The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-07
WAS III FAIR OF HIM?



story ofAutumn Love.
A lovely day in September. The rays
tho am orc ,o,,na,od hy a o,;,ht boxa N,
We '4N 80 'e.p s.. '"us A"t'' 49,
lies over the sea, .whlie the ar Is 80 cali
that the flag at the end Of the pier be
hung motionless the whole morning.
AZ tho foo, ~ tba cl;fFs o,,on, Tho hon
~ 49, ~, =, ~ 80 '','e -, ~ ~
aefs, slls sifl sketchlng-a glfi, WHO,
her pretty pale tinted dress, relieved by
bunch OF peoples at the neck, and anothe
In tBe bscomino litt,e sailor hat makes
~. r;..,,ro hor.s,,
She has a sweet, earnest face, framed b
curly dark hair that falls softly on the whit
to,ohood ,,b;cb 30 ;,s, mot, ,,rot.;lv ,,,oL
" % 'u's az" f-s,'A' JUN
ered IN the earhesthess OF ner TASK.
BY her side, stretched to the full lengtl
of his tall. athletic figure. reclines a,
oorolI,, tair .nsc;men II tbo onnoo;,e .s-
!"~' 80. 'pss-l-en " SNe NpfOo..e s.N
ms thoughts apparently lar away luuginl
by the absent look in the handsome era.
eyes which are looking out to sea.
Suddenly he rouses himself, and push
| ing his hat little further back from hi
broad white brow, turns lazily on on,
elbow, and says, penitently:
81 am awiully sorry, Miss Grey; yor
must think me a very dull companion,
am sure, but the fact is, that from beint
alone 80 much while was abroad, have
acquired a very awkward habit Of COINS
into dsy.dreams without the slightest re
gard 10 time or circumstances; so please
accept my most humble apologies" he
concludes, looking pleadingly into his com
panion's face.
A soft laugh answers his words, and Dors
Grey says, gently, without raising her
eyes:
"Pray don't apologize, Mr.. Carleton. ]
am afraid I must plead guilty to the weak
ness OF Observation-Disclosures myself &C
casionally, and at the present moment
was so engrossed in this difficult piece o.
sky that | had almost forgotten your pres
ence."
"oh," says Frank Carleton, blankly
under his breath, while the girls sweet
voice resumes, unconscious OF the inter.
ruptien:
II always think that one OF the tests Of
true friendship is being able to be with d
person, and either talk, think, or keep
silence, as long as yeu choose, without the
expectation Of giving offeMse."
"Tests OF true, how much ?" asks Frank,
lazily, tlinging stone seward.
"Friendship," repeats Dora, steadily,
though her color rises a little timidly al
something in the tone OF the questioning
voice.
"0h," says Frank, resuming his old at,
titude,. ~ suppose you go in for that sort oil
thing; most young ladies do-for time
~ don't know what you mean by 'goinl
in for that sort OF thing, but certainly be
lieye that there are such people to be me-
with as real, sincere friends in every SENSE
Of the word"
Naturally enough, at your age Miss
Grey; Blu. pardon me, when you have liyet
a little longer you will find people are no
always what they seem, nor are their pro
testations OF friendship much to be Deepen
ded upon"
"Howeyer old l may live to be-" say
Dora, ~ hopeI shall always have as muct
faith in my fellow creatures as have now
and l firmly believe it possible to NEE
with those who will, through riches anG
poverty, good report and evil, be steadfas
and unchanging friends" and blushing a
her own earnestness, Dora resumes the
brush which she had been neglecting fol
the last few minutes.
Frank smiles under his mustache at the
girlish outburst,, but turns and looks grave,
" enough into the charming, shy face, ant
says, with q sigh:
"Ah, child, you don't know what you
are talking about. Just put it to yourself
a moment, and tell me, do you think yor
could be such q friend II need be?'
~ do, the quiet, earnest answer, ane
/ something in the puto face makes Frank
take the bare little hand nearest into his
go, he says, gently
II suppose, Miss Gray, yopr theory
would notallow friendship between two Of
the opposite sex2"
"Certainly 1t would" replied Dora. u
never can understand why the regarC
which may exist betweena man and wo
man should not be dictated by q feeling
OF true, earnest friendship, and, as such, b.
frankly shown before the world. dare
| say you think me very foolish" the sweet
girlish voice concludes, little hastily, "my
sisters at home have often laughed at wha
they call my peculiar notions.'"
There is no reply for q moment, To-
i Frank js looking earnestly over the sea
, then no TURNS With an air OF having madl
up his mind to something, and say
. quietly:
"Dora, will you be such friend to me2'
The girls cheek Pushes, and she turns Il
meet tho expected smiley but the glanc
which meets her Is grave and earnest, ant
i The clear gray eyes look honestly into hers
There Is a momentary pause; then sh
laws her pretty white fingers gently into tn
hand oulstretched to meet them, and says
steadily:
81 will, Mr.. Carleton, as far as 1t lies Ii
| 3f.,.,, ...tnI, u u