The true northerner., 1883-04-27
My FRIEND FITZGERALD.


am a little fellow with insignificant
Shoulders and legs not worth consider
ing. / have no talent, and no distin.
guished eccentricity. My manner, what
there is of it, is timid and awkward.
know that mankind as q species does
not regard me at all, that only mer-
cenary motives restrain my tailor from
expressing his contempt for me-. There
is nothing more to say about myself,
except that L have no imagination,
which may serve to substantiate the
facts / am about to narrate.
My friend Fitzgerald was my anti
podes. He was tall and strong and
winning. His name betrays his nation
ality, and his nationality furnishes the
keynote to happy. fun-loving nature.
For six years, at school and at col
lege, we were close companions, and
then for four years we were separated.
j. being by lucky accident rich, travelled
for improvement and amusement; Fitz-
gerald worked for his living. He chose
to be an engineer say chose, for
whatever he had set his mind to do he
would do brilliantly.
When / had got round the world back
to my point of departure, found Fitz-
gerald about setting out for the north
west of Canada, where he was to con-
duct a Government survey. He ex-
pected to be absent at least two years.
Since coming home had meant little
more than coming back to him, this plan
of his filled me with disappointment.
When he suggested that 1 should ac-
company the expedition l agreed joy
fully. The day before that fixed for
our departure he came to my rooms,
looking nervous and excited. Feign-
ing not to notice his perturbation, be-
gan running over memorandum of
things to be done. He interrupted me
sharply.
"Look, here, Jack, want you to go
out with me at 3 o'clock this afternoon
to =" mentioning a small town some
twenty miles distant. 1--WE will get
there at 4, leave again at $500, and
reach home in time for dinner"
My time being precious, objected.
DO it, Jack. The matter is of vital
importance to me-"
An appeal from Fitzgerald was ire
sistible. L agreed at once. At
o'clock 1 met him at the railway sta
tion.
We had been ten minutes on our way
when he said, abruptly: Jack, l am
going to be married"
"The devil"
My emphatic expletive echoed
through the car, and then he added !:
II should not feel quite right
about it if you were not there,
and that is how L persuaded
Emily. Beside" he continued, after a
short pause, II want you to see her
Ut will be much to me during two years
of separation to have some one near me
who has seen her..
Then, the gates of his confidence be-
ing opened, he plunged into lovers
hyberbole. l listened silently, my hat
slouched over my eyes and my hands
thrust deep in my pockets. 1 could
Listen and at the same time mentally
reyiew the years of our friendship.
1t had been my habit to scoff-an
envious scoff, of course, at his love af-
fairs. I knew now that the time of
scoffing was past, and 1 realized with
more than a woman's jealousy con-
fess IT'D that his love for his family
would endure, and henceforth be the
guiding influence of his life, whether
for good or i'll.
On arriving at our station Fitzgerald
went at once to the ladies' waiting room.
He returned with young girl on his
arm, whom he introduced to me as Miss
Emily Gordon.
l. x,xstL
and stretched on tiptoe to get nearer
view of her face, for she was very tall.
As stared at her chilled with disap-
pointment-not vague sentiment, but
a decided opinion. that the face was
not worth what Fitzgerald would sacri-
fee for it, The face was fair and finely
featured, flushed just now with excite
ment. The eyes were dark, and though
their wavering regard was childish and
pretty, and, under the circumstances,
to be expected, that it was which made
my heart sink. The restless glance
struck me not as trick of the moment
demanded by the situation, but as ex-
pressing undesirable characteristics in
the woman. There was not a CLEAN oi
the steady, spiritual light such as il
WOulu nave pltdStu Due W see III bile
eyes of the woman who was to be FitZ
igerald's wife.
They were married in a Methodist
parsonage by very old man, and the
marriage was witnessed by the clergy
mans wife and myself. Mrs. Fitzgerald
insisted on her husbands taking hel
marriage certificate, affirming childishly
that she would surely lose it. She haC
left her homo that morning with tn,
avowed intention of visiting friends.
She was now to proceed on he
journey, and her train would leav'
twenty minutes before ours for the city
/ shook hands with her at the parsonag
gate, saying with elaborate tict that
had always longed to pry about thi
peculiarly interesting town. She wa
crying and clinging closely to Fitz
gerald. She held my hand a moment
NII, 10 cvc,r,, a<~ fo~ fro,,, mn apI txv