The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-03-06

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otheR because their friendship was
secure on account of tho perfect un-
dorstanding between Thorn. 10 was
because OF the perfection aud caso Of
this understanding that he camo TO
her when his heart first began to lean
towards Mary Mason,
81 know that you will talk 20 mo
with perfect honesty. Alice, ho said.
81 don't believe really love Mary
Mason as the world looks on love, bat
hen she is good sensible girls the
match would be a good one, aud help
ful in a worldly sense, aud as for love,
well, love will come with association"
"Of course" said Alice, "ol course;
but, Ned, do you think that just her
particular cast of mind would suit
you? She seems so terribly practical,
you know, Nod. She doesn't seem to
have those soft, womanly qualities
that it seems to me a man would like.
wouldn't discourage You for an in
slant, Ned, and you know I'm talking
only for your own good, as a real
friend would talk; but do you really
think you would be happy with her,
Ned?"
"Well, that's it, said Ned, stroking
his bare chin; "thats it; for the life
don't know"
owen, Ned" said Alice, elf Iworo
you, 1 wouldn't do anything RASH
You might regret it all your life, and
your friends would feel for you too.
"a mans got to be mighty careful,
SAID Ned; mighty; careful.
eyes, he has, said Alice, and then
for some unaccountablo reason she
went home and cried herself to sleep.
But that's just like a woman you
know
Nothing occurred after this to in
terrupt the smoothness of their rela-
tons until one day in the vacation
period, when Alice came to Ned for
advice.
81 have found teaching hard
and tiresome, Ned" she said. "And
after all, the little home trials that a
woman overcomes are her best con-
quests. have no desire to go back
to the school-room, and have a
chance to make a home for myself.
Henry Armstrong has asked me to
marry him. You know he is a kind
hearted man, Ned, and he is settled
and we'll fixed. His store is paying
him we'll and his wife ought to be a
happy woman; don't you think SO I?
He can give me so many pleasures
that it would be so hard for me to
earn by my own efforts. Tell me,
what do you think about it, Ned ?"
"Why, Alice, said the young man,
81 had no idea that you we're 50 mer-
cenary"
'Pm not Ned
"You're not-the idea"
'But, Ned"--
ooh, don't talk to me. Henry
Armstrong, indeedl But marry him ;
marry him, by all means"
"Why, you're not angry, are you,
Ned?"
"Angry? Oh, no; what have got
to be angry at? It's nothing to me. "
"But we are friends, and we were
to advise each other, you know"
"Well, isn't that what I'm doing -?
What I mean is that I don't think
that Henry Armstrong is half good
enough for you; and don't believe
you love him either. "
81 don't know that l do, but you
didn't love Mary Mason, either-at
least you said so.
"Oh, that's all right; throw that
folly into my face"
"Why, don't you think person
ought ever to marry ?"
"Of course; but you want to marry
the person who is congenial."
'Well, 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.
AS he went into the gate at home
that night, and Rover came friskinG