The morning times., 1895-07-24
And Thus Il Knd0d.

He was a handsome fellow, clever and
| ready, with an unusually keen sense OF
humor, and he interested her until he fell
in love with her. She never could under
stand why he did so, and rather resented
| it than other wise. They had always
known each other. for he was a friend OF
her sisters when she herself was in the
schooIroom, and frequently on winter
evenings would come back into the study
and help her with her lessons while he
waited for Mabel to come down.
After Mabel married and went away
he still continued to visit at the house,
and it was he who took her TO her first
ball.
In q corner of her desk were the with
cred remains OF the great bunch Of roses
ne had sent her upon that memorable occa-
sion. She kept them because they We're
associated with such an important event
as her debut. not because he was the
giver, for he had very little share IN her
memories OF the evening. A smooth
faced boy in the regimentals about that
time occupied her thoughts, and it was
his whispered nOthfngs that made the
dance so delightful, and not the kindness
of an old friend
y.
had many others in their turn, each inter
esting her for time and then boring heE
TO death; but Farnham had always held
his place. She said he rested her She
talked to him Just as she liked, and that IN
itself was comfort. Instead of studying
to please him, as she did with others, she
was perfectly natural. being grave or gay
with him as her mood dictated
n in
her never crossed her mind. and chatting
to him in her airy fashion his brain was
busy with all kinds of romantic fancies
about her, she would Fave Immediately de
cided that poor old Geoff was not quite him
self. But she never guessed it. 50 their
friendship continued unbrOkgn until she
had been out so many seasons that she
declared the date of her debut to BE- lost in
the mlStS OF ages She told him this one
evening and he looked at her so oddly that
for moment she paused in her speech to
speculate about him; if she had seen that
expression on any other mans face she
would have understood it, but it was puz-
Zling on his.
why do You look at me ike thate' sh,.
asked. rs there anything the matter with
my hair?"
No, nothing is the matteri I don't be-
lieve was thinking about your looks at an!''
How rude TO tell me so. 1 suppose your
thoughts were miles away | cont sup
pose you were paying the slightest attention
To what was saying"
ITO be perfectly frank with YOU, I was
not, but you need not be veNed with me,
because was recalling something you said
to me long ago.
something brilliant, no doubt" :
He smiled. 1t was such a characteristics
speech" he said; 80 exactly what 1
night have expected from you, that 1
have never forgotten it"
Then you have been disobeyng orders
for l told you positively that you were
not to remember anything l said"
ut happened this way" he went on;
"you had just come back from New York
and had brought with you all manner of
souvenirs-photOgrap and books and
German favors, and / don't know whats
all besides, and one night you very kindly
offered TO show them to me. When l came
to one picture you blushed a little, and
asked, is this the lucky fellow? Has
the heart you have so jealousy guarded
found its master at last?' and YOU answered
with shrug of your shoulders, BAIL
that man-he loves me too wei. He let's
me see just how much 1 am to him; he
would bore me to death in week."
Well she cried, opening her ewes.
'and is that all? Have you been treasur-
ing up a foolish speech like that? WHY.
l have said ever so many clever things
since"
But none more characteristic!, he
replied
DO you know" she said, sit is humiI-
1ating to reflect that after being as much
with me as you have been you should
know me so little; it argues that l am
either very stupid or very reserved"
Il not know your he cried why, /
know you almost as Well as myself. Do
I nnr11d \,
all your moods, as / have done for years.
without having gained some knowledge
of your disposition?"
She laughed slightly "And have you
been studying me all this time? / hardly
think am worth it. Did you find me
interesting?"