy, and
to engage his prOfounder attention, and
fix it too; and for the first time, she
cXertcd herself to win a mans heart.
Perhaps if she had eXerted herself less
her Success had been better; although
the object of her attentions often ques-
toned himself, seriously, as to whether
she had not conquered. That he found
Julia fascinating and almost irresiStible,
he could not deny; although he thought
Mabel the more beautiful of the two.
Often he smiled to himselfto think tia at
he could not decide with which of the
two he was in love.
"Nonsense ~ he declared to himself
at last. II love neither of these lovely
women, or else by this time should
have found out which it was. I've had
enough of sea-bathing and solitude. l
shall go home"
But that evening, when Lansing
called to bid his friends adieu, he sud-
denly discovered Mabel to be unusually
brilliant in conversation ; SO that he for
0nt n, nf ci r
no more of going home for several
weeks.
"Certainly l love Mabel Clarendon"
he thought, as he walked slowly and
meditatively toward the little country
hotel where he was staying. "She is
the most beautiful girl | ever saw and
quite as accomplished and brilliant as
Miss Montgomery, more modest, too,
for she never makes any display OF her
accomplishments. Not that Julia does
so either. She has too much taste; but
she contrives perfectly to make one fe ell
what a superior creature she is"
After Victor had left them, Julia took
up her candle and left the room with
out word, She did not know that she
had neglected to say good-night''-
her mind was too Thoroughly pre-occu-
pied. The first pang of jealousy had
torn her heart when she perceived
Lansing's devotion to her friend, and
the storm thus raised within her breast
had frightened her. She dared not UNI
derstand her own feelings, and she res
olutely forbade herself to think of
Mabel at all in connection with them !;
that was why she forgot her. Alone,
in the silence of her own room, she
placed both hands over her throbbing,
tortured heart; but all her efforts could
not repress the groan that bust fIom
her lips.
IfVictor Lansing does not love me-"
she thought, f" i shall die. Well, if |
must die, | shall try to die quietly and
show no sign"
Mechanically she prepared for bed,
put out the light, and closed her heavy
eVcliQS. but all that NIGHT she nnvpr