Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-08-07
CHE Stury Teller.
From the Woonsocket Patriot.
FRIENDSHIP, OR LOVE ?
BY E, NJ, BANGS.


closed his book impatiently. "It is per-
fectly absurd" he said, the way this writer
like many others, claims that no young lady
and gentleman can become friends without
being more. For my part, don't know
why there can't be friendship, just friend
ship, and nothing else !"
AS he finished speaking, a young girl at
the other side of the room left her seat,
crossed to where he was sitting, and de-
murely offered her hand. In answer to his
glance of surprise, 81 agree with you," she
said gravely, "and would like to shake
hands on the subject" This young person
/, was Miss Edith Garland, who had gradual
ed from school some months before the
opening of our story, and, as neither of her
parents were living, had come few weeks
back to make her home with her brother,
DR.. Robert Garland.
Possessing an independent spirit, she had
Immediately set herself about obtaining
pupils in music and had been so successful
as to number at present quite a class, and
the pretty dark-eyed teacher seemed to be
we'll liked. She had found on her arrival at
her brothers. that there was one more mem
ber in the family than she had known of,
and that was Richard Raymond, brother
of her brothers. wife, and in business in the
city.
Both DR.. and Mrs. Garland were amused
spectators of the scene described above
nothing more was said on the subject, how
ever, and conversation soon became general
on other subjects but as they were separat-
80 it is settled that we are to be friends,
is it, Miss Edith ?'
s'I hope so," she answered with a quick
smile.
So friendship began between them, con-
cerning which the Doctor and his wife
shook their heads knowingly, prophesying
that it would soon change to something
different; but time passed on, and to their
surprise they saw no change. AS for the
contented with their friendship as they had
said they should be when at che beginning
they had declared that in their opinion it
was far better than love, but each had
promised that if any thing of the latter
should come to either, the other should be
the first to be made acquainted with the
fact.
The autumn changed to winter, and win
ter to spring, when, one afternoon as Edith
was returning after a tedious day of lessons,
and was about to enter the house, the post
saw at glance that it was from an old
school friend, Rena Nelson.
The father of this young lady owned a
handsome country seat where the family
spent part at least of every summer, and
this letter contained an invitation for Edith
to spend the coming months there with
them.
"You needn't waste any time in making
up your mind," wrote Rena, 'for [ shan't
k,I~ s. I1o3 hs,,ly
will find it so very dull, for beside some
older people, Belle Briggs is to be here a
few weeks, and brother Tom and his chum,
Fred Loring. So just say when we may
expect you, and make blissfully happy the
heart of your friend, Rena."
Edith's decision was soon made in favor
of the visit, and when the day came for her
departure, Dick. accompanied her to the
depot. :, o.,
asked just before the train started, =,
eyes, of course" she returned. And
write she did, but her letters to her sisters
were not more free and artless than those
she wrote to Dick, and his in return were
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 silent 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
any particular event, and it was on an eve
ming during the following winter when, as
the family were rising from a late tea, a
servant announced IA gentleman to see
ed toward her, Edith was surprised to read
the name of Fred Loring, her acquaintance
of the summer previous.
He was stopping in the city for few
days, he said, when q little later Edith met
him in the drawing room, and had given
himself the pleasure of calling. His stay of
day or two heightened to over week, dur
ing which he called at DR.. Cartland's fire.
quently the last time Edith had gone out,
so she did not see him.
It was week or two after this when Mrs.
Cartland had noticed through the day that
something unusual was troubling Edith, but
as that young lady was one who spoke when
she was ready and not before, she had said
nothing 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
after tea, and Dick was sitting with 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 a moment
later, but without gancing toward him,
went directly to the piano, and seating her.
self began a lively waltz, indeed she began
several selections without finishing any one
of them, while Dick sat watching her Gu
riously. and was snotsurprised when turning
Suddenly she said in q detected tone
80, dear! What dreadful things do hap
pen"
"What now?" he asked, looking calmly
up from his paper, ''lost another pair of
gloves, new hat not becoming, or-?''
"Richard Raymond" Edith interrupt
ed 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-
ceed, I am all attention"
She had book of music in her hands, and
turning the pages hurriedly back and FORTH
she said, GIVE had a letter from Mr. Lor
ing" Dick repressed smile, and returned
gravely enough that he had known even
worse things than such as that to happen.
"But that isn't ALL" shutting the book
with sudden emphasis. 'He has asked me
to marry him."
For fully minute Dick Raymond was
dumb with astonishment. The thought of
this had never occurred to him; when he
recovered himself he said encouragingly:
"Well, it might be even worse than that
unless yon have given him reason to expect
yes, in reply" hesitatingly.
F'You probably think it would be like
me-"
Ignoring her last remark he went on: eff
not. nv dear young friend, send him back a
kind but decided no, and have the matter