River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-07-26
WAS IT FAIR OF HIM?
A Story of Autumn Love.

calm that the flag at the end Of the pier
has hung r1oaonleSs the whole morning
At the foot Of the cliffs, among the
bouders. sits girl sketching-a girl,
who, in her pretty ptIe ,inted dress, re-
ieved hy bunch OF peoples at the neck,
and another in the becoming little sailor
hat, makes fair picture herself.
She has a sweet, earnest face, framed
by curly dark hair that falls softly on
the white forehead, which is just now
PRETTY puckcred in the earnestne S. OF
her task
BY her side, stretched to the full
length O stall, athletic figure, recllnes
an equally fair specimen 0t the opposite
sex, his thoughts apparently far away,
Judging by the absent LOOK IN the hand
some grey eyes which are looking out to
sea.
Suddenly he ~aises himself and push
ing his bat a little further back from his
broad white brow, turns iazily on one
elbow. and SAYS. Denitent!v:
| am awfulIy sorry. Miss Grey; you
must think me a very dull companion,
! am sure, hut the fact Is, that from be-
ing alone so much while was abroad,
have acquired very awkward habit ol
slightest regard to time or circnm-
stances; So please accept my humble
apologies, he concludes, looking plead
ingiy into his companions face.
A soft laugh answers his words, and
Dora Grey says, gently, without raising
her ewes.
"Pray don't apologize, Mr. Carleton.
! am AFRAID I must plead guilty TO the
weakness Of Observation-Disclosures my
self occasionally. and at the present mo-
meut was - engrossed in this diff
cult piece Of sky that | had almost for
gotten your presence.
"Oh," says Frank Carleton, blankly,
under his breath, while the girls sweet
voice resumes UNCONSCIOUS Of the inter
ruption,
Il always think that one of the tests
Of true friendship is being able to be
with a person, and either talk, think, or
keep silence, as long as YOU choose,
without the expectation Of giving Of
Tense"
TESTS Of true, how much?" asks
Frank, iazily tilngiHg stone seward.
Friendship" repeats Dora, steadily,
though her color rises a little timidly at
something i'll the tone the questioning
voice.
"Oh" says Frank resuming his odd at
titude, II suppose you 60 in for that sort
Of thing; most young ladies' dO-tUr a
time"
81 don't know what you mean by go
ing i'm for that sort of thing bu' ! GER
tainjy believe that there are su h peO-
pie TO be met with as real, sincere
friends in every sense Of the word"
Naturally enough, at your age Miss
Grey; but pardon me, when You have
lived little longer you will fad people
are not always what they seem, nor are
rr0testRti0ns Of friendship much to be
depended upon"
However old may live to be-" saws
Dora, II hope | shall always have as
much faith in my fellow creatures as |
have now; and | firmly believe it posi-
Bile TO meet with those who will
through riches and poverty, good re-
port and evil, he steadfast and unchang
Ing friends" and blushing at her own
earneStness, Dora resumes the brush
which she had been neglecting for the
last few minutes.
Frank smiles under his must9che at
the girlish outburst, but turns and looks
graycly enough into the charming, shy
face, and says with a sigh:
AL child, got don't know what you
ale talking about Just put 1t to your.
self for & moment, and tell me, do you
think Won could be such friend if need
be-
Il do is the quiet, earnest answer,
aud something in the pure face makes
Frank take the little bare hand nearest
him into his. and kiss it reyercntally.
Then le ting il 20, he says, gently:
81 suppose, Miss Grey, your theory
womb not allow friendship between two
OF the opposite scx3'
- "a lss,y4
never can understand why the regard
.high may exist between man and a
woman should not be dictated by feel
ing If true. earnest friendship, and, as
such, he frankly shown before the
world. larcsay think me very
foolish, the sweet, girlish voice CON
ciudcs, little hastily, my sisters at
hoIue have often laughed at what they
call my peculiar notions.
There is No reply for moment, for
Frank Is looking earnestly over the sea
then he tugas with an air OF having made
up his mind To do som-thlng, aud says
quietly:
Dora, will on be sucl a friend to
me-"
The girls cheek Hushas, and she
turns to meet the expected smile; tut
the glance which meets hers Is grave
and earnest, and the clear gray eyes
look earnestly into hers.
There is Il momeutary pause; then
she lays her pretty white fingers gently
into the hand Out.tret he'd to meet
them, and says steadily:
u will, Mr. Carleton rs far as it lies
in nv power, if Won wish t.
II do wish IL" saws Frank cOnCisely,
his hand closing firmly round the
timid little fingers, over which he bends
his handsome head before releasing, and
upon which liz imprjnts a soft kiss to
ratify the contract
The pretty white house. Nesting
amun. the dark frs, which are such an
addition to the beauty ot the coast, near
Slndclmbc belong 10 Mr.. Darlington,
ami he and his pretty wife
are never more pleased than when they
can induce as many MS possible OF their
numerous friends 10 visltthem aud they
are particularly happy init selection OF
their guests, aud are never tired OF de-
vising some pleasant plan of amusement
-RayeusNood House is almost always
CAV and lively with pleasant laughter
and merry chatter.
Mrs Darlington WAS Miss Grey, and
- Dora is her pei sister, ID she often stays
at Raveuswoui for months together.
Frank Carleton ha- uuly been down
from London q tprGf.tt. He Is Il rising
Touug baTri.tcr. IS good private IN
come OF mis- own. tu F8~ has not pre-
tented his OECrWu- limSeit ittte,
and he has accepted u Barrington's
pressing inv tJtion tot"crut his strength
il. the brdcius air of ~Iudcombe-
There are not $50 many guests as usual
at EavcuswO0i House lust nov, So Dora
and Frank have been tnrown together 9
rood deal aud Mr. Carleton Is too fond
A. fr-r ri not "a flVn K