Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1888-08-23
A PLIrORIO FRIENDsBIP.
BY MRS Il BURKE CoLLrss.

She was standing at the window Of
the pretty crimson and white drawing
room, her hands tull OF roses, the SOFT
fleecy drapery OF her white robe float
ing about her like o cloud, her pansy-
blue eyes upliited with questioning,
half indignant expression.
He stood leaning against the white
marble mantel, with an injured loo
upon his handsome face, his dark eyes
meeting hers with a cold, Indifferent
liRht, one strong, white hand clinched
hard upon q letter. How still the
room Wasl
Outside the open windows you could
hear tho music OF the reapers as they
cut through the fragrant clover heldp'
A little bird began TO sing in tie
IlllAc bushes near the window; thet
broke the silence, and Jack Lowell
started with an impatient gesture.
'iRaei Are you determined TO de y
meP" he asked, but his voice was as
Icold and hard as q stone, and is steel
lblue eyes were not tender as they met
hers.
Her own flashed angrily.
~ do not acknowledge your aN-
Ithority in this matter, Mr.. Lowell
she said coldly, more coldly than pc
had ever heard her speak,
But II a man will be cold and cruel
Ito the woman who loves him, evtn
Though that love has never been az
Ikuowlcdged, he must expect her 10
1retallate. The days of patient Grisel ia
are past.
Jack frowned and bit his lip under
its brown mustache.
"Then you persist In allowing Lloyd
dale to devote himself TO your" he
asked hastily.
She grew very pale.
'Mr. Dale has invited me to drive
with him to the river tomorrow" ahe
returned slowly, "There are Others
going, and saw no harm in accepting
{ 1.-The invitation. You are making
great deal out of a small affair. and
ldecline to be dictated to. MammS
says that may go, and do not Be'
lhoW It concerns you
He crumpled the letter hercely II
his hand, and came closer TO her q dc
His blue eyes were flashing, his pre- all
looming quick and fast, his lace qhlI
90 pale. The letter contained Rae's az
90 ceptance of Mr.. Dale's invitation.
al II know that have no right TO &c
: wise you, Miss Randolph" he tai
% icily. II am only an ordinary FRIEND
20 You do not belong to me. l hAV
NJ no right to exercise authority oYt
/, Iyou-"
~ "Thank Heaven" interpolated Ra
Randolph, audibly.
"And therefore, he went on shArl
ly, only the deeper pallor OF his Tao
beIraying how much he felt her VIC rd
81 ought not 70 speak Yet som'
thing impells me. Rae, Raei we bay
been friends for months; | CAIN
stand Idly by and see your life RUNE
Iyour happiness wrecked. Lloyd pa
Twill never make you happy He
n not the sort of a man TO marry al
~ settle down TO Darby and Joan so
nd OF existence. There 10 no stahlli
nE. about him, and he pretends to 10
4, every woman who Is foolish enough
ID listen TO him. Rae, speak as an Q
=, friend. The friendship existing |
% tween you and me has no fool
On nonsense in 1t; it has ever been pure
md platonic and unselhsh-has 1t nj
Al Rael"
NJ "Purely platonici' she repaat'
OIL promptly "unselish of course, ia
I'M. LOWELL Because in platol
"a friendship one has no thought bdyo
. Ilriendship-no selfish WIsh-no' T.
10, She stopped short. Did a lii
yoice-"a still, smaR voice"-droI
warning at that junctureP Had she
rhL Thoughts save those OF purely
arc Ionic nature tor this tall, hand o
p. young fellow, who was arrogat1ng
himself the Office Of mentor, ana WI
10. yenturing to advise-even lecture
dis still entrenched himself behi1d
{ rampant of platonic friendship III
!, 90 red lip curled.
II, "Bahl He is nothing to me p
said 10 herself "True, he has bee
very kind friend, and no one could
more tender and thoughtful Of
ana ma. comfort; but he has no right to ST.
are, between me and Mr.. Dale, I
Mar Dale really cares for me. will
be dictated tUl' she added, passi
ITB ately.
al but DubWtdhiy STU WINS 'SAJ ~
iou CONTINUOUSLY calm, as she crossed
'rhs room to big marble table al ID
H., posited her roses upon Its polls
hsi' surface.
. Something in her quiet mann'
" o. the slight Pirlish figure, her, sta
red little head, with its sun-kissed Gu
= Is; the pansy eyes that would not
u could not-meet his own, made
kLowell's heart thrill with sudden
. derness, not altogether platonic
rE- he put 1t away as derogatory to
ugGt dignity. ,.., - :,
%. .S6e Is a dear little thing !"
to"l was saying to himself, land leel
greatest interest In her welfare.
shall not marry Floyd Dale u l
help 1t | He would break her hea
r ,sS a year"
, ~" "Rael Promise me that you
ohool not accept Dale without due re
a. U tion," urged this unusual your g I
loipaI eagerly. ~, .
The fair face flushed little III
o. his steady gaze. g.,
n await until he has asked me, >
90 ha,,,r,od ar aunDOsR that he