The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-11-23

rney appeared TO nnu someun1ns OF
surpassing interest in them.
s'I think it would bo very jolly to
bring out Nina Armstrong one day,
and her brother, don't you?' 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 mo to go with him
them today, but I said you were
coming and you would think it ode
if you found no ono at home.
You wero very kind" no an
swered little sulkily. IT am sorry
to havo kept you at homo.
s'Oh, it does not matter, I can go
another day; wanted to SEQ you,
you know.
For minutes silence reigned in the
boat. The man was wondering If 1t
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 moro
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. or
with tho sister.
Perhaps her thoughts were with
that other fellow! Wbilo ho was try
ing to discover why he SO disliked
that other fellow, Ruth gavo little
sigh, and the sadness vanished from
her face.
'sHow perfectly idyllic 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. It 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 aoquaintances are the
samo to me-.
"Oh, no! Oh. mol" she cried. "Ac-
quaintanoes mean SO little. they are
nothing. I have so many, but of
friends so few. You are one of my
ehiefest, and"-
st always thought we were moro
than friendsJ'' he said.
"You silly boy, how could we
bes" she replied, with little laugh.
but tho 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 tho moon rose,
and he went out on the headland and
sat alone with his pipe, and he long
ed to make her aware of the fact.
Il & 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 timo
and all his tact to secure her CON-
pany at all. and SO occupied had ho
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 oame to the
moor, where the low hedges were
draped with festoons of honeysuokle
and "old mans beard"
''Mark, this is an earthly para
dise," she exclaimed, as she leaned
back against q soft cushion of sweet
scented thyme. 'If was supersti,-
tious, should say it was too good
to last.
II think it is, said Mark, rather
mournfully. eve seldom have q
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 lato-
ly. We are not such good friends as
We used to be. Why is it? Tell mo- y
"Don't be silly" she said, studi-
ously averting her eyes. "Got into
more comfortable position, she
said. smiling down at him, land talk
to me. I must be amused.
So the man, with sigh, lay down
on his heather couch and began to
talk.
"And those Irish peoplo?" said tho
girl unconcernedly, idly sticking
pieces of heather in his curls. whilo
she looked koonly down on his face.
"Why do you not ask them down
here? You were SO much with them
and liked them 80. am sure you
would be glad to have them. p"
No answer.
II am sure I should have liked to
bave met them. think I should
have liked the girl awfully."
"J am sl1re Won would not. Sho is