The Portland daily press., 1892-05-14


give up his mistress under the circum-
stances.
eff there is such thing as a friend
ship such as we have in mind, it must
survive all barriers. 1t must be far
above any such petty considerations as
jealousy"
81 am sure no one said anything about
jealousy" Katharine said rather pettish-
| ly. "Pm afraid that you fatter your
self"
''Oh, no! don't mean anything like
that" answered hastily. ''But here
we are at your door and we have made
very little progress. When shall we
have our next seance?"
'sCan you come tomorrow EVENING""
Eyes, and we will begin the story
then"
But the next evening came and the
story was not begun. Icalled and found
Williams, a man never cared for, talk
ing to Katharine. Williams was deter
mined to stay as long as |, and as our
story was, OF course, not mentioned, l
had to leave without making another
engagement.
/ went away in rathar an angry mood,
Disguised with Williams, who had al
ways seemed to me too familiar with
Katharine, and annoyed because fan
cied that Katharine herself had treated
me somewhat coldly. Williams had
called on Katharine pretty frequently
Of late. Suppose she were to marry
him. Why not? l disliked him per-
sonally, but l found upon sober refec-
tion that l knew of absolutely nothing
against the man. Other people liked
him, men as well as women. He was
of good family, well off, and, remem-
bered with distinct dissatisfaction, he
was remarkably good looking. There
was no reason in the world why Katha-
rine should not marry him if she chose,
even though did not like him At all
events, ] thought I would speak to her
about him and see what she thought of
him.
never doubted but she would tell
me her sentiments in regard to him, so
great had our confidence in each other
been ever since childhood.
called on Miss Harwood the next
day. She received me very graciously,
and spent a very delightful half hour
with her.
Unconsciously, however, began to
compare her with Katharine's descrip-
ton of San empty headed little fool. :"
Certainly she was very pretty, and her
manner and everything she said were
very charming. Her words were few,
but carefully chosen, and that which
they expressed was simple and to the
point. But went away with a new
idea born into my brain, which grew
hour by hour until arrived at the con-
clusion that did not, nor coul1 ever,
love Elsie HARDWOOD as man should
love his wife.
Side by side with this thought COM
panion idea evolved itself almost uncon-
sciously. Indistinct and insignificant at
first, it gradually assumed magnitude
and Importance until it mastered my
whole being, and then l knew that
could love but one woman-she who
shared with me our SO called platonic
friendship, and my literary collabora-
tor.
In the meantime our story had made
no progress at all. had only seen Kath-
arine in various public places and she
was always with some one-frequently
Williams. They seemed very friendly
toward each other. Indeed, I thought
at times that could detect love chances
exchanged between them. I sighed to
myself as thought Of the old days of
our friendship and the happy confidence
which we had reposed in each other.
'Alas," thought, sit is all over and
our poor little story will never be writ
ten, fear"
At last one day called and found her
alone. Neither of us spoke of the story
at first, but different things entirely for
eign to it, Finally asked her about
Williams-whether she cared for him or
not.
I must have asked the question in an
unpleasant manner, for could see that
she was hurt For several minutes she
made me no answer.
81 do not see why you should ask me
that question" she said slowly, with her
eyes fixed upon the floor.
81 have a perfect right" I answered.
81 want to know whether or not our
friendship is to come to an end"
''It need never come to an end under
any circumstances"
81 do not believe it," I cried. eKatha-
rine, if you marry that man, we can
never be friends again. Tell me, do
you care for him?"
Katharine laughed, and as / hate to
be laughed at grew angry.
"What about our theory that we are
going to express in our story?' she
asked.
'Oh, hang the story! This is real life,
and 1 am in earnest. Do you love Dick
Williams"
~ like him very much"
"Would you marry himY
81 call that question rather imperti-
nent. Do You love Elsie HARDWOOD? And
will she marry your
Katharine laughed again, and my an
ger vanished. | suddenly realized that
she had been making game of me.
T[C&Io T ,a,I