Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-11-17
A BROKEN COMPACT.
BY ISABEL HOLMES.

81 said wouldn't be fooled by wo-
man the second time, and | mean to
stand by my resolution" Eric Fleming
said, with emphasis.
He was scrutinizing young woman's
photograph closely, by the lamp-light,
which filtered softly through pink
globe, filling the room with a dreamy
mellow radiance, that inclined man to
sentiment, in spite of himself
"She's not exactly pretty, he repeated
musingly, "but she's what is infinitely
more dangerous to mans peace, she's
magnetic. It's these women magnets
who play the deuce with us. Mere
beauty of feature doesn't count for much
in the long run. She looks high princi-
Piled. Pstnw! Didn't l think Maude
had principle, and didn't prove her to
be the veriest double-faced creature who
ever wheedled man into believing in
her ~
Eric had known Clara Raymond for
six months or more. He had paid her a
good deal of attention in the non-com-
initial fashion which men are apt to flatter
themselves compromises no one. "Let
us be good comrades" he had said to
her, and she had given him her hand
frankly, and consented.
The flce in the picture as seen in the
mellow light, was rather striking and
pleasing, while it held the unreliable
quality in large degree. There was the
low, broad forehead with wavy hair
combed back from it, the rather strong
nose, and the mouth which puzzled you
by its mixture of strength and tenderness.
You were sure it could be kind, you were
not sure but it could be cruel in its
strength. The laughing eyes were re-
assuring, but the next moment attention
was drawn back to the mouth, and strong.
rounded chin. Here, you felt, was the
keynote of the character.
1t was plain that the face was an inter
esting one to Eric Fleming. 1t did not
need very shrewd observer of human
nature to see that BE had already passed
the boundaries of good comradeship in
his relations with this woman friend.
The exclamation which begins this story
was an assumption of bravado. He had
begun to feel the ground under him
shaky. The bitterness of his experience
with Maudc was still ranking, and he
felt the need of bracing himself against
the insidious approaches of another pas
sion.
Eric was one of those large, good
hearted fellows, who usually begin life
idealiZing women, and who are apt to
cut their wisdom teeth rather painfully
while learning discrimination in regard
to the inconsistent sex. He was clear
headed on most matters, but he was OBJ
tusc in spiritual perception, in common
with greater number of men than is
commonly suspected. He was, therefore,
incapable of understanding the fine shad-
ings and gradations of feminine char.
acter.
Eric was making big blunder at pre-
sent. To use a homely saying he was
putting Maude and Clara in the same
peck measure. Maude had been one Of
those pretty, bewi.ching, frivolous crea
lures, who take mans heart by storm
and marry him if they will to do so.
Claro Raymond, on the contrary, was
q strong, womanly character, with many
reserves in store to surprise the man who
should be fortunate enough to win I
place in her regard Eric was attracted
| by her strongly, yet she seemed some
times to repel him. Lately there hat
been a falling off in her frank fricndli
meas. He advanced in proportion as sh'
seemed to recede. And yet she had no
intention of feigning indifference in orde
to lead him chase. She was merely fol
lowing tn instinct of f-preservation
She was guarding herself from crossing
safe boundary. Danger was not likel,
TO result to either from over-precipita
ton.
As time wore on, Eric began to fine
that his attachment was of an altogethe
different nature from that he had felt 70
Maude. A singular soothing influenc
seemed to float out from Clara when h
was with her, and enfold him like gar
ment. Alone and apart from her h
tried to analyze his feelings. He put al
embargo upon himself. His cxperienc
had developed in him stern self-repres
sion.
One evening after an hours soltar
reflection on the situation, he sat dow
and wrote:
Resolved. That will not speak O
love to Clara Raymond until three yeai
from my first meeting with her hay
elapsed. II at that period we are sti
good comrades, viii ask her to MARI
me-"
| He enclosed the paper in an envelope
sealed il, and wrote across .hc back
Compact with myself. to be kept unit
Oct. Is, 1890"
Two years had passed. Clara Raymon
had Just returned from a short seaso
abroad on one Of the staunch and sal
J Cunarders