The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-11-30
IDOLS.

My poor Leila! is there nothing /
can do for your" asked Margaret
Hammond pityingly. asshe bent over
her sick friend.
Both girls were young, but in all
other respects no stronger contrast
could be imagined.
Leila Norton was a frail little
creature, with fluffy yellow hair, a
fair complexion and baby-blue eyes.
Nature seemed to have designed her
to pose as the type of those women
whose clinging dependence is SO al
Turing to the protecting tenderness
of many men.
Margaret Hammond, on the con-
trary, had a quick, decided way of
moving and speaking, which indicat-
ed independence of character and
opinion of her own. Her clear gray
eyes showed intellect and soul, while
they served to make interesting a
rather plain face. She was tall and
slender, but not graceful, and her
chief beauty was a of wavy,
dark brown hair.
She was paying q visit to Leila,
when the latter became seriously i'll,
and Margaret at once installed her
self as chief nurse.
Tell me-" she repeated, "is there
nothing | can do for you?"
Leila turned towards her with eyes
like dewy forget-me-nots.
"Oh,' she sobbed, eff you would
only write to John!"
Certainly, and what shall [ say?"
ooh, l don't know. Say Pm sick
ard | send my love. 1t is such a
pity you don't know John. He is so
nice"
Margaret smiled and said: Ibelieve
girls usually admire their own
lovers, but what do you mean by
'nice'?" Tell me some of his character
istic traits"
Leila pouted. "He is not 'charac-
teristic' at all. He is j%ustlovely, and
he says the sweetest things about
me-"
"Of course, but l know about you,
and what | am trying to find out
is about him."
"And l am trying to tell you, but
you won't let me. / don'tknow how
to describe him, %and-yes! He is
characteristic in one thing, for he
will not have his picture taken, SO l
have none to show you"
"Never mind, | have already
painted him to suit myself, and now
| am ready to writeifyou will dictate
the letter."
ooh, make it anote, and you know
what to say"
SO Margaret wrote as follows:
"My dear Mr.. Lessing-My friend, Miss
Norton, has reqested me to inform you OF
her serious illness, which deprived her of the
pleasure of writing to you. We hope she will
be better in a few days, when she will speak
ly than 1 can, the love which she wished me
to send.
Sincerely your friends friend,
"MARGARET HAMMOND
This note was received by Mr.. Les
sing in a Western city, and the return
mail brought to Leila a letter over
flowing with sympathy and love. He
sent kind regards to Miss Hammond,
and begged that she would be his
friend also, and write to him daily
during Miss Norton's illness.
Quite a correspondence followed for
the fair invalid was sure "John"
would be unhappy if he did
not know the details OF each days
convalescence, but in the course
of a week or two her health was fully
restored, and after an affectionate
farewell, Margaret returned to her
own home.
How many changes take place in
ten years! Not only those caused by
death, but the inevitable changes Of
life. Youth is transformed into ma
turity, and how many of its loves
and friendships are discarded as out
grown garments.
But the friendship of Margaret and
Leila has withstood the test of time,
though the love of Leila and John
has long been a dream of the past.
Leila's heart now thrills with other
hopes, and she is soon to be a happy
bride. She is making a visit to Mar
garet-the last one before her mar
rage. She is but a little changed,
has still the same winning, childlike
face and figure.
Margaret has become thinner, a few
threads of gray CLEAN through her
beautiful hair, and her with
strangers has a touch of primness.
She has many friends, but is still I'M
married.
Leila" said she one day, "what
became of John Lessing'?"
Il believe he went farther West.
How strange his name soundsl [
not thought of him for years,
and were once so devoted to each
other. He used to sing me such q
song about Thine eyes SO
blue and tender" One verse was
something like this:
Thy lips are like the roses
Under an azure sky,
Allured by their marvellous sweetness
How can l pass them byl
and justthere he, always kissed me.
Poor fellow! he felt dreadful when |
broke the engagement. He said he
could never love again, but here
comes the postman. | wonder if he
has a letter for me from Clarence"
There proved to be one, and Leila
was soon so absorbed in it that she
did not notice Margaret was also