Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1895-06-29
SOUL FRIENDS.

1t was not hard for Sada to believe q
thing when she wanted it to be so.
He isn't at all my ideal man phys
ically," she explained to her cousin
Tom. She was telling him, because he
was the only person she knew to whom
she could talk with absolute freedom.
The fact that Tom loved her did not in
terfere with their friendship. She made
business of forgetting all about Tom s
love. She had happy faculty for for
getting everything she wanted to forget.
He is little, round shouldered and
not the least bit in the world handsome,
but, oh, how my soul goes out to him"
she sighed.
Tom, dear" she went on after lit
tie, touching her Cousins cheek caress-
ingly, "do you believe in reincarna-
tion?"
1--WE never thought about it," Tom
answered. That touch of Sada's hand
had made his heart beat wildly in spite
Of her frequent assurance that her ca
resses were only given him in sisterly
way.
"Hendrick and l must have been
twins in another life. How else could
we have known each other so we'll from
the first?" Sada mused.
"And when are you going to marry
him?" asked Tom in a husky voice,
which he tried to make sound matter of
fact
Sada looked at him pathetically.
How can you, Tom? l should think
you would know did not mean any
thing of that sort. I'm disappointed in
you, Tom. Such a thing as marriage
has never been mentioned between Hen
drick and me and never will be!'
Tom was silent a moment, then in
quired in a hesitating way, as if he were
not quite sure how she would take his
questions:
"Did you ever pat his cheek as you
did mine moment ago?'
A rush of color came into Sada's face.
"Of course not" she answered en-
phatically "I'm not given to doing
such things Only there is something
about your silly old face that tempts me
when l am with you, but with Hen
drick it is different. 1t is his soul that
care for. -
Toms first expression of relief was
followed by one of mournfulness. What
. if Sada did speak in this way now? OF
course she would be betrothed soon to
the man whose soul had attracted hers.
A season passed, during which daily
letters were exchanged between the soul
friends. AS the hour approached for
them to meet again Sada could hardly
wait for it,
tom, dear, 1 am so happy! l have
been counting even the minutes" Sada
said, when her faithful cousin put her
in the car that was to take her to Sum-
mer Vale Springs, the trysting place.
Aunt Lucy was slightly indisposed
yesterday, and almost killed her with
attention for fear she would not be able
to travel today" she added "Now,
kiss me, Tom, and hurry away, or you
may be carried off when the train
starts.
When Tom stood on the platform be-
side her window, she cried out:
"Smile How dare you look solemn,
you selfish boy, when I'm so happy?"
The journey was very trying. She
couldn't read, and there was no Tom to
talk to. Aunt Lucy was no company.
She was too poor traveller.
When Summer Vale Springs was
reached, the soul brother was at the
depot to help Sada off. She gazed jeal-
ously into his face, but did not tell him
how she had counted the hours.
Then began those delightful talks and
walks. So much new music had to be
conned, so many now books discussed.
One day Sada made an unusually be-
coming toilet and asked Hendrick eau
tlously how she looked. He studied her
attentively, and she found herself wait
ing breathlessly for his answer
That night she wrote to poor, long
suffering Tom: "Our friendship-Hen-
drick's and mine-is moro ideal than
ever. 1t is so soul satisfying. And Tom
sighed as he said to himself, "She will
tell me of her engagement in her next
letter. /"
At the end of the first week Sada said
to Hendrick:
II am making the most of my time
getting all of your life that can. Soon
you will tell your love to one of the
many girls who cross your path, and
she may object to our friendship" AS
she listened for his answer her heart al
most ceased to beat.
mo-" Hendrick said slowly, 81 don t
think shall 1t is probable that l shall
never marry.
That night Sada cried herself to sleep.
The next morning she tried to find out
why she had cried.
1T is because am a woman, and
women are senseless about some things, I"
she told herself furiously.
A few days later Alice Baudret ar
rived at the Springs Hendrick remark
ed that she was one of the most beauti-
full girls he had ever seen. A dreadful
pain shot through Sada's heart, and she
fell into the clutches of the demon jeal-
ousy for the first time in her life She
had never liked Alice, voting her "a
stupid" but now she cultivated her So
ciety assi6uously, to the great delight
of the fair girl, who had always longed
to be more intimate with "clever Miss
Sada. -
One day Hep6rick and 1ica xuara