Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-18
THEY WERE FRIENDS
BUT THERE CAME A MAN IN THE CASE
AND THAT PARTED THEM.
A Lovers Quarrel which illuminated In
Jealousy aud Led to the Ending
of Romance

Oh u nOnsnn's
In room, half study. half bedroom
two women were talking. They were
both young. both moderately good look
ing. and both. in n different way, had In
telligent. bright eyes that observed much
and betrayed little. says London BLACK
and White. One woman was a small
passionate little person. with delicate
mouth, and she was called Isabel
The other woman was small, pas
sionate person. with full, pale lips and
an aggressive chin. She was caiieu
Lillian.
1t was a cool. summer evening atter
dinner, but the room seemed no. 70 20"
Of them, owing to the point In discuss'~'
Isabel spoke: ...
Eyes, | have done with Nun aitoseeh'''
Are you really surprised!
No. not in the least. / was surprised
at the beginning of your friendship, put
was quite prepared for the emu iou
never understood each other.
THAT'S tust It, and in consequence con-
tinuaIIv oI,arreIled And continual argu-
ment is so tIresome. l assure you, Tor
months have felt quite worn out.
And he 49,,
"Oh he" The womans race soi"he"'
81 am very sorry, but fear must nave
been a trial, Lillian. / alternated between,
trying 10 act up to his idea OF me anu
ruthlessly tearing 1t down. The curious
fact IS that he never had any nlsuilc'l'e
recognition of my real sell
We're you"-and Lillian Strengthened her
small person and arched the pretty. pert
chin-"were you ever really engaged, lsa-
bel?'
The other answered rapidly:
"Oh. no, How could We be? | am so
poor and he earns very little. Now II II
had been you, with all your money, IL
might have been different STILL L dld
look forward TO marriage. when he would
be Jealous no longer. and / should be all
his. And then l was jealous. too"
You! Who were you jealous of. DEAR
wasn't 1t absurd, Luian?-of you-and-
OF others"
well. 7 did know him long before you"
yes, and you were very great friends.
"Oh. he consulted me about everything
Isabel. trembling a little, About me?'
"Well yes, about you-someumes."
How horrid OF him"
There was n pause. Isabel paced the
room and large tears appeared IN her
gray eyes, which she did not allow TO
fall. Lillian had two malicious dimples
at the corners OF her mouth, and In
distinct contradiction to their presence
she sighed.
you see. Isabel. dear, you were not
| suited"
How could we be-" broke out the
other passlonately. I'm all his love for
me he had no trust; in all my love for
him there was a certain amount OF FEAR.
l am morbidly sensitive. and he wounded
me day by day He Is sensitive TOO, IN
a different way; and my wish 10 nave
him all TO myself, TO rob him from his
too numerous lady friends, seemed ab-
! surd. in his thinking. He refused TO pe-
lieye in the depths OF my feelings be-
cause / was tmid OF expressing them. L
/ wanted him 10 understand me by instinct
B and a man so often lacks that
"He IS very clever and has plenty OF
tact"
Isabel stopped short and faced her COM
uanion Tact IS an elastic thing. In
| bia case IL was one-si1ed, and only APP
lied TO his dealings with certain natures.
As | said, he made mistake ABOUT
mine"
We'll" Lillian smiled and then sighed
again IT'S all over now
"And I remember" continued the other
"a II she had not heard, the hrst Tune
| saw him | remember the curious thrih'
the curious certainty that came over me
that he would play some large part III
nv life. | wonder II he remembers. too
/ 7 wonder If he remembers his first i'm
preston Of me. | was horribly shy-ahu
| know he thought me pretty.
3 "JTe ia 4 great admirer OF female beau
~ certainly" admitted Lillian. dryly.
"Wul you-shall you see him much'
now?'
surely. my dear Isabel, you can't ex-
roct me 10 give I'D an old friend just be-
cause you have quarrelled with him.
! "But still he might talk OF me-
81 don't think so. And II he did can
/ decline To discuss the subject.
The other suddenly knelt down beside
her friend. In her small face. in her
rrav eyes. there was a hungry wistful
EXPRESSION that Lillian could not be blind
TO- and il gave her an uneasy pang.
"I.H. dear. tell me do you think / have
/ been very unwiseY
mo. WHY
because my heart Is aching till can
scarcely breathe Because | am longing
/ inst 10 know what he is doing, not TO be
/ wholly shut out OF his life. Because II
am miserable" -,
"Ohl This is only for tonight. You Will
soon get over il.
/ With chlid-llke subnsSloh the otie'
asked simply, shall ~
'Of course you Will"
Iii. do you think l should be very stupid
! If / try 10 make il up2'
Her friend laughed harshly and little
neryously. quite mad" she said.
do you? / am not sure. | am so ter
ribly lonely. lie seemed my destiny.
/ miss him every hour Of the day and MS
/ letters Ly every post"
you are quite maudlin, Isabel.
"Whatw The woman spranS to her
feet. What did you say?'
Il meant that you are too ridiculous over
| this man, who doesn't love you and VINO
never will; who never understood you. ana
! who was never appreciated by you IN re-
turn. The sooner you forget him the bet
| ter"
II can't forget him"
"YOu must"
There was another pause Isabel walked
10 the window. drew back the curtai.''
and threw II open.
| Il am sunocating." she cried.
The other arose and stealthiy seized
| her cloak from the bed.
| Il cane FORGET him. Isabel repeated
81 love him l want him now-aiways -
must write TO him at once. must
| Lillian, what Is the natter
You are a little fool. The man is sick
Of YOU. You can't have him back"
| "Why, how do you know? What 10
you mean? How dare your
! Il mean that he proposed to me to-day
!! and l accepted him"