The Portland daily press., 1884-11-19
WEDNESDAY, MORNING. NOY. 19.
New Age.l
Friendship or Love.

- 49, N~A~G Va 4@VNSt
Dick Raymond paused in his reading, and
closed the beck impatiently. SIT is perfect
iy absurd" he said, ''the way this young la
dy and gentleman cannot become friends
without being more. For my part, l don't
Know why there can't be friendship, just
friendship and nothing else"
A he flushed speaking, young girl at
the other side of the room left her seat,
crossed over to where he was sitting, and de-
murely offered her hand. In answer to bis
glance Of surprise, II agree with yon," she
said, gravey, "abd | would like TO shaks
band on the subject" This young person
was Mss Edith Garland, who bad gradual
ed from school some months before the op-
ening of our story, and, as neii her of her
faents were living, had cone back few
weeks since, to make her home with her
brother, DR.. r bert Garland.
Possessing an independent spirit she had
Immediately set herself about obtaining pn-
pills in music, and had been so successful as
TO number at present quite class, and the
pretty, dark-eye teacher seemed 10 be well
liked. She had fouhd on her arrival az her
brothers tha' there was one more member
in the family than she had known Of, and
that u as Richard Ray ymond, brother OF her
brothers. wife and i'll business in the city.
Both DR.. and Mrs. Garland we're amused
spectators of the scene described above
Nothing more was sad on the subject, how
ever, aud the conversation soon be- came gem
eral on other subj-cts; but as they were sep
arating for The night, DciE said a low, thin
tone:
'So it is settled that we are to be friends,
is 1t, Miss Ediih9"
81 hope so," she answered, with quick
smile.
So friendship began between them, CON
cerning which the doctor and his wife shook
heads kHnUinolV fh0f IN
would sooa change to something different;
but as time passed on TO their surprise they
saw no change. AS for the young people
z11Ez lives, they appeared as contenfed with
fendship as they bad said they should
he, when al the beginnipg they had declared
that in their opinion it was far better than
love, but each had promisedth if anything
of the other SHOULD come to either, the 9th
er should be the first to be made acquainted
with tha fact.
The autumn changed to winter and winter
to sping, when, one afternoon as Edith was
returning ftom tedious day of lessons and
was about to enter the house, the postman
handed her a letter for herself, and she saw
at a glance that it was from an old school
rieid Rena Nelson.
The father of the young lady owned
handsome country seat, where the family
spent part al least of every summer, and
the letter contained an invitation for Edith
to spend the coming months with them.
''You needn't waste any time in making
up your mnd," wrote Rena, "for l shan'I
take no for an answer. You went find it
very dull, for besides some older people, Bell
Briggs is 10 be here for a few weeks and
brother Tom and his chnm, Fred Loripg. So
Jns say when we may expect yon and MAKE
happy the heart of your friend R5na."
Edith's decision was soon made in favor
of the visit, and when the day came for her
n ,f.,1
pot.
''Youll write to me, won't you?' be
asked, jnst before the train starred.
"Yes, of course,'' she returned And
write she did, but her letters to her sisters
Could not have been more free and artless
than those she wrote to Dick, and his in re-
turn we're equally simple.
Rena, noticing these frequent missives,
bantered her friend gaily upon the matter,
but to her surprise, Edith was indignant,
and after this one occasion, she remained
wisely silert on the subject for the rest of
her visit, which came to an end on the last
of August
The autumn months passed unmarked by
an parL cular event, and it was on an even
ing during he following WINTER when, as
the ia nily we're rising from late tea, SER
vapi announced "a gentleman to see Miss
Cartlaed," and taking .he card reached to-
ward her. Edith pas surprised TO read the
name OF Fred Loring, her acquaintance Of
the summer previous.
He vas Stopping iu he city for few days,
he said, wheo little later Edith had mei
hi@ IN the draWing-r0om, and had given
himself the pleasure of calling. HIS stay of
day or two heightened to over week, dur
ing which he called at d.. Cartlands fire.
quentiy; the last time Edith bad gone out,
so she did not see MIN.
IL was a wtek or two after this, when Mrs.
Car land had Doticed through the day that
something uuusual was troubling Edith, but
as he young lady was one who spoke when
she vas ready aud MOI before, she said moth
isg to her about it. Dick. too, saw that
something had gone wrong, but he waited
with what patience he could summon,
knowing that in all probability she would not
keep it to herself much longer. DR.. and
Mrs Garland went out for the evening.
Edith had gone to her room Immediately af-
ter lea, and Dck was sitting with a paper
apparently reading, but really wondering if
she meant for him to spend the evening by
himself, when he heard her coming down
the stairs. She entered The room moment
later, buI, without glanciDg at him, went di-
rectls to he piano and began lively waltz;
inte,d d she began several selections without
fin biag any Of them, while Dick sat watch
ing her curiously and was not surprised
when turning suddenly she said in defect
ed tine:
"Oh, dearl what dreadful thugs do hap
penr'
.'.What now9 ?" be asked, looking calmly
mp from his paper, "lost another pair OF
gloves, new hat np becoming, Or"
Richard Raymondr Edith interrupted,
with surprising dignity, 'such levity on
your part is unbecoming, to say the least, In
view of the subject on my mind.'
''Your pardon, Miss Garland, please pro-
coed. am all attention."
She had book Of music in her hands, and
turning the leaves hurriedly b,ck and forth
she sad: ''Pve bad letter from Mr.. Lor-
ing" Dick repressed smile and returned
eravely enough that he had known even
worse things han snch as that to happen.
''But that is u arl." shutting The book
with sudd-n emphasis, she has asked me to
marry HAP
For fu Iva minute Dick Raymond was
dumb win aslonishment. The thought of
this had never occurred to him; when he re-
covered himself be said encouragingly:
"Weii, it might be even worse than that
unless you have given him reason to expect
yes in reply" hesilatingly.
''You probably think il would be like me-"
Ignoring her last remark he went on: IF
not, my dear young friend, send him back
kind bui decided no and have the matter
over with" and he settled himself back in
his chair with The air of man who considers
that he has worked out d fficult problem.
"But you see," his companion remarked,
again opening and shutting her book, Pm
not sure that my answer will be no. You
remember promised TO tell you if anything
of be kind ever came to me, and 50 | have,
and want your advice"
''Indeed, but since you have already de-
cided, it would seem thai my advice comes
in a little late"
"0n, haven't decided at all. wish
bat"
This was so dolefu. tone aud expression
th4t Dck said quickly, ''If there's any thing
can say to belp you, just tell me what it is
and IN say H."
He looked so whmsically in earnest tha-
Edith laughed in spite of herself.
We'll" be said, taxing up the matter in
business like way, ''do you love Mr.. Lor-
ingP'
''Probaby shall never care for any man
in just the way You mean," she replied,
looking down, "but like him. imagine
shall never Ii auy one any better, aud it
is pleasant TO think | need not be poor
music teacher all my life. Therel de- pi3e
me all you please"