Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-10

uoHt IKE 10 nave you go skating
with Fanny Engle."
So said Mrs. Harte to her daughter
May n afternoon late in February.
h is strange, mamma. when you
have always liked Fanny so much"
pouted May.
Now. daughter, you know very we'll
why do not want you to go with Fan
n.y." and Mrs. Harte paused and looked
straight at her daughter.
And May did know.
Exactly one month before May Harte
had become engaged to George Noble,
as fine a young man as his name. But
before her engagement she had been
very Sweet" as the girls put it, upon
Fanny E,ngle's brother Horace. a young
mar of poor habits; and it was on ac-
count of Horace that Mrs. Harte did not
wish her betrothed daughter to go skat-
ing with Fanny.
But May was Willful.
II am sorry said Mrs. Harte. that
May acts so. Sometimes she will go too
far.
That afternoon a messenger boy came
with a letter for May and a large bou-
quet Of flowers. The letter read:
Dearest May-I drop you this line to
remind you that we are to go skating
this afternoon: and Horace says to be
our compliments. He will join us on
the ice. Lovingly, Fanny"
May read the note and smiled with
pleasure. isn't that sweet of Fanny?'
said she.
But her mother sighed. She did not
want May to encourage Fanny or her
brother, for she felt that it would lead
to no good.
That afternoon May went skating
with Fanny and her brother. n it was
fully 5 o'clock when she returned. IT
am going to supper with Fanny said
SIZE, and as George was coming to call
this evening I shall drop him a little
line to tell him not to call before tomor-
row."
Mrs. Harte objected seriously, but her
willful daughter was not to be turned, so
she let her go her own way, though she
felt that it was a mistake for May to
treat her betrothed in that amer
Foolish May! She was actually in
girls who have secured a good young
man, she was capricious and liked to try
his affection. George had noticed her
ca~priciousness, but bore 1t good-natured-
~.
That evening May sent her note to
George, telling him not to call. n then
went to Fanny's house to spend the
evening.
If May noticed anything strange about
the conduct of Fanny or her brother that
she admitted chat both had acted a lit
tie strangely.
After supper Fanny suggested they all
three go for a walk. but when they were
ready to start May was SUI Used to see
a sleigh standing at the front door. I'VE
are going for a ride instead of a walk
whispered Fanny, putting her arm play
fully around Mays waist; surely, you
will not refuse to go with us, dear"
Before May knew it they were all seat
ed in the sleigh and the driver was rapid
ly speeding along down the street toward
the main avenue which ran through the
middle of the town.
Scarcely had they gone more h a
block when Fanny put her arm around
May and drew her head down on her
shoulder. Dear, May" said she, there
Is something Horace and l want to say
to you, and we thought you would not
refuse u.s.
And then to Mays horror and surprise
Horace Engle began to pour into her ear
his tale of low and long affection, while
Fanny added a word here and there. {
May, too indignant to reply, put her
hands to her ears to shut out the
sound.
II know, May, dear, that you try to
love George, but down in YOU heart you
love Horace better. Think of the many
times we three went for berries in the
how often you said that when you were
grown up you would marry Horace"
To which Horace added: IT love you
very deeply, and my sister says she feels
that deep down In your heart you also
love me. If you will consent to marry
we will go this evening to the clergy
mans and there we will be married
Yes" said Fanny, and l will give
May my plain gold ring for a wedding
ring. Come, dear May, you can not say
no now"
"Stop, STOP cried May, "such dishon-
orable talk I never heard. I will not al
low you to speak to me this way. Re-
member that am the affianced wife of
George Noble, as true and good a maj,
as ever walked, and that l will not listen
to such words Then. turning to her
friend, she said: Fanny, I am asham-
ed of YOU"
Fanny flushed and stammered, but her
brother said: THAT is all very we'll
May, but you know 'all's fair in love and
war;"
Then again, Fanny began to COAX May
to consider the step which she might
lake and make her brother SO happy
Horace has promised to turn over a new
leaf if you will marry him."
stop this sleigh Immediately" almos'
shrieked May; II do not wonder, Fanny
that you thought it necessary to bring
me way out here to talk to me in so dis
honorable a way. But I will not lister
shall walk home. 1t would be contami
nation for me to remain any LONGER IL
your presence" she cried, turning tt
Horace with scorn In her flashing eye.
Alarmed by her HOract
opened the sleigh door and called to tn,
driver, and the sleigh came to a stand
still, but scarcely before May had bound
ed out. You are a mean, d~ishonorabl'
pair, and I shall never speak to yo,
again. George Noble is worth a thou
sand of you," she said to the shameface,
Horace, as she stood with downcast eye
upon the walk; land as for you, Fanny
the fact that we have been friends from
babyhood keeps me from saying all tn
THINGS r miDhf Othn~vvico vyork ~ ~n~y 4
o Learn this, though, If ever you re
u man Ii George Noble, be sure 70,
treat him as he ought to be treated.
am sorry I ever went skating with you
well said" cried a manly voice be
hind her. and. turning May ran 'straigh
int0 tho arm of Coon1eo AYohla