Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-05-31
CHAPTER ,.XxIII.
Was 1t n Dreanle.

CHAFTERrAxlH.
:. Was 1t n Dreamt 49,!
"And your brother is really. going
abroad?'' asked. Miss Marian Grey,
who.shad been spending a social even
ing with her dearest Fannie. "Dear
me! isn't the fancy a sudden one? L
am sure he had no idea of such a
thing a month ago. - =
Perhaps not answered., Fannie,
listlessly. Papa thinks it best for
him to travel awhile. He is looking
badly ''' 80,
"Wretchedly!" answered Miss Mari
ali. with consoling emphasis. Il never
saw any ones,so changed in a little
while; indeed. every one: lis talking
about it. AS Miss. Felicia was saying,
he looks ten years older. within the.
last two weeks.
Fannie sighed. She herself looked
pale and changed and s0rrowful!. This
first tempest-shock Lad, been IA ,Eude
one to a flower so. tenqerly reared.
For the last ten days. she had kept her
room. exhausted by; the. passionate
bursts of g.ief tlrlt had. . left her nerH-
ONS ana DrOStrated.
Miss Marian was her first visitor.
Her repeated entrearies for admit.
lance to her dearest friend could no
longer be refused; and, for the last
hour she had been seated by: Fannie,s'
sofa. torturing the, poor girl by clep:
er cross-auestioning, masked; by the
most gushing sympathy. -. =:
The aueerest reports are going.
roundl" said Miss. Marian. as. she
shook out her lace. handkerchief.
1.-The most absurd Stories are told
and believed; and, Of course. as you
may imagine, my dear. T am q re-
gular victim for all the newsmongers
in the neighhorhood.: My: intimacy
here is SO well known. Does you1
head ache?, Do let me battle; it,, papa
says [ have mrsmerics. touch. Yes.
indeed. Il can't tell YOU how many
calls have had that 1 can. attribute
to nothing in the world but curiosity.
/ offended the Leslies terribly yester-
day by informing them. bluntly, once
for all. that there was. no use in ask
ing me any questions regarding this
wretched affair. for 7 knew nothing
about it whatever, land wished to
know nothing. You have be rudeiy-
positive to some, people, or they will
bore you: to. death, .,,..,;. ., ~
too weak and ,Wretched lust now TO be
Indeed, You know ali ali that I can
tell you. Marian she said, wearily.
"There is a mystery about poor, dar-'
ling SYPHILIS loss that. none of us can
solves She ig; gone from :ys that is all
we kpow"-,Fannie's voice choked'
with sobs as she spoke gone from US
forever s&'' ~; .s:'t;
"NaM,- Fannie. said j Marian. e. r.
proacf1futly, you are giving way
again$z1tsissteaalz, Rssnsa11aaa}3i aasagajnsi
Providence to mourn this way; and
though, of course. my dear, it may
seem cruel to say such a thing n6w,s 1
can't help thinking you win feel, after
q while. that one who so persistently
refused you her confidence who closed
her heart to your gaze, was unworthy.
in the truest sense, of the name OF
friend" ~ ..sl. 80
s.Husf. Marianw Fannie rose from
her reclining posture, and gazed upon
her 'sfriend" with flashing eyes. Il
will not hear word from you against
Sybil. You never liked her. know
It! You would have poisoned my
mind against her long ago, If had
listened to you; but knew her-aye,
and ,you-too well! What il she did
refuse me her confidence? never
asked; it: What if she. did close her
heart to my gaze? I saw enough Of it
to know that it. was pure. and true,
and noble and worthy-aye, far more
thanwotthy --of my warmest love and
trilsty' ...,....s
4Tou are easily satisfied said Miss
Marian with her hooking little laugh.
II don't aspire to such high flown
sentiments. but I must say prefer
knowing a little about my friends an
! tecedents. especially wheny4he: world
ct largc looks upon them SO dubious
II. People do say that IL a jealous
lover whom she had flung aside for
!. the more tempting prize, had not in
terfered. your dear friend would soon
l,avesclaiMeg a. dearer title still" 4
md Il w6ulu. gladly have given, u
4 to Ner." answered Fennie. warmly.
The dearest wish Of my heart wonld
+ III Ne been fessixlieed II Il esnld have
called sybil sister as well as friend.
she II the only one have ever seen,
sloyely aud true. and noble enough tU
ri ny bgpthers wife .sS