The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-02-23
Grandma's S Story.
BY WAIVE WILLOWS.

kDlILlng-WOrk.
"Why, grandma" said Herbert Day
ton, who lay on the sofa, reading DR..
Kane's Arctic Explorations, ''do. you
believe two girls can really love each
other?"
Herbert" replied grandma, as she
carefully picked up the stitch she had
dropped, az have heard you speak many
times as though you thought no woman
could feel any deep, strong love for an
other of her own sex; and to prove that
you are wrong, will tell you story"
''Is it true story, grandma ?" asked
Herbert, as he placed bOok-mark be-
tween the leaves of the volume in his
hand, preparatory to closing it.
eyes, Herbert,n was grandma's re-
ply; and after a moments pause she
went on:
at is now about fifty years siuce I
first met Ina Chase. The year was
seventeen years old, my father sent me
to Hartford to attend Young Ladies'
Seminary there, and Ina Chase was my
roommate, and, after a few days had
passed, my firm friend.
"We were very unlike, both in looks
and disposition. l will not try to de-
scribe her to you, but will just say that
she was blonde, and considered very
handsome, and that she was as good as
beautiful. You have only to look at
the picture over the mantle to see that
/ had dark hair and eyes, and a rather
brown though clear skin. Sometimes
my quick temper would flash out, and 1
would speak words which, moment
afterwards, L would have given any
thing to recall; for Ina's sweet blue eyes
would fill with tears. But when
begged her pardon, as always did, and
promised to try to keep from ever being
cross again, she would wind her arms
around my neck and say, as she stopped
to kiss my lips:
"I knew you did not mean those
naughty words, Madge, and l fOrgave
you before you asked
"How we loved each other! Our po-
sitiOn in society was very different.
Her father was rich merchant in the
city of Providence, while mine was only
a well-to-do farmer in the State of New
York; but this made no difference in
our friendship. She told me much OF
her home and friends, and among other
things, she informed me that a short
time before leaving home she had be-
come engaged to a young man who had
lived in her fathers family since he
was a child. He was young medical
student, just through with his studies,
and then undecided where he should
open an Office.
''Oh, those were happy days to me,
and all too quickly they passed away!
In two years from the time we entered
the school, Ina and [ both graduated,
and then we knew we must part.
"When the day came on which we
were to leave for home, and everything
was ready for our departure, Ina brought
small footstoOl near my chair, and sit
ting down upon it, and taking my
hands in hers, she said:
"'Madge, darling, now that we are
about to part, 1 want you to promise
me that you will always be the same
dear, true friend you are now. [ be.
lieve it would break my heart if yoU
should change
Looking straight into her eyes
which were full of tears, said: Dear
dear Ina, never fear that will not bt
true. 1 love you too well to change
So trust me always, darling, for I viii
never deceive or cease to love you'
''Ten minutes after the words wert
spoken she was sobbing a goodbye, to
gether with promise to write often
and to visit me soon. Then I hurried
down the stairs, hardly able to keel
from sobbing aloud.
81 was very glad to meet my parents
but for many weeks after reachinl
home my heart cried out for nv friend
and nothing would satisfy it, We cor
responded regularly. In one of Ina
letters she told me that her parents haC
given their consent for her to marry il
the early part of winter. 1t was thel
the latter part of July, and L had beer
at home about two months. In Ina'
next letter she wrote: Dear Madge,
am likely to become your neighbor, TO
Ralph has decided to settle in YOU
town, as he has heard that your oil,
physician has recently died. The mex
week the new doctor came. He hat
only been in town two days when m,
father demanded his services for me
One evening, as l was returning hom,
from berrying expedition, was com
pletely drenched by a sudden shower
Fever, which took the typhoid form
was the result, and DR.. Dayton becam
my constant attendant.
81 wish / could tell you lust nov
Ralph Dayton looked at that time, H
was not handsome man, but one for
got to think of that in looking upon hi
fine figure, or into his sharp, but still
kind-lOoking gray eyes.
"For many weeks life and death eacI
fought hard for the victory, but th
former was triumphant, and, at last.
began slowly to recover. Ina wouI,
have come to me, but her parents fearet
she might take my disease, and forbad
it.
81 grew stronger every day, but DIR
Dayton did not discontinue his visits
My father admired and respected him
and would playfully chide him if W,
failed to see him each day. A new doc
tor, and young one at that, is apt t,
have a good deal of leisure, and SO ,
good many afternoons of that never-to
oe-forgotten summer found Ralph Dav
ton reading to me, or talking to m,
father, when the latter could find tim,
for conversation.
"The time went on until the knowl
edge that 1 loved DR.. Dayton, madIv
wildly, passionately, came to me like ,
sudden blow, and, worse than this.
saw that be loved me. His every ae
and look showed it. Then his visit
grew less frequent, until they ceased al
together. l could guess the reason
About that time I noticed that Ina'l
letters were shorter and sad, and onct
she wrote. Tell me of Ralph, Madge
he seldom writes now
How guilty and unhappy felt, as
read her letter! One evening was sit
ting in the summer-house, sadly think
ing of Ina, when, on looking up, saw
Dr. DaVton II bod hoaD ooarISv 49,