The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1896-04-21

with one what?",
"Friend, " answered the girl, calm
ly unfurling her sunshade and SET
thing more comfortably into her
cushions.
The man stared at her for few
seconds, then he followed her gaze
at the brown sails, and for a moment
they appeared to find something of
SURPRISING interest in them.
II think it would be very jolly to
bring out Nina Armstrong one day,
and her brother, don't your" asked
the girl.
"Ye-es, perhaps they would like
it, " indifferently.
"Oh, Jack Armstrong told me yes
terday that he is devoted to sailing.
He wanted me to go with him
them today, but / said you were
coming and you would think it odd
if you found no one at home.
you were very kind" he an
swered little sulkily. II am sorry
to have kept you at home"
ooh, it does not matter, / can go
another day; wanted to see you,
you know"
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 indif-
ferent as to whether he cared more
for another girl or not.
In an instant it all flashed across
him. She was infatuated by this
newcomer, this other friend, who
wanted to take her out sailing, and
she wanted to pack him, Mark, off
with the sister
Perhaps her thoughts were with
that other fellow Whilo he was try
ing to discover why he so disliked
that other fellow, Ruth gave little
sigh, and the sadness vanished from
her face.
"How perfectly idyllio this is, "
she said. "What a comfort it is to
be able to sit silent when one feels
inclined, and not feel one is playing
the bore. 1t is sign of true friend
ship, Mark. could not do so with
any one but you, but you under
stand. "
Friend always seems to me such
an inadequate, cold word, he said.
Friends and acquaintance are the
same to me. :"
ooh, no! Oh, mol" she cried. SAC
quaintances mean so little, they are
nothing l have so many, but of
friends so few. You are one of my
chiefest, and"-
II always thought we were more
than friends" he said.
"You silly boy, how could we
be?" she replied, with little laugh,
but the laugh did not ring true.
Later that day it occurred to him
that he had not thought of the Irish
girl for several hours He did not
think of her until the moon rose,
and he went out on the headland and
sat alone with his pipe, and ne long
ed to make her aware of the fact.
X
During the last week or two he
had found that she did not 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 had no time to
think at all of the Irish girl. Today,
however, Ruth willingly consented
to accompany him.
So they strolled along the narrow
lane inland, until they came to the
moor, where the low hedges were
araped with festoons of honeysuokle
and "old mans beard"
mark, this is an earthly para
lise, she exclaimed, as she leaned
back against soft cushion of sweet
scented thyme. "If / was supersti-
tlouS, should say 1t was TOO good
to last"
81 think it is, said Mark, rather
mournfully. "We seldom have a
walk or anything else together now,
Ruth"
"No?" She was not prepared for
this sudden attack, and grew con-
fused.
The man noticed it, and deter
mined to make the most of it.
Ruth, dear, you have changed late
ly. We are not such good friends as
we used to be. Why is it? Tell me. "
Don't be silly" she said, studi-
ously averting her eyes. "Get into
a more comfortable position" she
said, smiling down at him, land talk
to me. | must be amused. "
So the man, with a sigh, lay down
on his heather couch and began to
talk.