The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-02-12

friendship. Jealousy, suspicion and
all coarser passions are eliminated, and
fidelity, unselfishness and integrity
dominate the heart"
"You are enthusiastic" she re-
marked.
Perhaps" he a%ssented, "but I am
consistent in my belief. I see nothing
i to prevent our becoming just such
friends. do you?"
If there were any obstacles in the
way they were soon overcome. He
called but two or three times a week
during the first few months Of their
acquaintance, but the restrictions she
had imposed upon too frequent visits
were finally removed and then he fell
! into the habit of stopping there every
day on his way home from the studio.
1t was the coffee he went for-of
course. He told his friends so; he as
serted the same thing to her, and even
went so far as to believe it himself.
She always smiled when he said any,
thing about it, but she was too wise
to contradict him.
They were very confidential. Both
had much to rlate. He was 40 years
old-he hadn't told anybody his age for
years before meeting her-and she was
81. She looked to be a few years older
than that, and by degrees she gave him
graphic sketches of the early marriage,
disappointment and %privation that had
brought on the marks of premature
age. 1t was a very pathetic story, and
! his heart always thrilled with sympa-
thy as he listened.
you ought to marry again." he ad-
vised one day, at the conclusion of
one of the touching fragments of his
tory. ;.
do you think so?" she asked
naively.
I'm sure of it. If I were not so old
I'd consider the matrimonial question
myself. But When a man reaches my
( age without having committed himself
: ne may safely be put down as a on
frmed bachelor. Then is when we
learn to value friendship so highly.
l wish I were either a little younger or
possessed of more youthful spirits. But
a mar with a varied experience ages
rapidly. So l suppose -"
The supposition ended in a sigh.
She reflected a moment, then said soft
ly:
There is a man in the south who is
coming to see me soon. I've been ex-
pecting him for years, but there were
things that prevented. I used to think
him thoroughly congenial, but 10 l
know better. Since then I have seen
men for whom l could care a great
deal more"
Have your" he asked. What were
they like?"
"Ill tell you some day." she replied,
adroitly.
The bachelor had work out of town
again for two weeks. He called imme-
diately after his return, and she well
coined him with unfeigned pleasure.
Tn so glad you've come" she said,
as soon as he had entered the room. l
have so much to tell you. Look into
your cup and see what the bubbles say
now
He studied the surface of the coffee.
Friendship" he said at length, "un-
broken, hallowed friendship"
rs that all?"
"Ye-e-s, I believe so. There is one
bubble that might be construed other
wise, but I hardly think it would be
advisable to do So"
She sighed.
MY friend from the south came
last week" she said. He wants me to
marry him. You have oeen my sole
conidant for the last two years and I
wish to consult you before giving him
a final answer. Shall I accept him?
Do you think there is nothing better %
Snuohou tho dofarential oarnaa4 nuox