The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-08-08
FRIENDLY.

Annabel had many friends among
men. what cant it is to say friendship
between man and woman is impossi.
bler' she would cry, with flashing eyes.
what degrading can't with a flush
ing cheek. She liked the society of men.
They gave her "A new outlook O N life.
She would enjoy it if they confided their
love affairs to her. So she said. Some
how they had not as yet given her that
enjoyment. She was %, with a piquant
face and figure and a man of the world
style of conversation that half yelled an
unfathomable innocence.
1t was a hot evening early in June,
and one of Annabel's friends had drop
ped i'll. They We're sitting together in
the miniature veranda, discussing a sub
ject they bad often discussed before.
lone comfort about my man to man
style of friendship, said Annabel, Zone
great comfort, is that one needn't be
e~ternallv bOthcring about ones looks
and that sort Of thing, when one wants
to have a rational conversation. I don't
know anything more ~aggravating than
to talk ones best talk to a man. as I did
out at dinner the other day, and to find
him obviously specializing as to whether
ones hairs all ones own. Now, l don't
think you or any other of my special
chums would ven notice if / wore q
sack when you came to see me. That's
so refreshing"
lit is, said the friend. For in
r%oyon evils xy-nrll no lraoIfr11v
put out if their shoe had a little hole in
it, just at the tip, when a man was
there. But YOU
"Where:" and Annabel jumped off
her lounge chair with one bound and
passed her pretty feet under agonized
inspection. For one with whom appear
ance was mo object" she was wonder
fully shod.
I'm so sorry said her friend. II
didn't mean to imply that you had a
hole in your shoe. Only that if you had
it wouldn't trouble you in the least"
"Rut it would said Annabel, with
dignity. Il never said IL would care
to exhibit slovenliness to ones friends.
And a hole would be s~lovenly."
They smoked in silence.
How do you define a mans friend
ship for a woman:' he inquired, after
the pause had lasted a long while.
Annabel 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 be to you almost more
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. Where you could
you would put velvet between her anC
the rough things Of the world, as Car
lyle said"
Eyes, but he spoke of his wife"
Annabel did not seem to hear thu
words. She was looking over the roofs
the appallingly uniform roofs Of IVES
Kensinston, to where a golden has
hung in the sky and wonderful dream
music was being played and then blown
into the balcony on a little soft jun
breeze. The gold sky was the light o
the great dusty exhibition, full of rowd,
Whitsuntide jewellers, and the music wa
blaring from a brass band. But distanc
and the summer and the quiet hou
caught it all up and left nothing of
but what was beautiful 1t made Anna
bel feel restless.
I'm going in," she said suddenly
%springing to- her feet. Here goes fc
lighting the lamp" And she whiske
into her little drawing room with
movement anything but dreamy.
Her friend followed resignedly
though he had been very comfortab
where he was. He was quite used
Annabel's frequent changes of moo.
and by i~ndulging in 40 such himself |
was often able to tire her out and to 2
down to the forlorn little entity behir
the many poses.
The lamp was a high concern ON bar
boo poles and quite beyond the reach
Annabel's s feet Of height. She got
low chair and prepared to climb upon
Zone moment" said her compani
graveTy. 1--WE have decided that it
right to protect all that belongs to O
friend. Now, thischair belongs to mil
and will be more or less injured by l
, ing stood upon, even by her. Therefor
and he lifted her up.
After one furious and ~unavaili
twitch Annabel settled to the situati
with surprising ease. She lit the Ia,
and adjusted its red shade and s.