Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-05-25

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even though l did not like him. At all
events, JnOugnJ would speak to ner
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 Ispent very delightful half hour
with her.
Unconsciously, however, 1 began to
compare her with Katharine's descrip-
I ton of ''an 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 new
idea born into my brain, which grew
| hour by hour until l arrived at the con-
clusion that did not, nor could ever,
love Elsie Harwood as a man should
love his wife.
Side by side with this thought COM
panion idea evolved itself almost uncon-
scious1y. Indistinct and insignificant at
first, it gradually assumed magnitude
and importance until it mastered my
whole being, and then l knew that l
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. I 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, l thought
at times that could detect love glances
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, 1 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.
1 must have asked the question in an
unpleasant manner, for l 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 perfect right" 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"
II do not believe it," l cried. .Katha-
rine, if you marry that man, we can
never be friends again. Tell me, do
you care for himY'
Katharine laughed, and as l 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 am in earnest. Do you love Dick
Williams?"
81 like him very much"
"Would you marry him?"
81 call that question rather imperti-
nent. Do you love Elsie Harwood? And
will she marry you?'
Katharine laughed again, and my an
ger vanished. | suddenly realized that
she had been making game of me.
Katharine" said, '.you know whom
love. There is only one way that we
can ever finish our story. Shall we col
laborate for good?"
And she said, eyes," and we did.
And one sunshiny spring day we wrote
out this little story together, which is to
prove that platonic affection does not
exist. And when we had nearly arrived
at the end Katharine said, ''How shall
we finish it?" and l said, Like this"
brushing back as spoke the brown hair
from her forehead to kiss it.-Yankee
Blade