The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-07-25

Katherine pretty frequently OK late.
Suppose she were to- marry hinI Why
not? dislike him personally, but
found, on sober reflection, that knew
absolutely nothing against the man.
Other people liked him, men as we'll
as women. He was Of good family,
well off, and, remembered with dis
tinct dissatisfaction, he was remark
ably good looking.
There was no reason in the world
why Katherine should not marry him,
if she chose, even though did not
like him. At all events, I thought I
would speak to her about him, and
see what she thought Of him.
I never doubted that she would tell
me her sentiments in regard to him, SO,
great had our confidence in each other
been ever since childhood.
I called on Miss Harwood the newt
day. She received me very graciously,
and I spent a very delightful half
hour with her.
Unconsciously, however, I began to,
compare her with Katherine's descrip-
ton Of g an empty headed little fool"
Certainly she was very pretty, and
her manner and everything she said
were very charming. Her words were
few, but carefully chosen, and that
which they expressed were simple
and to the point. But went away
with a new idea born into my brain,
which grew hour by hour, until I ar
rived at the conclusion that did not,
nor could ever love Elsie Harwood
as a man should love his wife.
Side by side with this thought a
companion idea evolved itself uncon- /,
sciOuSly. 1ndiStinct and Insignificant
at first, it gradually assumed mag
nitude and Importance until it master
ed my whole being, and then I knew
that I could love but one woman-she
who shared with me our sO-called
platonic friendship, and my literary
collaboration.
In the meantime our story had made
no progress at all. had only seen
Katherine in various public places,
and she was always with some one
frequently Hubert Williams. They
seemed very friendly toward each
other. Indeed, thought at times that
I could detect love glances exchanged
between them. 1 sighed to myself as
thought of the old days of our friend
ship, and the happy confidence we had
reposed in each other. "Alas!" I
thought, lit is all over, and our poor
little story will never be written,
fear" t a.s
At last, one day called, and found
her alone. Neither of us spoke Of the
story at first, but of different things
entirely foreign to it. \.
Finally asked her about Mr.. Will
iams-wEether she cared for him Or
not
must have asked the question in
an unpleasant manner, for could see
that she was hurt. For several In;a-.
utes She made me no answer @s.@
/ 4szssse ~ Il do not soc zHhy You should ask
! me that question: she said, slowly,
with her eyes fixed upon, the floor. II
-"I have perfect right" I answered.
friendship is to come to an end"
"It need never come to an end un-
der any circumstances"
II do not believe it," cried. "Kath-
crime, if you marry that man, we can
never be friends again. Tell me, do
you care for him?''
Katherine laughed, and as I hate to
be laughed at, grew angry.
"What about our theory that we are
| going to express in our story?" she
asked. ~~a
"Oh, hang the story! This is reaTt
life, and am in earnest. Do YOU
love Hubert Williams?"
Il like him very much.' )
"Weuld you marry him, then?''
Il call that question rather impertiu
ent. Do you love Elsie Harwood2
And will she marry you?'
Katherine laughed again, and my
anger vanished. suddenly realized
that she had been making game Of:
me- ... ~. 3.
Katherine" I. said, "you know
whom love. There is only one way
that we can ever finish our story.
Shall we collaborate for goodr'
And she said 'Yes." And we did.
| And one sunshiny spring day we
wrote out this little story together.
which it to prove that plantonic
| friendship does not exist. And when
we had nearly arrived at the end,
| Katherine said: 4s. r
| How shall we finish it?''
And said:
Like this" brushing back. as T.
| spoke, the brown hair from her fore
head to kiss it. Fl sffg