The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-07-03
IDEAL FRIENDSHIP.

|
three years ago.
They had both como bnck to the HON,
town with the decision to make 1t tn,
scene of their lifos activities.
! Both Alice Hartwell and Ned Morgan
intended to accomplish something in life
and with each other they were In nowist
retioent as to what they should demand Of
| the world.
They had boon 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 tho subject of conversation ons
August afternoon as they sat together In
the cooling shade Of the vines on the Hart
well porch
"The very ideal' laughed Ned. "These
old people here haven't any idea beyond
marrying and dying. Can't they under.
stand that there are some other contingent.
cies of existence besides thesep"
"Of course not" answered Alice, also
laughing, land they would deem 1t rank
heresy to hear you cay SO. You must re-.
member that Blanktown has Its code Of
rules and proprioties ms changeless as the
laws of the Medes and Porsians."
"The very idea of you and mo being low
ers," went on Ned, "when we have been
playmates, ohums, companions, from the
mud pie period"
'The idea'' echoed Alice. "Why, there
couldn't possibly be any romance about
such thing"
Familiarity kills romance, you know"
He said 1t as II he were uttering ono Of the
fN,,r lnkt Au,,t ,,,f J. 30,
guessed with "Of COURSE"
"ThesO people here, he continued In
an oraoular tone, ''oannot appreciate the
beauty of perfect friendship existing be-
tween man and woman. They can only
conceive of such friendly relation degen.
Grating into an affair of kisses, tears and
sentiment"
but we shall give them an example of
something different, shall wo not, Nedp'
eyes, of a perfect friendship, where sex
shall not be considered, whero one shall be
the contdant the critic and the inspiration
of the other"
"How glorious 1t will be- Ncd What
help We may be to each other! We shall
BIO such friends as Hannah More and DIR.
johnson, or Chateaubriand and Nine,
Reoamier, Paula and Jerome"
Well Ned went to work and Alice went
to work, Ned plugging away at the law
and she entering tho schools as teacher,
for neither was rich.
And their friendship did prove helpful
to each other, for no was an ardent student
and she was n stern critic. And they were
Confldants.
II know that you will talk to me with
perfect honesty, Alice" he said. II don't
believe / really love Mary Mason rs tho
world looks on love, but then she is a good
sensible girl. The match would DO good
ono and helpful in a worldly sense, and as
for love-well, love will come with assocl-
Ation.'
"Of course, said Alice, "of course; but,
Ned, do you think that just her particular
cast Of mind would suit your She seems
so terribly practical, you know, Ned. She
doesn't seem to have those soft, womanly
qualities that it seems to mo man would
like l wouldn't discourage you for an
instant, Nod. But do you think you
would be really happy with her, NedP"
well, that's it" said Ned, stroking his
hare chin. That's it. For tho life of
me don't know. A mans got to be
mighty careful, mighty careful"
"Yes, he has, said Alice and then for
some unaocountable reason she went homo
and cried herself to sleep. But that's just
like woman, you know"
Ono day In the vacation period Alice
came to Ned for advice.
II have found teaching hard and tire
some, Ned, she said. And, after all, tho
little homo trials that woman overcolnes
are her best conquosts. l have no desire to
go back to tho sChoolroom, and l have O
chance to make home for myself. Henry
Armstrong has asked me to marry him.
You know he is q kind hearted man, Ned,
and he Is settled and well fixed. Tell me.
what do you think about It, Ned2"
"Why, Alice" said the young man, II
had no idea you were 80 mercenary.
''I'm not, Ned
ooh, don't talk to me! Henry Arm
strong, indeed But marry him-marry
him by all means"
"Why, YOUR not angry, arc you, Ned?"
What mean is that don't think that
Henry Armstrong is half good enough for
you, and don't believe you love him
either"
ri don't know that do, but you didn't
love Mary Mason either-at least you said
So"
"Oh, that's right Throw that folly into
my face."
"Well, I thought
eyes, you thought. A woman like you,
Alice, needs somebody to think for her."
And this lord of creation stalked away In
high dudgeon.
He wrote lottor that night and posted
it, and Alice received it by tho first mail
next morning. 1t ran thus:
Miss HARTwELTr-Your actions are entirelX
beyond explanation. The heart OF a man is
not to be played with. But hope you will
marry Henry Armstrong and be happy. II
doesn't matter what becomes of me- Your
neglected lover. NED.
Two hours sfter Its receipt Ned followed
it In person with highly injured air.
And she because she was very soft lit
Ito person, ran to meet him with glad
face.
"Oh, Ned" she cried, ~ never did want
to marry Henry Armstrong at all! But
you said We could only be friends and mu-
tual critics and-Ned, u girl wants to BIO
loved
And the wiseacres said: Wasn't it
beautiful Knew each othor from child
hood and not break, not ripple in their
love. New York News.