The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1905-03-01

pipes. "You look as If you had lost
your best friend"
II did, last June, as you know" was
the rather sad answer, "and on top
Of that I hate myself for one or two
t~hings-for instance, the escapade we
INDUCED I'm the other night, and be-
ing Frye's slave, for another"
IL am sorry for the first" responded
Frank. ut was my fault that you were
coaxed into it. 1 won't do 1t again, I
assure you. Don't worry over It, my
boy. 1t wasn't anything serious; only
just a little after theater fun and hear
Ing those sporty girls talk slang"
eyes, and spending n lot Of money
for very poor fun" replied Albert. 81
don't think any better OF myself for do.
ing it, do youT"
ooh, I don't think about it one way
or the other" answered Frank. IL
have so much time to kill, and that's
no worse than any other way"
"Well, of course it's all right, and as
you do not think any the less Of your
self for doing it there is no HARM" re-
piled Albert. "Only / do, and SO it is
worse for me than for you.
"Now, you have n mother and sisters
who think we'll of you, no doubt. How
would you have felt to have had any
ONT of them peep in that night and see
what manner of company you were inf
My mother Is in her grave, but maybe
she could see where 1 was and with
whom l was that evening, and the
thought makes me feel mean. have q
sister, one of the purest and sweetest
little women God even blessed the earth
with, and not for all that l can earn
in one year would 1 have her know
what n foolish thing 1 did. For two
days 1 was 80 ashamed of myself l felt
miserably."
Frank sat in stupefed silence at his
friends %outburst. "If l had imagined
you were going to feel that way, old
man." he said at last, 81 would never
have urged you to go with me. l never
will again, l assure you"
ooh, / am as much to blame as YOU"
observed Albert. II went willingly,
but after 1t was all over J. was sorry l
did. l am no prude. 1 enjoy a little
excitement and don't min n social
evening with a few friends, but it
doesn't pay to do things you dcspise
yourself for the next day"
But" put in his friend, with a
quizzical look, "do you know YOU are
preaching a sermon, and l rather like
1t: too? 1t sets me thinking. AS for
such girls as we wined, / don't care n
rap for them. If l could ind any other
and better amusement they might go
hang for all l care. / try tennis and
golf with fellows and girls i'll our set,
but that Is tame sport. I go to 'func-
tons once in awhile, and If l dance
twice with n pretty girl who has no
dot mother glares at me aud says I've
no family pride. Most Of the girls
talk silly nonsense that wearies q fell
low, and the more passe they are the
worse they gush. The only thing i
really enjoy is yachting, and then 1
have trouble to find good fellows who
have time to go with me. Once in
awhile / get disgusted with myself
and wish L had to work for a living"
Albert looked surprised. Was 1t pos
sible that this young and handsome
fellow, with dark brown honest eyes,
curly black hair and garb and manner
of refinement, who never had known
what 1T was to work, really wanted to
earn his own way in the world, just
from sheer cnnui?
at seems to me you have everything
to be thankful for, Frank" Albert said
at last in n detected tonc-"a kind fn-
Their, good home, plenty of friends, q
n nothing to do. With me it Is diff
ferent. Would 1t bore you if L unload
ed n little Of my historyf"
mot a bit" answered Frank. 81
would really like to hear it,"
"Well," continued Albert, "whcn we
were at college l was Il little too proud
to let you know l was the only son of a
poor widow who was denying herself
every luxury to educate me, but 1t was
a fact. After we separated 1 tutored
some, read law and was admitted to
the bar. / opened an office In my ma.
tive town and wasted Il year waiting
for clients, while 1 read novels, sketch.
ed and tished to pass the time. Last
June my mother died and left my SIS
ter and me an old house hat has been
In the family over a century, n few
acres of meadow lands and maybe 5000
In debts. Then / wrote to you. / was
more than grateful for the chance you
obtained for me to work for even such
q man as Frye. 1 am paying those
debts as fast as / can, and my sister is
helping by teaching in a crossroad
schoolhouse and walking -four miles
each day to do It,"
"And 1 coaxed you to go out and
spend money on a couple of ballet
girls" responded Frank regrctfully.
"Say, old man." reaching out his hand
and clasping Albert's, "if 1 had known
all this that evening / would have bit
ten my tongue before / asked you to go
with me-"
"That is all right" replied Albert. ~
should have told you hat night what
I have told you now, but maybe 1 was
q little ashamed to do So"
II would like to sec that brave Sis
ter of yours" said Frank after a pause.
From what you tell me, she must be a
trump"
Alber made no answer, but going to
the mantel he took a framed photo
graph that stood there and handed 1t
to his friend. 1t was n picture Of q
young girl with n face like an artists
dream and eyes like two pansies.
Frank gazed ut 1t long and earnest
ly. your sister, i suppose" he said
at last, still looking ut the face. al
do not wonder you preached me the