The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-06-30
rHE End on A FRIENpsHIp.

|
her friend and hostess, "by the uproal
in the hall, that DR.. Ward is out there
with the children
Yes" said Mollie, placidly; ''they
never shrek so with any one but Tom. y
do you imagine he's killing them, OF
only trying those new instruments on
them?" Kate inquired as the din in.
creased.
They're very much more likely to
kill him, if don't interfere"-and Mol
lie rose to rescue her visitor.
Kate smiled as she closed the door.
"Mollie's excuses for leaving me alone
with the doctor are too uniformly good
to be above suspicion" she observed to
herself.
In the sudden silence which followed
Mollie's exit DIR. Ware entered.
He was a we'll set-up young fellow.
with direct look out of his gray eyes,
and general air of alert decision.
The rapid glance in which he noted
Kate and her surroundings seemed to
suggest that the young lady's moods
were not to br counted upon with over
much certainty; also that she and her
moods were not of small Importance to
him.
Its very good of you to help Mollie
out so beautifully, but it seems to me a
trifle heartless to take it out of Dick and
Marjorie" she began, with an innocence
he had learned to distrust.
81 don't understand you at all, but
seldom do" he replied, calmly, $50 it
doesn't matter. Will you let me tell you
how charming you are in that red dress?"
Kate shrugged her shoulders dlsap-
provingly.
tII h. o,rn,J n 4 ross e;noa r,at
Mollie's Englishman last year. Frock is
the only really correct thing, butt
stroking the soft folds meditatively-
I'VE might compromise on gown"
1t will be noticed that she ignored the
personal nature of DR.. Wares last re-
mark.
But tell me" he said presently, show
l have been of service to Mollie? And l
had fancied that Dick and Majorie and l
were rather good friends.
children may always be won by ju.
dicious administration of bon-bons and
other forbidden sweets" said Kate, com
fortingly.
"Only children" he inquired.
''In the note you sent yesterday you
said you had something to show me.
Perhaps that is why you wrung such
shrieks from the children-that Mollie
might rush to their rescue with per-
fectly clear conscience?"
''She did not seem unduly alarmed,
but" after long pause, II have some
thing to show you" and he took a
picture from his inner pocket and offered
it for hor inspection.
ut is Alice Graham, to whom have
been engaged for four years"
There was studied effect in this
speech that suggested it's previous re-
hearsal. If it held anything more than
surprise for Kate Brand, her face gave
no hint of it, and her voice measured it
self evenly along the words when she
spoke.
Now this is really good of you!
Some meE would have allowed one to
waste their wealth of affection without
word of warning" DR.. Ware WINGED but
she went on.
81 will confess to you, now, that had
sometimes fancied you were forgetting
our compact of friendship, unspoiled by
love making, but this" with glance at
the picture, "this treasures me-"
She handed it back smllingly.
DR. Ware stood looking down at her,
but he was not smiling.
81 know deserve all the bitter things
you can say or think"
Bitter things!" Kate interrupted,
with wide eyes of inquiry, when |
fancied had been particularly amiablep'
"But will You try to look at things
from her standpoint?" He had not in
the least needed Kates interruption,
For years she has given me her un-
wavering love and trust. Jeer at me as
much as you will, but not at her, when
I COW fb;YnL xuo,l1 I'LL har {
There can be no eff in the question"
Kate again interrupted, still smiling.
IF, after four years, she still worships
you it would be tempting Providence to
expect another experience of that kind"
DR.. ware set his teeth hard. He had
been used to much from Kate, but to-
day her mucking jests were hard to bear
II should never expect it from you,"
he said bitterly.
Zone doesn'U-frOm friends" she said
calmly. But must have been rather
dreadful to make you so furious. Mollie
will be coming in presently, and she
might fancy, from the way you glare at
me, that something had occurred to in
terrupt the calm course of our friend
ship"
"You are right. 1 will not want to
see Mollie," and he turned to 90.
you surely didn't mean to give me
this?' Kate said holding out the
picture.
'Of course it would be valuable-as a
curiosity-to have known and worshiped
you for four years"
But he had gone beyond the sound of
her mocking words.
Out of Kate's eyes all mockery had
faded when she turned them upon the
picture DIR. Ware had left in her hands.
YOU'RE pretty coolish, common
place girl" she remarked presently.
"Quite -four year ago kind of girl.
And you'll go through life and death
with that same smile on your lips. And
you nag the doctor and misunderstood
him every day of his life-and l." with
a little passionate gesture aud sudden
break In her voice-"I am his friend"
A month before Kate had come to
spend the winter with her school friend,
Mrs. Dick Fenton. In the first days of
her visit, Dick had brought Dr., Ware,
his old college chum, to meet her, and
an intimacy differing from anything
either had known before sprang up be-
tween them.
"Pm sure" Kate had remarked to
Mollie one day, THAT DIR. Ware is an