News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-12-14
HIS DEAREST FRIEND.

HID UEAhEO1 L DiEND.
When Norman Van Elst told people
that Frank Garnet was his dearest friend
he meant a great deal, for although Van
Elst claimed but few friends, he chung to
those he had like drowning men cling
to whatever can save them from sinking.
He had been more unhappy during his
early days than boys usually are, for he
had lost both parents when he was a
mere child, and had been reared by
childless pair of relatives, who loved him
dearly, but knew no better WAYS of
showing their affection than by with
holding his pennies, so that he might
not squander them at toy-shop, and
by delivering to him an endless course
of lectures, in the hope of saving his
soul from the bottomless pit.
He met Garnet almost as soon as he
reached his majority, and came to New
York with the small patrimony to which
he was entitled. Garnet was so CHEEKY
that he was steady stimulant to Van
Fists sober wits, while Garnet found in
his new acquaintance an earnestness so
unusual in young men that, with New
Workers. quick appreciation of whatever
Is worth having, he returned in hearty
measure the regard bestowed upon him.
After the friendship of the two had
grown for a year, however, Van Elst
began to feel almost guilty over the fact
that Garnet was not as much in his
mind as he had been. For Van Elst had
fallen In love. During the fortnight's
vacation granted him by the firm with
whom he was reading law, he had sew
eral times met Miss Florence Ashmore.
and as IN manners and conversation she
was far superior to any one he had known
IN the country town in which he was
reared, as well as to any young lady he
had met In New York, he did not wait a
moment to analyze his feelings, but pro-
nounced himself irrevocably in love. As
he was very bashful and Miss Ashmore
was quite sprightly and brilliantly sar-
castle on the subject of young men who
imagined themselves in love. he did not
declare his passion. The young lady
was unable, however, to prevent her
merry face SOLDERING a little and her hon
est eyes ceasing to laugh whenever Van
Elst quoted poetry or talked of music,
or rhapsodized over beautiful scenery.
and although he never made love to her
IN the conventional manner, he talked of
the tender passion in a way that made
the young lady not only unable to laugh
at him, but constrained her to listen as
If she longed to hear more; and what
pleased him more than anything else was
that Miss Ashmore was kind enough to
hear, without showing signs of WEAKNESS,
all of Van Fists praises of Garnet. She
even was so good a listener that she
asked questions about Van Fists dear
friend.
Van Elst returned to the city full of
hope. lie had asked nothing; Miss
Ashmore had promised nothing; but
could he be mistaken when he believed
that her face had said far more than she
had meant to divulge? Naturally re-
served and secretive, he nevertheless
could not keep his JOY to himself so on
his return to town he hurried to Garnet's
room, determining to tell all, yet wonder
ing how he would be able to put his
story into words.
He found Garnet In high spirits, al
though, when they had parted two weeks
before, Garnet bemoaned the fate that
compelled him to remain in town all sum-
mer
Garnet's spirits rose still higher when
he saw his friend looking, as he declared,
far better than ever before. He laugh
ingly demanded an explanation of the
change, and suggested that perhaps his
friend had fallen in love, upon which
Van Elst blushed like a girl, and then
Garnet insisted that he should at once |
hear the whole story.
Van Elst turned his face away, for he
felt that in his happiness he must be
looking extremely silly. He leaned /
against the mantel, looking at Garnet's |
little collection of curios as intently as if |
he had never seen them before.
$50 on, old fellow" said Garnet. en-
couragingly; 'you couldn't have a more |
sympathetic listener, for I'm in the same |
condition as you.
This remark might have enabled Van
Elst to open his mouth, had not his eye |
ust then strayed to the end of the man
lie and fallen upon small photograph of
Ashmore.
"Speak boldly, I tell you, and don't
lelay, continued Garnet, ''or shall get
head of you and tell love story my
elf.
$50 ahead" said Van Elst, after a
moments pause; ''it may make my work
asier."
"All right, said Garnet, gaily; SIT
nay be selfish of me to speak first, but
We given you the chance and you've
eglected to avail yourself of it. Well,
Id boy, the long and short of it is this
m not only in love, but an accepted
,ver, and there's the picture of my dar-
ng-right there on the mantel. Why, {
believe you're looking at it now"
60 What is her name p asked Van Elst,
lrdly able to believe what he had '
card
81 Floy Ashmore, " said Garnet; "or,
be precise, Miss Florence Ashmore. 6
MT she pretty-isn't her picture just I
e loyliest thing you ever saw in your q
e? Confound you, Van, what do you 1