The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-03-06
HIS DEAREST FRIEND.

| Wnen Norman an Elst told people
| that Frank Garnet was his dearest friend
he meant a 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 childless
pair of relatives who loved 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 him an end
less 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 a steady stimulant to Van
Fists sober wit, while Garnet found in his
new acquaintance an earnestness so I'M
usual in young men that, with New
Workers. quick appreciation of whatever
worth having, he returned in full meas
ure the regard bestowed upon him.
After the friendship of the two had
grown for year, however, Van Elst be-
gan to feel almost guilty over the fact that
Garnet was not as much in his mind as he
had been. For Van Elst had fallen in
love. During the fortnight's vacation
granted him by the firm with whom he
was reading law. he had several times met
| Miss Florence Ashmore, q very pretty
| damsel from Baltimore, and as in man.
ners and conversation she was far supe-
! rior to any one he had known in the coun-
| try town in which he was reared, as well
as 20 any Young lady he nad met in New
| York, he did not wait moment to anal
we ms feelings, but pronounced himself
| irrevocably in love.
As he was very bashful, and Miss Ash
more was quite sprightly and brilliantly
sarcastic on the subject of young men who
| imagine themselves in love, he did not de-
clare his passion. The lady was unable,
| however, to prevent her merry face sober
| ing little and her honest eyes ceasing to
laugh whenever Van Elst quoted poetry
| or talked music or rhapsOdiZed over beau
| tiful scenery, and although he never made
love TO her in the conventional manner,
| he talked OF tho tender passion in a way
/ that made the young lady not only I'M
| able to laugh at him, but constrained her
| to listen as if she longed to hear more;
| and what pleased him more than any
| thing else was that Miss Ashmore was
kind enough to hear, without showing
signs OF WEAKNESS, all of Van Fists
praises of Garnet She even was so good
a listener that she asked questions about
| Van Fists dear friend.
Van Elst returned to the city full of
| hope. He had asked nothing; Miss Ash
more had promised nothing; but could he
| be mistaken when he believed that her
face had said far more than she had meant
| to divulge? Naturally reserved and Sc
| cretive, he nevertheless could not keep his
! Joy to himself; so, on his return to town.
he hurried to Garnet's room, determined
| to tell all, yet wondering how he would be
| able TO put his story into words. He
| found Garnet in high spirits, although
when they had parted two weeks before,
| Garnet bemoaned the fate that compelled
him to remain in town all summer.
Garnet's spirits rose still higher when
| he saw his friend looking, as he declared,
far better than ever before. He laugh
| ingly demanded an explanation of the
| change and suggested that perhaps his
| friend had fallen in love, upon which Van
Fist blushed like girl, and then Garnet
insisted that he should at once hear the
whole story.
| Van Elst turned his face away, for he
| felt that in his happiness he must be look
ing extremely silly. He leaned against
the mantel, looking at Garnet's little col
1 lection OF curiosities as intently as il he had
never seen them before.
eco on, old fellow" said Garnet en-
couragingly; "you couldn't have more
sympathetic listener, for I'm in the same
condition as YOU"
This remark might have enabled Van
Elst TO open his mouth had not his eye
just then strayed to the end OF the mantel
and fallen upon a small photograph of
| Florence AshmOre.
Speak boldly, tell you, and don't de-
lay" continued Garnet, "or / shall get
ahead OF you and tell love-story my
self"
Van Elst did not speak.
GAIL right" said Garnet, gayly; it may
be selfish OF me to speak first, but I've
given you the chance and you've neg
lected to avail yourself of it. Well, old
boy, the long and short of it is this: Pm
not only in love, but an accepted lover,
and there's the picture OF my darling
right there on the mantel. Why, be-
lieve you're looking at it now"
What is her name2" asked Van Elst,
hardly able to believe what he has heard.
"Floy Ashmore," said Garnet; "and
she is the dearest"
"What did you say her first name was %
asked Van Elst.
''Floy," replied Garnet, cor, to be pre-
else, Miss Florence Ashmore. isn't she
pretty-isn't her picture just the loveliest
thing you ever saw in your life? Con-
found you, Van, what do you mean by
standing there without saying a word to
me while I'm in the seventh heaven oil
bliss and with million rosy clouds float
ing over me! Speak-just one word, won't
| your"
Garnet" said Van Elst, turning slowly
and displaying a very white face, Il con-
graduate you with all my soul"
THAT sounds well, said Garnet, after a
meditated puff or two at his meerschaum
| pipe, but you might say it with little
more spirit, l think. Hang it, man. /
didn't say / was going 10 die; | said was
the accepted lover of the sweetest girl in
the world"
Van Elst made mighty effort, smiled,
grasped his friends hand and replied:
"My dear friend, you are the luckiest
man in the world if that picture does the
lady justice and she is as lucky as you"
That's better" said Garnet, withdraw