Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-04-12
CHAPTER VII.
A "Disinterestcd" Friend.

NE Hitu ueNOteC ll1nlSclf to MISS Mari
an Grey, escorted her home, ano
laughed, jested and chatted with 7:
nervous gayety which the young lady
who. from her pinafore days had re
CORDED Herbert as the epitome of all
masculine perfec1ions-found exceed
ingly delightful.
"Greyawn" was the adjoining estate
to Give Towers. and the young people
of both places had grown up on til.
frlebGlieSt terms. though there had new
er been much intimacy between theil
parents.
Mr.. Grey. senior. was a dried-up old
limb of the law, too grim and tacturll
to form social ties. and Robert Give
was not the man to press frienly rel;l
lions on any one.
The ladies of the family had visited
during the late Mrs. Gives life time;
but since her death the heads of the
two houses rarely exchanged more than
q formal bow.
But Laurence and Herbert had been
college chums. and were still fast
friends. while Fanni" and Marian were
devoted in that airy. ephermal way
peculiar t. their sex, patronized the
same miiliner and modiste. and We're
very conlldential as to coi1fureS. COS
metlcS and all the pretty arts pertain
ing to feminine destinations.
But the friendship went no deeper
There are strange atfinities between
woman and woman. and these two
girls. whose lives had glided on so
smoothly, side by side. could never be
friends in the truest acceptance of the
term, as Fannie and Sybil might have
been.
There was something dark and Sc
cret about Marian which Fannie Give
recoiled from. unconsciously as the sun
light from the cloud-something which
perpleXed and annoyed her far more
than SYPHILIS acknowledged reserve.
With a woman's intuition. she felt
Marian was insincere. though she could
not tell where or when; by the same
unreasoning logic she knew Sybil was
honest and true. despite the shadows
which darkened her heart and soul
from her gaze
But men are not gifted with this deli
cate acumen. and Herbert found Miss
Marian very frank. charming and
beautiful companion. as they walked
together over the moOnlt hills to her
house.
Laurence and Fenton Forest loitered
behind, to indulge in Il smoke. so our
hero had the field to himself. had he
been disposed to take advantage of it.
But Miss Marian perceived. with
modification Of spirit. that Mr. Give
had no mind for sentiment that even
ing. Neither the moon-lit waves nor
the shadowy groves could awaken any
romantic ideas. and the jests and
laughter which were so sparkling in
the drawing room at Give Towers
seemed to lose their spirit and brillian-
cy in a tete-a-tete walk through the
woods.
Miss Marian was disappointed. She
had quoted verse from Byron, and
Herbert had made an absurd parody Of
it: she had stopped at sequestered
glade, to admire the mist-rObed river,
and the young gentleman had given her
matter-Of-fact warning about damp
feet and chillS; she had made some al
fusion to their childhood romance. and
Herbert had frankly called himself "a
little fcol.''
1t was very provoking. and naturally
Miss Marian grew little spiteful, and
proceeded to manifest it as only a NOR
tilted woman can.
what a strange fancy dear Fannie
seems to have taken for that young
lady-Miss-what is her name? Oh,
yes-Aliss Sybil Wraye."
Stranger" repeated Herbert, lightly.
'"What is there especially strange about
=, Marian? Ladies' farcies are gener-
ally unaccountable, but Miss Wraye
seems very gentle attractive friend
for one of her own age to choose"
ooh, no doubt" answered the young
lady, i'll tone which was slightly sar
castle. '"There is no doubt of her at
fractions; but she seems so very. very
different from dear Fannie herself-so
silent. and quiet, and reserved. Where
did Fan pick her up, anyhow2'
"They We're schoolmates at Madam
Fleury's. 1 believe" was the rather
cold reply.
Mr.. Give found the young lady's
questions exceedingly harsh.
"Ah, at Madam Fleury's?" repeated
Miss Grey. thoughtfully. "Then, Of
course, it is all right. But
why should it not be all right?'' he
asked, quickly. I'm what manner has
Miss Wraye invited your criticism,
Marian? I know ladies are apt to be
severe upon each other but I confess
that Miss Sybil seemed quiet and in
offensive enough to darn even a-sis-
ter-woman.'
''Im sure meant no offcnse," said
the lacy, alphabetically. Il really had
no idea you We're $3.50 interested in
the young lady. Mr.. Give. I ought not
to have spoken at all, perhaps; but
dear Fannie and have grown up al
most like-like sisters added Miss Ma
rian, with charming hesitation. land,
knowing her frank. impulsive DISPOSE
tion, as I do / was naturally q little
anxious to learn when and where she
had formed so close and tender tie as
that which seems to exist between her
and Miss Wraye. 1 may have been
critical she continued. gently, "but /
assure you, Mr.. Give, it was only as
friend would criticise. with perhaps too
jealous an eye the stranger who seems
70 have stepped between her and her
cLildkood's friend"
II am sure you wrong Fannie" said
Herbert, warmly. She can never change
toward you. Marian. any more than /
oan toward Laurence, The ties of