The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1901-02-16
CHAPTER XIII.
Was 1t O. Dream?

~And your brother is really going
abroad?' asked Miss Marian Grey,
who had been spending a social even
5ng 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,
Nstiessly. Papa thinks it best for
badly"
"Wretchedly!' answered Miss Mari
an, with consoling emphasis. II never
saw any one so changed in little
while; indeed, every one is 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 sorroWful. This
arst tempest-shock had been a rude
one to a flower so tenderly reared.
For the last ten days she had kept her
room. exhausted by the passionate
bursts of grief that had left her nerV.
Gus and Frustrated.
Miss Marian was her first visitor.
Her repeated entreaties 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 a clev
er cross-uuestioning, masked by the
most gushing sympathy.
The Queerest reports are going
Toundl' said Miss Marian, as she
shook out her lace handkerchief.
'"The most absurd stories are told
and believed; and, of course, as you
may Imagine, my dear, [ am re-
sGular victim for all the newsmongers
In the neighborhood. My intimacy
here is so we'll known. Does your
head ache? Do let me battle it; papa
says l have a mesmeric touch. Yes,
indeed I can't tell you how many
calls l have had that | can attribute
TO nothing in the world but curiosity.
offended the Leslies terribly yester-
day by informing them, bluntly, once
1or all, that there was no use in ask
ing me any questions regarding this
-wretched affair, for I knew nothing
about it whatever, and wished to
know nothing. You have to be rudely
positive to some people, or they will
bore you to DEATH
Fannie thought so. too; but she felt
too weak and Wretched just now to be
'rudely positive about anything.
Indeed, you know all that I can
tell you. Marian" she said wearily.
There is mystery about poor, dar-
hing SYPHILIS loss that none of us can
solve. She is gone from us-that is all
we know'-Fannie's voice choked
with sobs as she spoke-"gone from US
forever
''Now. Fannie" said Marian, re-.
proachfully, "you are giving way
again. 1t is really a rebellion against
Providence to mourn this way; and
though, Of course, my dear, it may
Geem cruel to say such a thing now, /
- can't help thinking you will feel, after
q While. that one who so persistently
gefused you her confidence. who closed
her heart to your gaze, was unworthy.
In the truest sense. Of the name of
friend"
FLUSH. Marianv' Fannie rose from
her reclining posture, and gazed upon
her friend with flashing eyes. II
+ will not hear word from you against
SYbil. You never liked her. l know
1t! You would have poisoned my
mind against her long ago, if I had
listened to you; but I knew her-aye
and you-tOo well! What if she did
refuse me her confidence? I never
asked it. What if she did close her
heart to my gaze? I saw enough of it
- know that it was pure, and true,
and noble and worthy-aye, far more
than worthy-of my warmest love and
truSti'
s'You are easily satisfied" said Miss
Marian, with her hooking little laugh.
II don't aspire to such high-nown
sentiments, but I must say I prefer
knowing a little about my friends an
tecedents, especially when the world
at large looks upon them so dubious.
ay. People do say that if a jealous
soyer, whom she had flung aside for
the more tempting prize, had not in.
&erfered, your dear friend would soo1
save claimed a dearer title STILL
And + would gladly have given ii
nv her answered Fannie, warmly
ne dearest wish Of my heart would
# aeve been realized if I could have
tt, ed SYbil sister as well as friend
sssse. IS the only one have ever seen
aave1Y and true. and noble enough tt
be ms brothers wife,