The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-28
WAS 1T FAIR OF HIMa

the sun are tempered by a slight haze tnat
lies over the sea, while the air is so calm that
the flag at the end of the pier has hung me-
~tionless the whole morning.
At the foot of the cliffs, among the bowld-
ers, sits a girl sketching-a girl, who, in her
pretty pale-tinted dress, relieved by a bunch
OF peoples at the neck and another in the be-
coming little sailor hat, makes a fair picture
herself.
She has a sweet, earnest face, framed with
curly dark hair that falls softly on the white
forehead, which is just now p~rettily puckered
in the earnestness of her task.
By her side, stretched to the full length of
his tall, athletic figure, r~eclines an equally
fair specimen of the opposite sex, his
thoughts apparently far way, Judging by
the absent look in the handsome gray eyes
which are looking out to sea.
Suddenly he rouses himself, and pushing
his hat a little further back from his broad
white brow, turns lazily on one elbow, and
says, penitently:
81 am awful sorry, Miss Grey. You must
think me a very dull companion, l am sure,
but the fact is, that from being alone SO
much when l was abroad, ! have acquired a
very awkward habit of going into day
dreams without the slightest regard TO time
or circumstances; so please accept my most
humble apologies he concludes, looking
pleadingly 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. L
am afraid | must plead guilty to the weak
ness of observation-disclosures myself OCCASION
ally, and at the present moment L was so
engrossed at this difficult piece of sky that
had almost forgotten your presence"
'Oh," says Frank Carleton, blankly, under
his breath, while the girls sweet voice re-
sumes, unconscious of the interruption:
II 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 expecta-
ton of giving offense."
Tests of true, how muchp' asks Frank,
lazily, fing1ng a 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, resuming his old atti-
tude, Il suppose you go in for that sort OF
thing; most young ladies do-for a time"
81 don't know what you mean by going
in for that sort of thing but l certainly
believe that there are such people to be met
with as real, sincere friends in every sense
of the word"
Naturally enough at your age, Miss Grey,
DuJ, pdTuOu me, WleH you nave ltNeu Il llLtlG
longer you viii find people are not always
what they seem, nor are their protestations
of friendship much to be depended upon"
However old | may live to be" says Dora,
81 hope l shall always have as much faith in
my fellow-creatures as 1 have now, and |
firmly believe it possible to meet with those
who will, through riches and poverty, good
report and evil, be steadfast and unchanging
friends" And blushing at her cwn earn
estness Dora resumes the brush. which she
had been neglecting for the last few minutes.
Frank smiles under his mustache at the
girlish outburst, but turns and looks gravely
enough into the charming, shy face and says
with a sigh:
"Ah, child, you don't know what you are
talking about. Just put it to youself a mo-
ment and tell me-, do you think you could be
such a friend if need be?'
81 do" is the quiet, earnest answer. and
something in the pure face makes Frank
take the little bare hand nearest him into his
and kiss it reverentially. Then, lettingit go,
he says gently:
81 suppose, Miss Grey, your theory would
not allow friendship between two of opposite
sex?'
Certainly it would" replied Dora. 81
can never understand why the regard which
may exist between a man and a woman should
not be dictated by a feeling of true, earnest
friendship, and as such be frankly shown be-
fore the world. Idare say you think me very
foolish" the sweet, girlish voice concludes,
d little hastily; my sisters at home have
often laughed at what they call my peculiar
notions"
There is no reply for a moment, for Frank
is looking earnestly over the sea; then he
turns with an air of having made up his mind
to something, and says quietly:
Dora, will you be such a friend to me?i
The girls cheek hushes, and she turns to
meet the expected smile; but the glance
which meets her is grave and earnest, and
the clear gray eyes look honestly into hers.
There is a momentary 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,"
II do wish il" says Frank concisely, his
hands closing firmly round the timid little
fingers, over which he bends his handsome
head before releasing, and upon which he
i'm prints a soft kiss to ratify the contract.
The pretty'white house, nesting among
the dark frs, which are such an addition TO
the beauty of the coast near Sandcombe,
belongs 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 devising some pleasant plan of
am ACKNOWLEDGEMENT house is almost
always gay and lively with pleasant laugh
ter and merry chatter.
Mrs. Darlington was a Miss Grey, and
Dora is her pet sister, so she often stays at
Ravenswood for months together.
Frank Carleton has only been down from
London a fortnight. He is a rising young
b~arrister, with a good private income OF his
own; but this has not prevented his over
working himself a little, and he has accepted
Oscar Barrington's pressing invitation to
recruit his strength in the bracing air of Sand
combe.
There are not so many guests as usual at
Ravenswood House just now, so Dora and
Frank have been thrown together a good
deal; and Mr.. Carleton is too fond of the So
ciety of pretty girls not to think it a very
charming arrangement altogether.