The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-06-25
THE TWO FRIENDS: Or
HOW TO WIN.

|
yon won't go on tiIe eXcnrsion?'
''No; believe not"
'Don't you know that Ellie Black i
goingg"
''No, did not, " said james, ilushing
and at the same time looking liftI'
vexed.
ayes, and she will go with me, too"
"With you"
''To he sure. Why shouldn't she!'
''No reason at all, John, if she wishe.
TO do so. No one has right to contro
her wishes"
'Why should anybody want to control
| her wishesH'
''It's hardly worth While anybody
wanting to do what they can't, " replied
Farnum, with laugh, "and now good
night. | hope you'll enjoy yourself to
morrow"
''WiIl you go?'
"No-that is, I'll see about it
$50, so. The idea of Ellie Blacks
going makes you inclined to change your
mind"
James laughed, gave his friend his
hand, and then they parted.
James Farnum and John Walton had
been intimate friends from boyhOod, and
both were orphans. Their intimacy had
been like that of brothers; they shared
each others confidence, and had always
sympathised with each others successes.
But, as is too often the case both with
brothers and friends, they now threat
ened to be rival suitors for the love of
Ellie Black-the briglit-eyed, merry,
charming Ellie, whose simple, gIIileless
nature, afTectionate heart, and warm,
earnest impulses, made leI not only gem
orally liked, but, in return, very prone
10 like all others who contributed TO her
measure, or sought her acquaintance.
This fact-perhaps it was a fault-had
restrained Farnum's advances, and often
mace him doubt il lac stood any more
favorably i'm the thoughts of the fair girl
than n dozen others. Walton, he saw,
was, like himself, smitt"m with her
charms, but, unlike him, was bold and
confident in his addresses. Fnrnum had
wished, but scarcely had hopcd, TO win
her; had long,d TO lay hi, heat at her
feet, but had slIrunk from the pain and
humiIiation of refusal
He walked on witla thoughtful brow.
Was not tlllir's acceptance Of Johns
invitation ior the excursion "A clearpief-
erence Of his friend over him! James
sighed, a. This probability forced itself
upon him. II hGpe," said iI", "that
John will make her a good husband.
He is IA good fellow, but not very pru-
dent; reckless la expenditure, aud am
afraid will not get along in the world.
Poor Ellici hope she is not TO know
the grinding cares of hopeless poverty" "
Then hf whiStlsd, as he thought of
whHt might have been. Ellie Iis cheer
full, happy hearted, alTectionate wife
a neat cottage somewhere, purchasedby
his sayings s-wjth flowers and birds and
gardens; thrift AND economy i'll his
house old, but no hare, grinding care
healthful. happy children, laughing and
playing ia the sunslinei and q sweet
smile always 10 follow linn from his
door, always to welcome him Lack again
The piclurr seemed so pleasant that he
sighed aloud sighed 81 worfully aloud
that "A cheerful voice at his elbow cried
out
"Why, Mr.. Farnum, What is the mar
tefi Are you IF'
lie started and b!usl,ed 10 his brow, as
hn exclaimed
"0h, no, Miss BLACK, Eot i'll! But
THIS is a eurPfIse. May walk hone with
youp
''Thank you. | should not have bro
ken in on your reverie had not wanted
to ask You il you are going on the eHcur
sion 10 morrow.'
Il had not Thought OF going until about
five minutes ago"
'.Tlsn, exclaimed Ellie, with Hncon
cealed pleasure, ''you really thifk O
g,ingj"
81 only regret, " said james, THAT
had not thought of going earlier. Had
known that you liked sucll entertain
ments-"
"Oh, they are delightful" exclaimed
Ellie, who hal ah;Id.i~e fondness fol
pleasure. ''The sail is so fine, the ali
from the water is so sweet, the picnic il
the grove is so delightful, and the dane
ing is perfectly splendid"
James began 20 think That an excur
sion like the one proposed would be on,
of the most delightful things In th,
world, provided Ellie Black was one o
the party. And as for dancing, it wa
obviously the most natural thing in tn
world fer such 1.-the, gay, fairy-lik
creature to be fond of it.
''But ara you aoing," persisted Ellie
"YOu know Mr. Walton asked me to go
and father said might accept his invi
tation-but it would be SO much til,
merrier if you We're to so, too. I'm sur
Ne. Walton would like you 10 be one 0
the party, for | heard him say So"
''He has been trying TO persuade III,
to 60" said James.
s'Then, of course, yOn will. !"
81 can't refuse, replied James.
'"phat will be so nice, replied Ellie
gaily. "Father will b. glad, too, for h
wanted me particularly to ask you to q,
along. OF course l ought not 10 hav
done that, but 1 could inquire if yol
We're going-which is only askinga ques
ton, after all, isI.'t it, Goodbye, 1or In
in great hurry"
4 fTn h