The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-16

he wished Tor wife: b.. that she herself
vas the girl he Was slow to realize In
decd. doubt whether he would have
realized Il at all had they continued 10 so
on side BY side, as man anu woman. as
they hae done when boy and girl
The Mcrrises and Icons had beer neigh
oors and friends for two generations. and
Marcia and Tom had known zach other all
their days Yet more. His dear sister.
Margsry. had been Marcia's best friend
until death had snatched her in her fair
uaidenhood. Then /, was that Tom had
put aside flss dfsdain OF Marcia as that
mistake Of nature a girl. and come TO her
10 paste kites. mend balls and discuss les
sons and games. Afterward she went off
10 school In Kentucky convent. and Tor
three years she and Tom did not meet
for the intervening vacations she spent
with schoolmates. Then she came home.
ready 10 take up the old friendship where
they had laid il down. for Tom was stili
Just Tom TO her.
But she was no longer the same Marcia
to him. During ner absence she had bud
ded into fresh. sweet young womanhood,
attracting men as naturally and newt
ably as clover draws bees. The first
symptom OF love Tom felt was twinge
of jealousy when he saw the other fellows
monopollze her. He watched her from
distance. OF the three sorts Of womanly
crowd. beauty of form TO artist and critic.
beauty OF expression 10 lover and friend
Not noticeably lacking In the first two,
Marcia, strong. pure and tender. WAS
richly lowered with the last. More care
fully noted. she seemed more love-
worthy
Women are usually quick to see the
Transformation OF man into lover but
in this instance Marcia was Blind. Tom
was so firmly fixed In her mind as the un-
sentimental ccmrade OF her girihood days
that Ii never occurred TO her that he
could make love to any one. least of all
to her. until he was actually doing IL.
1t was an August day. They had walk
ed together to Mountain view--a favorite
resort near her home-where the mount
aims seemed TO curve and rise so as to
lay bare all their beauty and grandeur.
Glorious ut all times and seasons. the
scene was doubiy so now. in the long.
pervasive light OF the summer evening.
Marcia fixed her eyes on the distant
slopes. where sky and earth seemed to
meet and melt together. She looked with
delight which deepened till 1t grew almost
to pain.
20. Toni" she cried. turning her moist
eyes to him In a quick need Of sympathy.
But. disconnected, she started back from
what met her-Tom's steadfast look of
love and admiration.
He caught her hands in both his and
poured into her astonished ears the story
of his love. What was all the mountain
splendor to him when there at his side
was the one face in all the world which
could make bright the darkest scene-the
face which he longed to have by hts side
always as that of his dear. true wife?
mo. Tom, no." she cried snatching her
hands from his clasp. You would not say
all this of course unless you thought you
meant II, but You don't, really. No, no:
YOU don't truly want me for your wife.
Say you don't. Tom" she pleaded.
Marcia. darling. have you known me
20 long only TO think so mean OF me as 10
deem me a thing of straw, not knowing
my own mind, my own heart? Want
YOU? Sweetheart. shall never rest until
/ win you
20. Tom interrupted Marcia. sis this
TO be the end of our friendship. so long.
80 true? You were always like a dear.
good brother. and / cared for you as
Tom laughed grimiy. and interrupted in
his turn. 'Don't say like brother.
please. as the girls in the comic papers al
ways do. At least spare me that
Marcia had recovered sufficiently from
her surprise to take refuge now in quiet
dignity mo. Tom she said gently, you
need have no fear of my treating you to
the commonplace of discarded lover.
/ was thinking her voice faltered-''of
Margery then" His face, too, soffened.
II remember how we have been together,
child with child youth with youth, and
feel sure that the other feeling of yours
will pass soon, and leave our friendship
strong and loyal as in old days. l am
iusE back after a long absence, You sec,
and you aren't used to my being grown.
You look me some other girl. But
soon you will see that am your same old
comrade. Marcia. your friend. good TO
laugh. and chat. and walk. and ride with,
10 confide in. 10 sympathize Without to
make love to-neveri BE sensible, now do,
you dear old bear, Why in three months
you win be ready 10 thank me for having
shown you your mistake
He caught reproachfuIiy at the sugges-
ton i'm her last words. All, how little
YOU know me after all. 10 think me so
tickle, so false. In three months. then.
80 be il. three months from today / shall
show YOU my heart all unchanged and
claim an answer to my question. Mean
while. promise me. dear, you will try not
only TO appreciate my love, but to give
me some in return. II ever so little L
can wait i can hide my time In pa
tience. You must see that the hoy and
girl affection. good OF its kind. could not
last. vet makes secure foundation for this
stronger. friIcr love. Only try TO love
me. my Marcia Give me-give yourself
time. Only three little months. Mean
while. no word, no look shall annoy you.
Ny love shall still masquerade in friend
.hip's guIse" Marcia demurred. For
old sakes sake. dear" he pleaded. aud
Marcia hesitated. then yielded.
Three months then" she said.
Even had he so desired. Tom would
have found little opportunity during the
ensuing week 20 press his suit There
were many TO claim her as partner in
the rides. drives, dances and picnics
which made orsiile gay In the summer
season. She did not avoid him. but she
let herself he so rnouopoiiZed by others
and was so serenely Indifferent 90 his ten
der chances that he was piqued and felt
a small desire To try and pique her In re-
turn The opportunity he sought seemed
AZ last 20 come. a school friend came
90 visit Marcia She had. Of course. been
described to Tom with many charming
superlatiyes
..She is so beautiful. so gentle. SO
sweet" said Marcia. you will be sure to
like her. and yon must help me TO make
her enjoy her visit. BE sure TO call soon
and often.''
Tom said 30 himself at first that he
would do nothing OF the sort: then sud
denly came a plan. a purpose. none the
less strong because 50 quickly formed.
He would Try Marcia hy attention TO this
friend OF hers. Tie would see If he could
not start a spark of jealousy. and prove
that for all her apparent indifference some
fire OF love smoldered in her heart. "AIrs
fasr in love and war" he exclaimed i'm
patiently as conscience warned him that
that course vas neither manly nor hon
orahir.
Miss Arnold came, a d0ll-facexi blonde
with appealing eyes and sweet. corfding
wavS. She adored Mareia-strong. intel
ps.-tuai Marcia--with a school girls pas
-. "a Marcia On har pa-s s-a.-a An.