The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-06-05


true friendship between two persons of
opposite sex. 1t perfectly disgusting.
this nonsense about affinities and such
foolishness. To hear the popular opin-
ion, one would believe that there can
be no real friendship-it must be either
utter Indifference or love. Bah! sensi-
bic woman can only
Lecture like regular virago,n in
terposed Jack Lyell, glancing up from
his newspaper with an amused twinkle
in his mischievous brown eyes. cal
thea, what in the world is the matter
this morning? One would think to
hear you rave that you had been badly
hit. Who is it. sis? The long-haired
professor, or Wayne St. John?n
Athea Lyell's eyes flashed.
Wayne st. John, indeed.n disdain-
fully, and then Jack felt certain at once
that it was Wayne ST. John. That is
just what am lecturing about. Mr.
st. John and have been friends, pleas
ant, sociable friends for long time,
and
Exactly" interrupted Jack once
more, $50 very long that people natu-
rally look for termination of the
friendship. 1t must end either in an
initiation or-in marriage"
For just Il moment Althea stood still
as death, her beautiful eyes fixed upon
her brothers handsome face with utter
bewilderment in their depths.
''MarriageT when ut last she could
find words; but | don't want to be mar
ried, and to Wayne st. John least of
all. Neither do | believe that he has
ever thought of asking me to be his
wife. We are friends-no more"
Jack smiled doubtfully.
Then it's time that he did think of
asking you, Althea-that's all. A man
has no right to dance attendance upon
a girl-a pretty girl like bookkeeping
all other suitors out of the field, and
yet not intending to ask her to be
his wife. 1t is shame for ST. John to
expose you to the unkind comments of
society,"
Jack, how dare your
Pale as a lily and trembling like a
leaf, Althea faced her brother her dark
eyes blazing with Indignation.
'Mr. St. John knows that-that-
I've are good friends, and that is
all.n
Good friendsm Jacks face betray-
ed his opinion upon that point. ALLY,
there is no truth in this nonsense about
Platonic affection! Do not believe such
folly for a moment. | never knew but
one man who went in for platonics;
vowed friendship-mere friendship
for girl. and at the end of year they
were marriedr'
You have never before seen an in
stance of true Platonic affection!' cried
Althea, with great dignity. Mr.. st.
John might marry someone else to-
morrow, but | would still feel an inter-
est in his welfare and remain his friend
as now
Nice prospect for his wife, growl-
ed Jack. ''And, Ally, l shall warn
any girl that st. John even engages
himself to marry of the prospect in
store for hern
And tossing the newspaper upon the
table, Jack lighted cigarette, and
donning his hat, sauntered out into the
warm spring sunshine, whistling softly
Il bar or two from Loves Young
Dream
There were tears in Althea Lyell's
beautiful eyes
Marry? Marry, indeed! Wayne
St. John! Why he told me only last
night that while he had my friendship
just a pure Platonic regard for each
other-he would never care for any
warmer attachment Jack may sneer
rs much as he likes-he knows nothing
of fit-but | would rather have good,
kind friend, loyal and tue, than to be
engaged TO the best man alive! While
| have Waynes Friendships
Something checked her with sudden
sharp pang. Would she always have
his friendship? Might it not be, as
Jack had cruelty suggested, that some
day in the futuri-some dark, dreary
day, the very thought of which made
her shiver-Wayne St. John would find
that he loved some fair, sweet girl, and
what then would become of the Platon-
ic affection for poor little Althea Lyell?
1t had never occurred to her in that
light before; but Jacks insinuation in
regard to Wayne's future wife" that
not impossible she"-and the implied
displeasure which the girl-wife would
naturally feel at the knowledge of a
prior aud Platonic affection for an
other woman. brought new thoughts
into Althea's pretty head Dear! dear!
what complications might eusue. to be
sure.
But t'-detiantly, addressing her.
self-'.he will not marry-not yet-not
yet.n
Somehow even that assurance failed
to bring comfort. The idea had been
presented to her, and it was hard to get
rid of it.
1t was only few days later that Jack
entered the cosy parlor where his sister
sat busy with her embroidery.
Heard the news?n
No" and Althea shook her head
We'll. | should think your Platonic
friend. St. John, would have been the
first-sluce there is such thorough good
fellowship between you-to announce
his engagement
A1tha., apI .bo haII of