Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-10-03

| lie. and with each other they We're in
nowise reticent as to what they should
demand Of the world.
They had been friends from youth.
and when the girls return renewed
tLat friendship in all its intensity the
gossips had much to say Of a long set
tied mat>imonial understanding.
| II was the subject Of conversation
| one August afternoon as they sat to-
gether In the cooling shade Of the vines
on the Hartwell porch.
"The very idea.' laughed Ned.
/ These old people here haven't any
idea beyond marrying and dying.
Can't they understand thar there are
some other contingencies of existence
besides theseE''
"Of course not" answered Alice. also
laughing. and they would deem it
rank heresy to hear you say SO. You
must remember that Blanktown has
| its code of rules and prophecies as
changeless rs the laws Of the Modes
| and Persians."
THE very idea of you and me being
lovers" went on Ned, when we have
been playmates, chums, companions
from the mud pie period"
'sThe idean' echoed Alice. "Why,
there couldn't possibly be any romance
about such a thing"
Familiarity kills romance, you
know" He said ii as If he We're utter
ing one of the foundation truths of the
| ages. And she acquiesced with "Of
! course"
These people here" he continued in
en- oracular tone, cannot appreciate
the beauty Of a perfect friendship eX-
listing between man and woman. They
can only conceive of such a friendly re-
lation degenerating into an affair Of
kisses, tears and sentiment"
"But we shall give them an example
OF something different, shall we not,
Nedg
Yes, of a perfect friendship, where
sex shah not be considered, where one
shall be the confidant, the critic and
the inspiration of the other"
How glorious it viii be. Ned. What
a help we may be TO each other! We
and Or. Johnson or Chateaubriand
and Nine. Recamier, Paula and Jer-
ONE
Well, Ned went to work and Alice
went to work. Ned plugging away At
the law and she entering the schools
as a teacher for neither was rich.
And their friendship did prove help
full to each other for he was an artist
student and she was n stern critic.
And they We're confidants.
II know that you will talk 10 me
with perfect honesty, Alice he said.
Il don't believe | really love Mary
! Mason as the world looks on love, but
then she is a good, sensible girl. The
match would be good one and help
full in a worldly sense. and as for love
well, love viii come with associa-
ton"
'Of course" said Alice, "of course.
| But, Ned. do you think that just her
particular cast of mind would suit you?
She seems so terribly practical. you
know, Ned. She doesn't seem to have
those soft, womanly qualities that it
seems TO me a man would like. |
wouldn't discourage you for an IN
slant. Ned. But do you think you
would be really happy with her, Nedf"
well, that's it" said Ned stroking
his bare chin. That's it. For the life
OF me 1 don't know \ mans got to be
mighty careful. mighty careful"
Yes. he has" said Alice. and then
for some unaccountable reason she
went home and cried herself TO sleep.
But that's just like a woman, you
know.
one day in the vacation period Alice
/ came to Ned for advice.
Il have found teaching hard and
tiresome. Ned" she said. And. after
all. the little home trials that a woman
oyercomes are her best conquests.
have no desire to 20 back to the school
room, anG / have a chance to make a
home for myself. Henry Armstrong
/ has asked me to marry him. You know
/ he is a kind hearted man. Ned. and he
/ is settled and wei fixed. Tell me- what
/ 30 you think about it, Ned
why, Alice" said the young man.
I had no idea you were SO mercenary."
I'm not Ned
''Oh. don't talk 10 me. Henry Arm
strong, indeed, But marry him-marry
4 him rs all means"
why, you're not angry, are you.
Ned"
"What l mean is that l don't think
+ that Henry Armstrong is half good
enough for YOU. and don't believe you
love him either"
Il don't Know that I 10, but you
didn't love Mary Mason either-at least
you said So"
"Oh, that's right. Throw that folly
into my face
"Well. t'ousht'-
Yes. you thought. A woman like
you. Alice needs somebody to think for
her" Aud this lord Of creation stalked
away in high dudSeon.
lie wrote a letter that night and
posted it, and Alice received it b- the
first mail next morning II ran thus: