The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-06-23
MORE THAN FRIENDS.

IL
All is beautiful within the stately
dwelling; but its fairest ornament
at the present moment is the fairy
like child who listens with wondering
earnestness to story from the lips
of the young heir, Percy Delmar. AS
he concludes she draws a deep quiv-
ering sigh.
"Oh, Percy, I wish you had made it
end nice! l don't mind if folks have
trouble somewhere in their lives, but l
do want them to be happy at last!'
'But, Alice, mamma says life is al
ways disappointing; and if l make a
great writer, | must tell the truth. y
And the boys large dark eyes rested
thou yhtfully on the girls bright face.
Percy had noble head, but his form
was marred in its proportions by a
curvature Of the spine caused by tall
in infancy.
Alice Crayton was the child Of Mrs.
Delmar's most valued friend. and
nothing afforded the child such genu-
inc pleasure as day spent with Percy,
who was, in her eyes, the living incar-
nation of all that was good and noble.
I And hep All, the boy, With his poet
heart. was rapidly growing to crystal
lise all thoughts and hopes for the fu-
ture about little golden-haired Alice.
His story ended there was a pause.
Then the silence was broken by Percy.
He had been pondering upon Alice's
words.
You say truly, Alice. If one could
be happy at the last, it would not mat
ter what came between; but you and
l never will be unhappy, will we?
When | grow to be a man, you shall
be nv little wife, and / will take you
everywhere. Well sail through the
streets of Venice by moonlight, and
the gondoler shall sing for us while
he rows his boat. Well visit Rome,
and play I'm slave, fighting the lions
for my freedom in that old Colosseum
and YOU shall be the princess, and give
the signal for the combat to stop. Then,
last of all and best, we'll go to the
Holy Land, and maybe wen find that
pool where the angel used to trouble
the waters. Oh. Alice. if that could
happen in these days, Tdstand for any
length of time till / might lose my
hump!" and Percy's animated face
clouded with sudden sadness.
Alice touched her dimpled fingers
softly to his poor curved back, as she
said reproachfully:
Don't call it by such q dreadful
name. It's only dwarfs that you reao
of in fairy tales who have humps! 1ot
don't look bit bad; only a little
crooked"
! Percy looked pleased. For the mrs.
time there had come to him longing
which would grow with his growth ana
strengthen with his strength. IN tht
years which were to mould Alice iron
the child to the perfect woman noply
planned longing to have thatco
illness of figure and proportion Whlci
would render him her fitting mate. 81
her words soothed and comforted ava.
his momcntary morbidness OF feeling
Several years have passed. The Del
mar mansion is ablaze with light
and fragrant with flowers. Carriage
whirl up to the entrance to leave tn
quests, who are thronging thither II
groups to celebrate the young heir
coming of age.
Percy stands beside his mother. A
the first glance, one would hardly no
tice that the firmly knit frame was no
of perfect proportion, SO interesting
the dark Intellectual face,w its mag
netic ewes, and look of suppresse
power; but second look shows tina
his shoulders are slightly higher thai
they should be.
Still he is a noble-looking youtth!
When engaged in conversation NJ
face is ali sparkling with animation
:. bnt if for a moment he is silent, loo
absent from his boyish face makes !
self noticed-a grave expression Whic
it is pitiful to see on one 50 young. .
His eyes seem irresistibly drawn :, :,
ward group who are standing a nttl
distance away. Its center OF attractlo
is a young girl She has changed
height. and her full rounded flgure
no longer that of child, but it IS eas
to recognize her. 1t is Alice Craytoi
, grown into perfect fultillment OF nj
early promise.
Size is pecrlessly beautiful. Ever
motion of her perfect form is as grac'
full as it is unstudied.
An nlopant-lOOkinV man stands b.