Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-07-16
IDEAL FRIENDSHIP.

IEtN ilAL bAtA-l ItElif bfAt n " AA4C AaH4it'
town with the decision to make it til,
scene Of their lifc's activities
Both Alice Hartwel and Ned Morgan
intended to accomplish something in life
and with each other they were in novist
reticent as to what they should demand Of
the world.
They had been friends from youth, and
when the girls return renewed that friend
ship in all its intensity the gossips had
much TO say of long settled matrimonial
understanding.
1t was the subject of conversation ons
August afternoon as they sat together III
the cooling shade OF the VINES on the Hart
well porch.
THE very ideap laughed Ned. "These
old people here haven't any idea beyond
marrying and dying. Can't they under
stand that there are some other contingen-
cies Of existence besides these:n
"Of course not" answered Alice, also
laughing, land they would deem it rank
heresy to hear you say so. You must re-
member that Blanktown has its code Of
rules and proprieties, as ehangeless as the
laws OF the Medes and Persians."
The very idea of you and me being low
ers, went on Ned, when we have been
playmates, chums, companions, from the
mud pie period. >
THE idea" echoed Alice. why, there
couldn't possibly be any romance about
such a thing.
Familiarity kills romance, you know. d"
He said it Is II he were uttering one Of the
foundation truths of the ages. And she &C
guessed with "Of course"
These people here, he continued III
an oracular tone, cannot appreciate the
beauty Of perfect friendship existing be-
tween man and woman. They can only
conceive of such friendly relation degeu
Grating into an affair OF kisses, tears and
sentiment. 3"
But we shall give them an example OF
something different, shall we not, NedY'
Yes, OF perfect friendship, where sex
shall not be considered, where one shall be
the confdant the critic and the inspiration
Of the other. "
How glorious 1t will be, Ned! What a
help we may be to each other! We shall
be such friends as Hannah More and DR..
johnson, or Chateaubriand and Nine.
Recamier, Paula and Jerome"
Well, Ned went to work and Alice wen,
- work. Ned plugging away at the law
and she entering the schools as teacher,
for neither was rich
And their friendship did prove helpful
to each other, Tor be was an ardent student
and she was a stern critic. And they were
con1dants.
Il know that you will talk to me with
perfect honesty, Alice, he said. u don't
believe l really love Mary Mason as the
world looks Gn love, but then she Is good,
sensible girl. The match would be a good
one and helpful in worldly sense, and as
for love-weIl, love will come with associ-
alton. "
"Of course said Alice, "of course; but,
Ned, do you think that just her particular
cast Ok mind would suit you; She seems
so terribly practical, you know, Ned. She
doesn't seem to have those soft, wOmanly
qualities that il seems to me man would
like 1 wouldn't discourage you for an
instant, Ned. But do you think you
would be really happy with her, Ned?'
Well, that 5 ii, said Ned, stroking his
bare chin. That's it. For the life q
me don't know a mans got TO be
mighty careful, mighty careful. "
Yes, he has, said Alice. and then for
some unaccountable reason she went home
and cried herself to sleep. But that's just
like a woman. you know
One day in The vacation period Alice
came TO Ned for advice.
Il have found teaching hard and tire
some, Ned, she said. And, after all the
little home trials that a woman oYerccines
are her best conquests. l have no desire TO
20 back to tie sehoolroom, and l have a
chance to mike home for myself Henry
Armstrong has asked me to marry him.
You know he is kind hearted man, Ned,
and he is settled and we'll fixed. Tell me,
what do you think about 1t, NedE'
why, Alice, said the young man, y
had no idea you were so mercenary.
I'm not, Ned
ooh, don't talk to mel Henry Arm
strong, indeed! But marry him-marry
him by a! means.
"Why, you re not angry, are you, Ned:'
What l mean is that don't think that
Henry Armstrong i half good enough for
you, and l don't believe you love him
either.
Il don't know that do, but you didn't
love Mary Mason either-at least, you said
so
'Oh, that right! Throw that folly into
my face"
''WeIl. thought
"Yes, you thought. a woman Ike you,
Alice, needs somebody to think for her. -
And this lord Of creation stalked away in
high dudgeon.
He wrote a letter that night and posted
IT, and Alice received 1t by the first mail
next morning 1t ran thus:
Miss HARTwELL-Your actions are entirely
beyond explanation. THIS heart Of a man =
not to be played with. But hope you Viii
marry Henry Armstrong and he happy. /:
doesn't matter what becomes Of me. Your
neglected lover, NEI.
Two hours after its receipt Ned followed
1t in person with highly injured air
And she, because she was IA very soft lit
tie person, ran TO meet him with a glad
face.
"Oh, Ned, - she cried, 81 never did want
TO marry Henry Armstrong at all! But
you said we could only be friends and mu-
tual critics and-Ned, "a girl wants to be
loved -
And the wiseacres said: Wasn't it
beautiful? Knew each other from child.
hood and not break, not ripple in their