Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-08-09
DAILY POST IHFELLlGEECER.
uER SINCERE FRIEND.

NEE SINCERE FRIEND.
aue ia an attractive and entertaining
gentleman, bat he cares very little for
the society Of ladies. No woman, were
she charming as Aphrodite herseif, can
captivate Alaric Maury, SAID MISE
aCouId she notY' Hilma laughed mis-
chievously. II will wager anything you
like, Elena, that before tbs sorn mer =
over shall have made q conquest OF
this obdurste woman hstsr.
"You will lose" Miss Champnsy pre-
dictsd, confidently. "A monk 10 mar
BILE could not be less susceptible IMAM
hs t." ,,. ,,
perhaps your opinions may change,
smiliugIy said she bsausifui ana "''t'
Bot she was already half ashamed OF
her boast, which was but DIT OF non
ssnss, q silly jest, altogether unworthy
Of her sweet, sensible self; for hiips
was guiltless of coquetry, ans sns could
almost dsspiss herself Tor the FOOLISH
vsunt which she had 80 hssdiessiy ut
tered. And she was more than ever
cory when she at length met Aiaric
Maury.
Re vas q man Of fns presence and
perfect manners, and one who, While 20
was seemingly indifferent 70 woman's
lovslinsss, had that rare and somstimes
fatal Gift Of swsying the moods OF wo-
men at his will. Nor was he one 10
love lightly. He would have affection
for affection, truth for truth, OF no
thing.
Hilma felt that his earnest, conteIn-
plstivs eyes could penetrate every senti,
ment and motive Of every heart, and
therefore she felt decidedly unoonfort-
able whenever she was mindful OF her
al am 90 sorry about IT," she said to
Miss Champnsy. at makes me feel so
false, 10 small, 20 constrained IN his
presence; for, Of course, have msrited
his contempt" ..
Miss Champney regarded her with a
polite incrsdulity that was excessively
mortifyina.
Nevertheless, should say that you
are suoceedinR pretty fairly in your fir-
tstiOn with him." she commented, with
the suspicion of sheer In her carefully
modulatsd tones.
"Bnt / am not flirting with him In the
least" sxpostulated Hilma, feeling hurt
and indignant. ~ esteem him highly,
and his attentions to me are those OF
kindness and courtesy, nothing more"
"You need not look 30 injured, tie
other laughed with the manner OF toler-
alton that Ia 90 vexing when one il inno-
cent of any real 0ffsnse. Bat really,
dear, your assumption OF shy simplicity
amuses me a. much ~ 1t seems 70
have fascinated Mr.. Maury. j am will
ana to concsde that you may win your
wager yet"
The speech was certainly uncivil; 1t
was the kind of raillery from which one
winces az from an insult. Hilma mar
yeled little; but the girl did not COM
prehsnd that tho naughty Miss Champ
uey might somehow DO resenting what
she considered q slight 70 her own dubi-
GUS attractions.
Elena Champney, cold, shrewd, ego
tistic, had never yet distinguished her
self for magnaninity of thought or ac-
ton. At the moment, the expression OF
her o0untsnsnce waa singularly unamia-
BILE; behind the polished smile was a
suggestion of envy, Of cunning, CT hate
ful triumph. She eXulted perhaps that
the more beautiful and more loveable
Hilma had 30 unthinkingly armed her
hostile hand; for that bit of folly about
the wager could be made very effective
indeed. Alaric Maury was fastidious in
his own way, and he surely would have
an aversion for the girl who had made
the conquest Of his affections the subject
Of frivolous boast.
vS..t 4 fss
him." the girl meditatsd very uneasily.
And how utterly contemplate
should seem 10 him II no might happen
TO know IT,"
Days went by, happy days for Hilma.
who all unconsci0usly had entered the
emo anted realms of love. All uncon-
sciously she had given her heart to A!aric
Maury, and he realized in her his ideal
Of perfect womanhood, and loved her
~ one Of his loyal nature ever does
love the creature he deems all true and
sweet.
".She il 70 shy and yet 80 frank" he
once observed to Miss Champney.--
"Hilma is agresably unlike many young
"Do You think soY' Elena queried
Significantly.
She was sitting before the piano In
Hilma's pretty parlor, and Maury Was
standing beside her. At last her oppor-
tunity for trcachery had come.
He glanced at her rather blankly as
ahe uttered the meaning interrogatory.
She evidently desired him TO under
stand something that might not be quite
pleasant.
II am Hilma's guest, and you are
both my friends" the lady continued,
apoloRetically, aud affecting an unscl6sh
policitude for him that might have fiat
tered ono less sagacious or more suscep-
uble than her companion, and have
no special taste for the role Of informed
der. But perhaps IL Ia better for Won to
know that oar dear and charming Hilms
70 not quite what she seems. She has q
craving Tor atender sort of homage that
may be quite natural and pardonabls In
. young beauty who has been INDUCED
and aattersd all her lifc. do not sup
pose that her coquetry 10 absolutely do
libsrsts," Elena continued. still assum-
Ing the charitable and palliative; but
often
:" Evil h wrought for want Of thought,
N well 40 waat OF heart
.And you are not % fond Of her yet
that you will b made disconsolate by
knowing the truth. Hilma had q fancy
that you were On obdurats woman hatsr,
and, whsn she learned that you were
coming. she waRersd- -soms tribe, doubt
leee-that you would b her conquest
before the summer was over"
4 pair Of gloves staksd on mans
heart-A bauhls 10 be won by the losing
Of . mans faith-vAs that IL. Elena7'
he naked, In Q strangely mirthlsss and
bitter voice.
but Miss Champnsy had slipped from
her place and disappeared. There was
look upon his fAcs that had frightened
Aetj for the traitor In ever the coward;
and. beeidea, for an instant shs had
oeen aaaAiled by q confusing sense OF
shame for the despicable thing that she
had done.
Bus he will care for Hilma no long
Ell" she thought, In ienoble triumph.
He will Be- grateful for my interest
and synpathy. aud he will learn to love
M"