Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1896-02-28
appeared to find something of surpass-

and her brother, don't you?' asked the
girl.
"Ye.es, perhaps they would like it,
indi?erently.
ooh, J2cl. Armstrong told me yester-
day that he was devoted to sailing. He
wanted me to go with hiln--thcm--
to-day, but said you were coming, and
you would think it odd if you found no
one at home.'
"You ere very kind" he answered, n
little sulllily. II TN sorry 10 have Kept
you at home"
ooh, it does not matter. can go an
other day. wanted TO sec you, you
know"
Thanks; but why not go in his boat
tomorrow, instead of having him here?
You would enjoy it more, probably
"I don't l:now that should,' musing-
". Besides, Iwant you to know Nina.
She is such dear little soul, and SO
pretty. I am sure you will quite fall
in love with her"
She looked at her companion for the
first time, then quickly lowered her
sunshade, for the iigrified anazement
of his expression was too much for her
gravity. For minutes silence reigned
in the boat. The man was wondering
if it could really be possible that the
girl regarded him simply as one of
her many friends, and was quite in
different as to whether he cared more
for another girl or not.
1t had never occurred to him that
other Men might admire Ruth so much
US to take her from him. He looked at
her in his endeavors to fatllom it all.
She was really very pretty. When he
looked at her she was leaning on the
side Of the boat, her head resting on
her arm.
How perfectly idy!lic this is" she
finally said. What comfort it is to
be able to sit silent when ono feels i'll
clined, and not feel that one is playing
the bore. It is a sign of true friend
ship, Mark. 1 could not do so with
anyone but you, but you understand"
She looked at him with a sweet, grave
smile. I'VE ought to be good friends
after knowing each other for all these
years, oughtn't wc?''
Mark nodded "'Friendc' always
seemed to me such an inadequate, cold
word," he said. "Friends and :cquairt-
ances are the same to me-
ooh, no, oh, MOI" she cried. "Ac-
quaintances mean so little; they are
nothing. I have so many, but of
friends so few. You are one Of my
chiefest, and"
Il always thought we were more
than friends,' he said.
"You silly boy. how could we be-"
she replied, with a little laugh, but the
laugh did not ring true.
"Well, you may know what the old
folks-''~
"Mark, do you know that it is nearly
four o'clock, and that l promised to be
ut Armstrong; at 80? We must real
~ go now.'' E -
Later that day it occurred to the man
that he had not thought of the Irish
girl for several hours. He did think of
her till the moon rose, and he went out
on the headland and sat alone with his
pipe. -} ~ ."5H-
''Ruth, do you feel inclined to come
for Il stroll?" The girl was sitting
in large basket chair in the garden ON
the cliff top. In her hand she held a
magazine, but she was not reading:
she was looking out over the sea, think
ing of something which called up a
little smile to her lips.
She looked so sweet and fresh and
cool, her soft white gown showing her
pretty sunburnt cheeks and the glo.
rious color of her hair. Mark ap-
preached her with his request almost
efficiently. During the last week OF
two he had found that she did no.
jump at his suggestions with her old
alacrity-in fact, it had taken all his
time and all his tact to secure her com
pany at all, and SO occupied had he
been that he had no time to think at
all of the Irish girl; at least he had
only found time of all evening over his
pipe, and two of these evenings he had
spent in thinking of Ruth.
To-day, however, Ruth willingly con-
sented to accompany him. 'Let us GO
on the heather" she said, "and you
must talk to me, for am feeling fear
fully lazy"
So they strolled along the narrow
lane inland until they came to the moor,
where great stringy beds of purple and
white heather stretched away for miles
and the low hedges were draped with
festoons of honeysuckle and ':old mans
beard" Close to one Of these hedges
they found a seat, or at least, Ruth
found a seat; Mark I'D not want one :;
he lay on the heather beside her.
mark, this is an earthly paradise -
she exclaimed, as she leaned back
against soft cushion of sweet-scenteG
thyme. IF I were superstitious I
would say it were too good to last.''
"I think it is said Mark, rather
mournfully. eve seldom have walk
or anything together now, Ruth"
"No:" She was not prepared for this
Sudden attack and grew confused. The
man noticed it and determined to make
the most Of it. ruth, dear, you have
changed lately: we are not such good
friends as we used to be. Why is it ?
Tell mel"