The Portland daily press., 1884-11-19

"Yes," smilingly; and then in lower
tone, 81 have decided that care more Tor
your friendship than his love"
Time passed on.
As they were leaving the concert room af-
ter an evenings entertainment, two young
girls passed near hem aud DICK overheard
| their remarks: "There is Dick Raymond
with Edith Garland again. l wonder if
they are engaged"
probably" returned the other, cor If
| not they
The remainder of the sentence was lost,
but the young man looked down at his com
| pauion to see if she, TOO, had heard, aud by
her flushed cheeks was sure she had. She
saw MS questioning look, however, and an
| swered as though he bad spoken: Never
mind, they don't understand"
| There came an evening walk or two after
| thi>, wheu.as Edith and Dick had been con
versing ON different subjects, he latter said
| with a sudden change of tone:
"You remember, Edith, the agreement
we made, that shoald anything of this KIND
| come to either of us we should tell he other.
| You have kept your part Of the promise,
aud now | have something to tel'."
If he had observed that be COT fdently ex-
pected to be the next President of the Uni
ted States, Etuh would hardly have been
more surprised.
''Dick Raymond she said, slowly, "do
you mean-ihat you are-in love?"
Eyes, If you like to put it in that way"
he said, apparently enjoying her surprise.
| "Welll' she exclaimed, 81 did think
knew one sensible man, but they are all
alike.''
AS she seemed 10 be addressing the centre
table. Dick did not feel called upon to re-
| ply, but after pause he SAID: ~ am sorry
70 lower myself 10 your opinion, b 1t the lady
| | lOya 10 N saD--ji
"lherep' Edith broke in. "You can
leave me to imagine the rest, for | have
heard how people in your condition usually
| talk, and"
"Win therefore save me from sinking low
| er in your esteem than | already am.
! Thank YOU" finished Dick.
There was silence for several minutes till
he spoke again. MAY tell yoc who she
| is, Edlth?' he asked
The disturbed young lady wondered in
sinctiVely if he spoke IN thai tone when ad-
dressing that uncommon person, but before
she had time to reply, Mis-. Cartland entered
the room, and so interrupted their conversa-
| ton.
Al an earlier hour than usual, Edith made
| some excuse and went TO her room. As sh5
stood brushing her dark hair she paused
suddenly and looked severely at her refec-
| ton in the mirror, and softly said: "Edth
NdttiADuy WHhb OO yOu lUcdAE ~ ~ JOoolbit
that you care so much for himp' Aud then
thinking Of what she had said: Glow fool-
ish, how like a child | ac'ed?' she thought,
her eyes filing with tears of vexafon OF
something else, But she would be different
wheu she saw him again. And the follow
ing morning she seemed so much like herself
again that Dick was surprised, if not little
disappointed.
There was no op. ortunity Of resuming
laSo Al,
noon, when, as Edith was walking slow
they Went on together, talking little al frs,
and they had almost reached their own dooi
when he said: "We were interrupted last
evening; shall / finish now what [ have to
tell you?'
Certainly" was the answer, 'tyour friend
is interested, of course" adding that if he
had found something better than friendship
he was fortunate, but sht-uaturAlly-
should miss her friend. They bad reached
their door, but by tacit agreement, paused
before entering, while Dick card. II, too,
should bs sorry to give up my friend, were
il not for the hope OF obtaining something
better"
How unlike him, bow almost cruel this
sounded. But he should not know hat she
cared, and with 40 effort at her old tone, sue
said: Won't you tell me who size is?''
If it had been light enough to have seen
his ssee she wond uot have put that ques-
ton, but the short day was drawing to a
close aud the gaslight did not fail where
they siood.
'Edtb,'' be said taking both ber hands,
do you need % ask? Dom You know who
she must be?'
When tber engagement became known,
Dr.. and Mrs. Garland both felt that this
was too good an opportunity not to say, Il
told you so,'' but with an effort they con-
tentsd themse yes by saying it to each O her,
and all concerned and interested seemed to
be entirely satisfied with the termination of
this IemaI kabie friendship.