Daily Republican., 1885-08-28
HER FALSE FRIEND
nv BERTHA BERTON,

nv BERTHA BERTON,
L hope you will like him." Lou
winthrop said to her guest, ~ she
ssrolled arm -in.arm with her through
the beautiful grounds at Beech mont, her
fathers country home.
"Oh, I shall try 70 do 60, just for your
sake, my sweet friend" Nina Suther
land answered in soft, musical tone,
and she pressed her roy pnded arm closer
TO Lou Winthrop, and looked up in her
face as lovingly as though she
was the dearest friend in the whole
world.
She bad arrived at Beechmont that
morning, and she had come from her
own home In o Southern State to spend
the sum mer In the lovely New England
home OF her friend.
As they stood together under o broad
spreading maple, Nina Sutherland
looked like some tropical exotic that
had been trausplanted from it's fervid
native soil, and placed beside med est
wayside violet, 70 striking WAS tho con.
trsst between them.
For, while Nina had creamy brunette
skin, smooth as satin, gloosy raven
treeses, eyes that were silken rrinqed
and deep and unfAthomab ablo ~ midnight
darkness, with low, persuasive, sill
very voice, Lou was not beautiful.
Her eyes were deep blue, her hair was
golden brown, and across her pale, pure,
sweet face often Rtsted . pensive look,
but she had . nature formed for love,
and TO her had come that most prec,ou.
boon OF existence, for Gerald Alden
had offered her his heart and hand, ht
had bocn accepted, and the wedding
day had been talked of, though not yel
set, for there was bliss enough In loving
and being loved. 1t WAS the enchau tod
border land where Lou Winthrop loved
to linRer. Gerald was her own betrothed
lover; could maiden be more supremely
bleesed?
Now, Nina hsd come, and she wa
30 anxious that this dear friend should
be pleased with her lover and Gerald
was her IDEAL of all manly perfec
ton.
Then the girls gathered roses ard
fashion Sd them among their shining
tresses, and while L3u's choice fsll
upon buds, half.opuned. faint ,tinte !,
aud delicate ~ the wearer, Nina
gathered fall blown Jacqueminot roses,
rich, and laden with fragrance that
IN atched her own Southern bloom.
The sweet tones Of the piano came
tinating down to the garden, and Lou
Winthrop Suicbened her steps.
Come IN, Nina" she said to her
friend. &C raid is In the house and 1
want 10 Introduce you," and with .
coquettish glesn. In her dusky eyes
Nina Sutherland followed her friend
Yes, Gerald was q: the Iisno, bat
he left It ~ the girls entered the room,
and then the Southern beauty was
formally introduced 10 Lou Winthrop's
handsoDe lover.
For he WAS handsome, that Nina
Sutherland saw at q glance, 80 she
gracefully acknowledged the introduc-
tion, and a. she noted the clear, gray
eyes, the rich chestnut hair. and
broad, white brow OF Gerald Alien, a
thought not wholly loyal to her dear
est friend lifted through her versatile
brain.
Yes. she could like him, and
who knows? perhaps abe might win
him for herself but the un fatRom able
look that lurked In her dark eyes Lou
Winthrop did not understand, but she
did nee the expression Of adm irs3ion In
NSsSN MY oy yon - otBh Vi tho iONb-
~ Southern face, for he had an artist q
love fer beauty, and Lou was glad tn st
he was favorably impressed.
After he had gone she asked her
friends opinion OF him.
"Oh, he's we'll enouah, though quite
different f5om our Southern gentle
men," Nina made answer, with an
| assumption of indifference that she
was far from feeling, and which made
Lou flush Angrily at her lack of dis
cernment, but she only said
think you will like him when you
come TO know him better"
Perhaps." replied Nina In doubt.
full tone, and then the subject was OK
changed foa "Reminiscences Of school
life.
But intimate as they had been In
those days, Lou had seen nothing OF her
friends peuchant for filtration and con-
q quest. Indeed. the vigilance of the
corps OF teachers at NOrthwood we'll
nigh precluded its possibility, and It
would not be policy TO show It Low. for
forewarned would'be forearmed - but
before Gerald's flrst call was over Nina
Sutherland had ged her plans for
supplanting ber friend with the s.rste-
gic shrewdpess Of a'Geperal.
The magnificent New England scf ne
~ had . strong fascination for the
Southern girl, and there had to BIZ an
endless round Of amusement and re6Se-
alton planned At Beochniont to satisfy
her Unsuitable craving for excitement
She was restless II q whole day were
passed at home, and although Lou
loved her friend dearly, her constant
and exacting demands for changa were
somewhat tiresome to one who had
loved home and quiet ~ well, and as
the summer wapsd AL sultry August
days invited to the re~sfu ness Of shady
trees and arbors, Lou Winthrop often
allowed Nina and Gerald to 60 without
her, though ct first she was Obliged to
urge him to do 30, and he told
her, with look that set her heart IN
tremor Of delight, that he did not care
10 90 without her.
"But Nina is my guest. and 1t lie to
Dgive her pleasure" Lou responded, and
for her sake he went.
One day there was an excursion
planned, to a romantic spot, q dozt q
miles away Lou would not 90, and for
some reason Nina was In e.;travasant
spirits. There WAS q subtle witchery
that lurked in her dusky eyes. even
Gerald felt their magnetic power, In
spite Of his love for Lou, bis sweet,
white lily, he whispered in her ear, as
he caught bepin his arms, and clasped
her tenderly to his breast, when he
found her alone, a single instant in tho
great hA,!.
From :be floor above Nina saw the
caress, and her eyes he'd malicious
CLEAN but she smiled sweetly as she
-
oaten stairway, and she looked en-
Ohaptipaly lovely in her pure wh;ta