Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-05-03
CHAPTER XIII.
Fannie'S Lover

There was a moonlight regatta on the
river that evening. and 10th though
she had been to leave her friend, Fan
ME had at length yielded to SYPHILIS So
licitatiOn. and accompanied her BROTH
err and Laurence Grey to the scene of
festivity.
Young Grey was passionately fond
of aquatic sports, and his pretty little
yacht, the Fannie" was the one in
diligence which the Sclf-denying young
student allowed himself during these
arduous years of toll that We're to pre-
pare him for his professional career.
Grave. reticent and dgnitied Lau-
renee Grey always seemed especially
so beside pretty Fannie Give, whose
gay young life. like that of butterfly,
was all sport, sunshine and gladneSS.
Laurence did not dance and could
not t1irt; he was stupid at croquet and
solemn in conversation.
Fannie kept out of his way as much
as possible and found Fenton Forrest
a most delightful set-off to her broth
ers more favored friend.
Fenton, with his gallant manners
and gold lace his brilliancy and his
buttons. his flashing eyes and his
clanking sl1.rs, was Fannic's ideal
hero-Fenton. who could ride like an
Arab and dance like a Frenchman.
who could court desperately one half
hour and t1rt faithlesSly the second
Fenton. who never missed a stroke at
croduet or a step in the redowa, whose
ready wit was equal to all emeryen-
cies. and whose ready tongue was
equal to the fairest antagonists-Fent-
on, the gay. the gallant, the graceful,
was surely the perfection of manhood;
and Fannie fancied herself very much
in love indeed.
For the past month he had been her
constant cavalier, having suddenly
awakened to the astonishing fact that
the pretty little Give girl he used to
patrorize and tease during his previ-
GUS visits to Greylawns was IA deuced
handsome woman
And in his fascinating society Fan
ME had latterly lost sight Of her old
playmate. Laurence. altogether-Lau-
renee. who had always been ready TO
take her to school. or church. or con-
cert-whose pretty boat. her namesake.
was always at her disposal, whose uui-
ct. hrothcrly service was always at
her commanG-Laurence, with his kind
smile and uuasSuming friendliness.
seemed. i'll contrast with the glorious
fenton. Very tame indeed.
But Fenton was in town this even
ing. and though Fannie felt the regat-
ia would be a very tedious affair with
out his enlivcning presence, she yield
ed to circumstances and, donnng the
most charming Of boating costumes,
resolveG-with sudden conscience
stricken feeling. that she had been
rather unfriendly lately-to be as
agreeable as possible to her brothers
Damon. for the sake of auld lang syne.
Laurence looked his best in his sail
or's garb. He was apt to affect a
rathe" stiff scholarly style in his
everyday costume. Now, with his
dark brown hair falling in rich waves
under his jaunty hat, and his loose col
lar turned back from his well formed
throat, the young student looked,
Fannie was forced to acknowledge.
quite as handsome as Fenton himself.
And he as so kind. so thoughtful, in
his care for her. Such pretty new cush-
ions had been placed in the stern of
the boat; such bright mirror swung
y
supper was packed away. with nauti-
cal neatness in q compact little hamper
alnder the deck.
Ienton would have had plenty OF
wine and CIGARS but he would have
thought of the snow-white cottage
cheese that was Fannies especial
weakness! or would he have been
aware of her great prediction for
-aspberries and ice cream? Not that
Fannie gave any minute attention to
these details; she only had a fluttering
sense of being daintily and thought
fully cared for, and knew that Laur-
ence'S wise and sober head had plan
ned it all.
And as the evening breeze filled the
snowy sails, and the pretty yacht
went skimming like seabird over the
waters, whose surface was just silver
I'd with the light of the rising moor,
the young students voice blended in
a German bOat-sOng. whose rich mel
ody rivaled Fentons grandest operate
efforts.
The young girl listened, entranced,
while the full, deep notes foated out
over the shining waves and were
echoed by the overhanging hills. A
strange quiet stole over her; she seem
ed drifting down a shadowy river into
beautiful land Of Dreams
Even after the song ceased she sat
still and silent, looking so beautiful in
this new mood that Laurence could not
take his eyes off her face.
I'm going to take smoke" said
Herbert, lazily, rising froEl his seat.
Il know you hate a pipe, Fan, so I'll
get out of the way. You'll make a
model husband in that respect Grey.
You'll never offend lady's affections
by q vile meerschaum, while lit
would be Il hard pull, think, between
a pipe and Il wife,
"I'll tell that on you, sir" said Fan
ME. with threatening nod, as Her.
bert went off. "a pipe and wife, in
deed! Was there ever such an odious
comparison?
Not SO Odious, after ALL said Lau-
renee. with grave smile. 1.-THE pipe is
an emblem Of peace, rest and comfort:
its influence is to soothe, to pacify and
cheer.
you wouldn't weigh your wife and
pine in the same balancey she said.