Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1889-01-12
HIS DEAREST FRIEND.

When Norman Van Elst told peo-
pie that Frank Garnet was his dear
est friend he meant great deal, for
although Van Elst claimed but few
friends he chung to those he had, as
drowning men cling to whatever can
save them from sinking. He had
been more unhappy during his early
days than boys usually are, for he
had lost both parents when he was
mere child, and had been reared by
a childless pair of relatives who low
ed him dearly, but knew no better
way of showing their affection than
by withholding his pennies, so that
he might not squander them at toy
shop, and by delivering to him an
endless course of lectures
He met Garnet almost as soon as
he reached his majority, and came to
New York with the small patrimony
to which he was entitled. Garnet
was so CHEEKY that he was steady
stimulant to Van Fists wit, while
Garnet found in his new acquaintance
an earnestness so unusual in young
men that, with New Workers. quick
anpreciation of whatever is worth
having, he returned in full measure
the regard bestowed upon him.
After the friendship of the two
had grown for year, however, Van
Elst had begun to feel almost guilty
over the fact that Garnet was not so
much in his mind as he had been.
For Van Elst had fallen in love. Du-
ing the fortnight's vacation granted
him by the firm with whom he was
reading law. he had several times
met Miss Florence Ashmore, very
pretty damsel from Baltimore, and
as in manners and conversation she
was far superior to any one he had
known in the country town in which
he was reared, SIS we'll as to any
young lady he had nett in New York,
he did not wait moment to analyze
his feelings, but pronounced himself
irrevocably in love.
AS he was very bashful, and Miss
Ashmore was quite sprightly and
brilliantly sarcastic on the subject of
young men who imagine themselves
in love. he did not declare his pas
sion. The lady was unable, however,
to prevent her merry face SOLDERING
little and her honest eyes ceasing to
laugh whenever Van Elst quoted
poetry or talked of music or rhapso-
died over beautiful scenery, and al
though he never made love to her in
a conventional manner, he talked of
the tender passion in way that
made the young lady not only un-
able to laugh at him, but constrain-
ed her to listen as if she longed to
hear morey and what pleased him
more than everything else was that
Miss Ashmore was kind enough to
hear, without showing WEAKNESS, all
of Van Fists praises of Garnet. She
even was so good listener that she
asked questions about Van Fists
dear friend.
Van Elst returned to the city full
of hope. He had asked nothing
Miss Ashmore had promised moth
ing but could he be mistaken when
he believed that her face had said far
more than she had meant to divulge?
Naturally reserved and secretive, he
nevertheless could not keep his joy
to himself; so, on his return to town,
he hurried to Garnet's room, determ-
lining to tell all, yet wondering how
he would be able to put his story in
to words. He found Garnet in high
spirits, although when they had part
ed two weeks before, Garnet bemoan-
ed the fate that compelled him to re-
main in town all summer.
Garnet's spirits rose still higher
when he saw his friend looking, as
he declared, far better than ever be-
fore. He laughingly demanded an
explanation of the change, and sug-