The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-07-26
WAS IT FAIR OF HIM?
"A Story OF Autumn Love.


A lovely day in September. The rays
OF the sun are tempered by slight haze
that lies over the sea, while the air is so
calm that the flag at the end of the pier
mas hung motionless the whole morning.
At the foot of the cliffs, among the
pou'ders, sits a girl sketching-a girl,
who, in her pretty pale .inted dress, re.
heved by bunch of peoples at the neck,
and another in the becoming little sailor
hat, makes a fair picture herself.
She has sweet, earnest face, framed
by curly dark hair that falls softly on
the white forehead, which is just now
prettlly puckered in the earnestness of
her task
BY her side, stretched to the full
length OF his tall athletic figure, reclines
an equally fair specimen Of 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 hat little further back from his
broad white brow, turns lazily on one
elbow. and SAYS. penitentlv:
am awfuly sorry, Miss Grey; you
must think me very dull companion,
| am sure, but the fact is, that from be-
ing alone so much while was abroad, ]
have acquired very awkward habit OF
going into dayureams without the
slightest regard to time or circr,m-
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 eyes:
"Pray don't apologize, Mr.. Carleton,
am afraid | must plead guilty to the
weakness of Observation-Disclosures N.Y.
self occasionally, and at the present mo.
ment WAS SO engrossed in this diff
cult piece of sky that | had almost for
gotten your presence"
son. says Frank Carleton, blankly.
under his breath, while the girls sweet
voice resumes, unconscious Of the inter-
ruption:
81 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
fense.''
''Tests Of true, how much?" asks
Frank, lazily fllnging stone seward.
'Friendship," repeats Dora, steadily,
though her color rises a little timidly at
something in the tone of the questioning
voice.
"Oh." says Frank resumine his odd at
titude, II suppose you go in for: that sort
time"
Il don't know what you mean by go
ing in for that sort of thing but l Ger
talnly believe that there are such 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 find people
are not always what they seem, nor are
protestations of friendship much to be |
depended upon"
However old may live to pe," says
Dora, 81 hope / shall always have as
much faith in my fellow. creatures as !
have now; and firmly believe it posi- |
bic to meet with those who WILL |
through riches and poverty, good re-
port and evil be 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 musteche at |
the girish Outburst, but turns and looks |
gravely enough into the charming, shy |
face, and says with sigh:
"Ail, child, You don't know what you |
are talking about. Just put 1t to your
self for Il moment, and tell me, do you
think you could be such friend if need |
be?'
II do" is the quiet, earnest answer,
and something in the pure face makes |
Frank take the little bare h md nearest |
him into his. and kiss it reverentally. |
Then le ting it go, be says, gently:
~ suppose, Miss Grey! your theory
Of the opposite SEX"
'Cer'ainly it would" replied Dora. II
never can understand why the regard |
which may exist between man and a
woman should not be dictated by a feel
ing of true, earnest friendship, and, as
such, be frankly shown before the
world. daresay y u think me very
foolish" the sweet, grish voice con-
cludcs, little hastil y, my sisters at
home have often laughed at what they
call my "peculiar notions"
There is NJ reply for IL moment, for
Frank is looking earnestly over the sea;
then he turns with an air of having made
up his mind to do something, and says
quietly:
Dora, will you be such friend to
me?"
The girls cheek fushes, and she
turns to meet tue expected smile; but
the glance which meets hers is grave
and earnest, and the clear gray eyes
look earnestly into hers.
There is Il mOnentary pause; then |
she lays her pretty white fingers gently
into the hand outstretched to meet |
them, and says, steadily:
81 will, Mr.. Carleton, as far as it lies
in my power, if you wish it,"
81 do wish it, says Frank, concisely,
his hand closing firmly round the
timid little fingers, over which he bends
his handsome head before releasing, and
upon which he imprints a soft kiss to
ratify the contract.
among the dark frs, which are such an
addition to the beauty of the coast, near
Sandcombe, belong to Mr. Darlington,
and he and his pretty wife
are never more pleased than when they
can induce as many as possible OF their
numerous friends TO visit them and they
are particularly happy in the selection Of
their guests, and are never tired OF de-
wishing some pleasant plan of amusement
-Ravenswood House is almost always
gay and lively with pleasant laughter
and merry chatter.
Mrs. harrington WAS Il Miss Grey, and
Dora is her pet sister, 80 she often stays
1T Ravenswood for months together.
Frank Carleton has only been down
from London fortnight. He is a rising
young barri ster, with a good private in
come of his own; but This has not pre-
vented his OverwUrk (. himself a little,
and he has accepted Oscar Barrington's
pressing invitation to recruit his strength
in the bracing air Of Sandcombe.
There are not so many guests as usual
at Ravenswood House just now, so Dora
and Frank have been thrown together
good DEAL and Mr.. Carleton is too fond
Of the society of pretty girls MOTTO think
it a very charming arrangement alto
gether.
The day following the little talk on
the beach there is a large influx of visi-
tors, but Dora finds, to her satisfaction,
that in walks or drives Frank seems
ever at her side, as usual.
One day she laughingly remarks the
fact, but he merely says, quietly:
II prefer friends to acquaintances,
Dora If you are tired already of our
bargain, say so; but it is only natural
that, under the circumstances, should
choose your society rather than that of
ony one else"
So the two wander ..Dout together con-
tendedly, though not unnoticed, for