The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-01-24
his DEAREST FRIEND.

6BL C12lmtQ OUT IeW 1rlonOS, ne clQnO
to those he had like drowning men
cling 10 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 mere child. and had been
reared by q childiess pair of relatives
who loved him dearly, but knew no bet
ter ways of showing their affection than
by Withholding his pennies, so that he
might not squander them at q toy shop,
and by delivering to him an endless
course of lectures. He met Garnet al
most as soon as he reached his majority,
and came to New York with the small
patrimony to which he was entitled
Garnet was 50 CHEEKY that he was
steady stimulant to Van Fists sober
wit, while Garnet found In his new ac-
Quaintance an earnestness so unusual in
young men that, with q New Yorker's
quick appreciation of whatever is worth
having. he returned in hearty measure
the regard bestowed upon him. -rf,g
After the friendship of the two had
grown for q year, however, Van Elst
began to feel almost guilty over the fact
that Garnet was not as much In his mind
asShe had been. For Van Elst had fallen
in love. \ During the fortnight's vaca-
ton granted him by the firm with whom
he was reading law, he had several
times met Miss Florence Ashmore, a
very pretty damsel from Baltimore, 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 we'll as to any young lady he
q moment to analyze his feelings, but
pronounced himself irreyocably in love-
As he was very bashful, and Miss Ash
more was quite sprightly and brilliantly
sarcastic on the subject of young men
who imagined themselves in love, he
did not declare his rpassion- The lady
was unable. however, to prevent her
merry face sobering little and her
honest eyes eeasing 10 laugh whenever
Van Elst quoted poetry or talked of
music, or raphsodized 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 una
BILE to laugh at him, but constrained her
to listen as if she longed to hear more;
and what pleased him more than any
thing 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 q listener that she asked questions
about Van Fists dear friend.
Van Elst returned to the city full of
hope He 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
hadmeant to divulge? ?Naturallyreserved
and secretiye, he nevertheless could not
keep his joy to himself; so on his return
TO town he hurried to Garnet's room, de-
termining to tell all, yet wondering how
he would be able to put his story into
words. He found Garnet in high spir-
its, although, when they had parted two
weeks before, Garnet bemoaned the fate
that compelled him to remain in town
all summer. Garnet's spirits rose still
higher when he saw his friend looking,
as he declared. far better than ever be-
fore. He laughingly demanded an ex-
PLANTATION of the change, and suggested
that perhaps his friend had fallen in
love, upon which Van Elst blushed like
. girl, and then Garnesinsisted 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 curiosities as intently
as if he had never seen them before.
$50 on, old fellow" said Garnet, en-.
couraginglv; ssyou couldn't have more
sympathetic listener, for Pmin the same
condition as you." ...-.....-
This remark might have enabled Van
Elst to open his mouth, had not his eye
just then strayed to the end Of the man.
tel and fallen upon small photograph
of Florence Ashmore.
ssSpeak boldly, tell you, and don't
delay continued Garnet, cor shall
get ahead of you and tell q love story
myself. -
may be selfish of me to speak first, buI
I've given You the chance and you've
neglected to avail yourself of it. Well
old boy, the long and short of it is this;
I'm not only in love, but an accepted
lover, and there's the picture of my
darling-right there on the mantel
Why. / believe you're looking at i
now."
.sWhat is her name?" asked Var
Elst, hardly able to believe what he ha6
heard.
"Floy Ashmore," said Garnet; "ant
she is the dearest, sweetest"
"What did you say her first nam'
wasP'sasked Van Elst.
s.FIoy," replied Garnet; cor, to b
precise, Miss Florence Ashmore. Ism
She pretty-isnit her picture just th'
loveliest thing you ever saw in you
life? Confound you, Van, what do yol
mean by standing there without sayine
a word to me while I'm in the seventh
heaven of bliss and with million ros,
clouds floating over me? Speak-jus
one word, won't youP"
s.Garnet," said Van Elst, turning
slowly and displaying q very white face
s'I congratulate you with my who'll
heart and soul and strength"
ssThat sounds well," said Garnet
after q meditative puff or two at hi
meerschaum pipe, '.but you might sa,
it with q little more spirit, I think
Hang it man, I didn't say 1 was goinI
TO die; said / was the accepted love
of the sweetest girl in the world"
Van Elst made a mighty effort, smile'
brightly, grasped his friends han
firmly, and replied:
"My dear fellow, you're the luckies
man in the world, if that picture doe
the lady justice, and Miss Ashmore is a
lucky as you."
.Thatis better" said Garnet, hastily
withdrawing his hand and thrusting tw
knuckles into his mouth, ''but, my dea
fellow-oh, how that finger hurtst-yo
needn't crush my seal ring right throug
TO the bone, with that terrific grip {
YOURS. EhP-looking at her pictuT
againp shall be jealous of you in
moment"
uYou've no reason to be-" said Va
Elst, s.but can't help staring at hs