Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-07

VIZ tHs SEXtOh sh0uId nave cn05eu tnAt mo
ment VI all others 10 poke his head IN az the door
Is one OF those unex plainable things which viii
napp.n now and again And the fact that he
"indreW IL suddenly, as II he had been snOt, was
positively embarrassing. Reginald began playing
oriskiy, and no more pathos was introduced that
morning.
II wish could play well on the organ" sighed
Margaret
Come and let me give you lessons7" suggested
Reginald, eagerly.
Arrangements were made on the spot; three
times week Margaret would come 70 the church
Tor Instruction
Reginald felt strangely happy as he walked down
"Now that is the sort OF thing that pays" he
e}aGuiated inwardiy; "a simple ptatonic friend,
What is the use OF going Oh and falling in love
true s Rp friend ike MarSsretf" AA''
His thoughts dwelt almost Continually on this
pleasant new relationship, and when he settled
could not keep his mind on mis- book. Letting It
fall, he sat by his students lamp, with shaded
eyes contemplatlng-wnat? The past, present,
or future? Tue past, surely; and perhaps The
present
certainly being thrown constantly with q
woman OF her force OF Character" he mdsed,
.must be good influence On a man. And In this
Way, fellow, with perfectly unbi ised heart and
level head, can study the real character. When a
man Is In love he Is untitted for anything except
just incoming about; whereas a plaJonic friend
ship does not interfere with anything"
A glance at the fallen book recalled to him that
dered from his novel, and he took it up and at
tackled II again, noticing with pleasure that the
heroine had blue eyes and fair hair.
I'LL FRIENDS?
GAS a friend, / think IL is my duty to tell you
that the whole town Is talking about you, Mar
garet. and that you ought TO be more careful"
Miss Grifnths and Margaret sat In the church
one morning, month or two later; Margaret at
the organ, and Miss Griffith5 on the other end OF
the stool, perilousiy swinging her feet over the
petals.
"AnI think, replied Margaret, rather sharply,
shat you would prove your friendship much more
enectuaily II you went about contradicting any
reports which you hear"
"How can contradict them7n asked Miss Lucy.
naively. '.How do / know"
You certainly know me well enough 70 be sure
That am neither In love, nor carrying on nirta-
tion,n answered Margaret. sit is pity II Old
friends like Reginald and me cannot see some
thing OF each other without an idiotic town max
Ing II the topic or speculation. You know that
don't believe In love, and
"Excuse me for mentioning 10, my DEAR" ex-
Claimed Miss Grif1thS, but as said, thought 1t
know"
.Let them talk, then, if they are such fools."
say"
She stopped abruptly. Reginald had entered
without her hearing hun, and stood near, his face
flushed with Indignation, and his flashing eyes
turned upon Miss Griffiths.
When MargIr saw him she began to play at
once, In hopes that h. mad not over Ieard ana Miss
Lucy, with u nervous laugh, rose, saying, "Ah
here Is your teacherml must co. and mad pre-
her, and then, with an Impatient stamp Of one
foot, he excaimed:
'ldiotsl WHAT won't they talk about!~
Margaret turned and faced him.
isn't IL processing. and absurdI" she said, half
laughing. "Wnat are We TO do? Give up these
Instructive mornings because a few old maids
and silly girls choose 70 imagine"
She did not Mi out the sen,ence. 1t seemed a
little difficult, and almost Darbarous, TO really
"People never seem to think IL possible that
man ami woman may be On intimate terms with
out"
lie did not finish either
II know It," sighed Margaret.
And its such sIunw broke out Reginald, again,
Fancy Old friends like you and me"
gareJ, connrmatively.
at Is riliculous!" said Reginald. 1.-TWO peo-
pie who neither OF them believe in the very exist
ence Of"
'NoI In the least,~ added Margaret.
Never mind" exclaimed Reginald, resolutely;
1--WE won't give In 10 their silly nonsense We
Will brave IL OUT and prove to the world that there
Is sucn thing 40 piatonic friendshipl"
they proceeded calmly with the lesoon-and with
many succeeding lessons; anu tue mOLLhs crept
oy, ana the saints assumed alternate bloom and
glow, ana the new year ddwned and a "ci.l"
from a great city church claimed the powers Of
the young organiot In a wider Held anl he ac-
cepted IL with mixed feelings OF triumph and
sorrow.
II shall De sorry to leave the old church, he
said 10 Margaret, as they sat in their Customary
u /
miss these peasant hours win you; but you are
very well grounded now, and you Will make good
orSdnlSt with practice, II you beware OF the
tremoio, and don't overdo the sub oass"
ION, yes, said MARI. tret, cheerfully, land YOU
are going TO write and let me know OF your sue
ceSs-and we may SEE each other AK lin (ihere Is no
knowins), anu viii ask you any questions which
trouble me On .pap.rt"
WELL, said Reginald, after a commemorative
pause, lone more tune, and then we must 90 IL
Is Seiing Too dark 10 Sre Tue notes, anu it Is not
worm wille 10 iiont up. Play something you
know we'll"
WnnodJ answering Margaret lowered her eyes
and again the old familiar chords ecnoed throu III
the gathering dusA, aud the sweet woman 5
voice accompanied them this time:
Lead thou my feet do not ASH to see
LIE distant SCENE; v step enough for me-"
Reginald stood with his eyes liked on her bowed
head. Inc Image OF MS mother seemed To MS. be-
tween him aud ner-Jo smile upon niin-ani then
10 disappear, leaving him with NJ ar aret and
harmody am peace. Margaret rose quietly say
ing, Ia suO0ued Voice:
.fhere.we Nil let that be the last Impression Is
Reginald TOOK sep Toward her. Their eyes
met
"lnieed we viii not" murmured Reginald: and
the iddiaS saints looked down upon u pure en-
brace anu sOieIua vow and
That Is the way Lney proved 10 the world the
Possibility OF a piatonIc friendship.
JULIA DE- W. GIBBS
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