Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-11-15
FRIENDLY.

Annabei had many friends among
men. ''What cant it is to say friendship
between man and woman is impossi.
blor she would cry, with flashing eyes.
"What degrading cantl' with a flush
ing check. She liked tho society Of men.
They gave her a now outlook on life.
She would enjoy It If they confdod their
love affairs to her. So she said. Some
how they had not Us yet given her hat
enjoyment. She was 90, with a piGuant
face and figure and O man Of the world
style Of conversation that half voiled an
unbelievable innocence.
IL was a hot evening early in June.
and one of Annabols friends had drop
ped in. They were sitting together in
the miniature veranda, discussing a sub
jcct they had ofton discussed before.
Zone comfort about my man to man
styloo of friendship, - said Annabel, "ono
great comfort, is that one needn't be
etcrnally bothering about ones looks
and that sort Of thing, when d wants
to have q rational conversation. I don't
know anything more agglayating than
to talk ones best talk 10 man, as / did
out at dinner tho other day, and to find
him obviously specializing rs to whether
ones hairs all ones own. Now, / don't
think you or any other Of my special
chums would wen notice If l wore n
sack when you came 10 see me. That's
so refreshing.
at is, said tho friond. "For in
stance, some girls would be droslfully
-nN x,k &c Nl,r.s nhna Hal IN lftN1n I,1a t,
it, just at tho tip, when a man was
there. But YOU
"Where?' and Annabel jumped Off
her lounge chair with ono bound and
passed her pretty feet under agonized
inspection. For one with whom appear
ance was ''no object" she was wonder
fully shod.
I'm 50 sorry" said her friend. II
didn't mean to imply that you had q
holo in your shoe. Only that if you had
it wouldn't trouble You in the least"
'But it would, said Annabci, with
dignity. Il never said IL would care
to exhibit slovonliness to ouc's friends.
And n holo would be slovenly."
Thoy smoked in silence.
How do you deino a mans friend
ship for a woman?" no inquired, after
the pause had lasted q long while.
Annabol took her time before answer
ing.
II think" she replied at last rather
slowly, lit means having her interests
at heart so much that they could never
bore you-so that her pain or happiness
would always DO to you almost moro
than your own. You would never hear
her lightly spoken Of. You would save
her all you could. You would let moth
ing Of hers be injured. Whore You could
you would put velvet between her and
the rough things Of the world, as Car
lyle said"
eyes, but he spoke Of his wife"
Annabel did not seem TO hear the
words. She was looking over tho roofs,
the appallingly uniform roofs of West
Kensington, to where n golden haze
hung in the sky and wonderful dream
music was being played and then blown
into the balcony on a little soft june
breeze. Tho gold sky was tho light OF
the great dusty exhibition, full OF rowdy
Whitsuntido jewellers, and the music was
blaring from a brass band But distance
and the ummor and the quiet hour
caught il al up and left nothing Of il
but what was beautiful It made Anna
bel feel restless.
"I'm going in" she said suddenly,
springing 10 her feet. "Hero goes foI
lighting tho lamp" And she whisked
into her little drawing room with a
movement anything but dreamy.
Her friend followed rosignedly,
though he had been very comfortable
where he was. He was quite used e
Annabel's frequent changes Of mood,
and by indulging in no such himself he
was often able to tire her out and 20 get
down TO the forlorn little entity behind
the many poses.
Tho lamp was q high concern on BAN
boo poles and quite beyond the reach Of
Annabol's . feet Of height. She got
low chair and prepared toclimb upon it.
Zone MON " said her companion
grayely. "We haye decided that 10 IL
right to protect ali that belongs 70 oui
friend. Now, this chair belongs tomine.
and will DO moro or less injured by DO
ing stood upon, even ~ hcr. Therefore
and he lifted her mp.
After one furious and unayailini
twiich Annabel settled 10 tho situation
with surprising ense. sho TO the lanl
and adjusted its red shade aud sai'