Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-06-14
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) sCHUMS /:
! BY FANNIE HEASLIP LEA (
< Copyright, 1909. by Homer Sprague
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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"The only feeling that ever lasts be-
tween a man and a woman IS friend
! ship. Make your friend your lover, you
lose him when the Irritation has reach
ed its climax, and the artistic ending
is final separation. Make your friend
your husband, you are bound to him by
a rope of fading illusions and inevita-
bic discord-when Life has changed to
doggerel, what love began, q tender
rhyme Keep your friend your friend
no more, no less-he is yours for
ever
Thus said Donald Randolph, twenty
four and didactic, to Helen Ward, nine
teen and afflicted with world sorrow Of
her years.
On these tenets was their friendship
established, and though in treacherous
moments, months apart, II sometimes
occurred to Helen to wonder how Don
AIDS voice, unusually rhythmic Of ca
dence, might sound In pronouncing
words Intentionally emotional, she al
ways dismissed the thought as maud
lin
They had been friends--"chums,"
| they called it in their warmer moments
for four years, when Lila Gardner's
wedding, with its demands for best
man and maid of honor service, con-
fronted them.
IF only Lila had asked some other
| girl or Martin had asked some other
1 al
shouldn't in the least mind being maid
| of honor to Lance Folsom's best man,
| or Tom or even Dan Harris-but with
| you it's different. One has to f1irt with
the best man. It's part OF the ceremo-
ny" She glanced across the moonlit
space between them. Were friends,
and won't fiirt with you"
"Of course not" said Randolph with
unnecessary firmness. "Are you going
| up tomorrow
Evening train," she responded
briefly.
''No need for me to wait over, is
thereT he inquired. 81 thought of go
| ing in the morning"
How absurd" protested Helen.
s'Why should you wait? I'd much
rather you didn't. 1t would hook so
| significant"
Very well, see you tomorrow then,"
he said, and left her with handshakes
| cool and friendly.
| She did not see him till O'Clock the
next night, when, after late train
and later dinner, she descended to
the library in search of the other mem
bers of the bridal party. In nook by
| an open window she found Lila and
| Martin absorbed in certain arrange
ments for their departure the next day.
| With them was Randolph, and Helen
fell at once into the discussion Of evad-
ing the rice and old shoes by means OF
the side door and a hired vehicle.
Once the question was settled, how
| ever. the conversation languished, and
at the interception of third teiepathic
| Communication between the lovers
Helen sprang up in desperation.
"It's too warL1 in here" she COM
| planned. Lets go find the others,
Donald
"They went out there somewhere"
Lila suggested cordially.
Il dare say we can find them," said
| Helen with smile.
She stepped through the window on to
the wide porch and Randolph followed
without delay.
'Now this is what 1 object to-" she
broke out, turning when they were out
of hearing of the two inside, zone
doesn't want an enforced tete-a-tete.
Do you know where the others are"
Dancing in the schoolroom," said
Randolph, without interest.
Dancing" cried Helen. "That settles
| it. simply cannot dance tonight. I'm
tired to death. It's good thing were
chums and don't have to talk, isn't it?
I know I'm not at all interesting to-
night" She sat down in hammock
swung behind her and motioned to u
big wicker chair. Smoke If you like
and don't bother to talk unless you
want to.'s
Randolph produced q stubby pipe
from his coat pocket. When he had
pufred Il few moments in silence he
crossed his legs and clasped his hands
behind his head.
.You make a man adorably comfort
able, Helen" he said slowly, then add
ed more decisively: you're the finest
kind of q chum."
"Always a chum-always," she an
sWered, with queer difference OF in
tonation in the repetition that Ran !
dolph interpreted as a warning.
MARTIN got his passes today for the
frisco trip" he said hastily, in busi-
hesslike tone.
sDid be? Then they go directY"
mot quite. Lila wants to see Salt
Lake City, and Martin knows a fellow
who has ranch in Colorado. They're
going there for q week or ten days.
Jove, that's tripr'
sIsn't It? But I think the coming
back will be almost as good. Have you
seen the house? In town, you know,
on Boliver street. / went over 1t this
week with Lila. It's almost perfect.
Not too large, and yet large enough.
A dear little reception hall-dining room
in Flemish oak and tapestry paper;
drawing room in dull light green. But
The library! think could improve on
the library" She clasped both hands
pbout one knee and stopped swinging.
hAdl 0ASs 0ShC0 4hoo0SSpht
With interest.
VERY good papering," said Helen
earnestly, "dark red and stained floor,
with some. very good rugs. But the
1ookcases!
Separate, I supposeT'
"Yes, and they ought to be low, along |
The walls, all around in one WOOD, In |
stead OF which be has one mahogany. |
one cherry. You can imagine the dis !
3ointed effect. Then, instead of big |
leather chair at the fireplace, there is a /
rocker" She broke off with a little /
sigh. Il can imagine how that library |
would look on a winter evening, with 1
a wood fire and the light coming /
through those loaded window panes and /
the chair piled with cushions and the
books one likes best to read
Lila has red hair" said Randolph
thoughtfully, "and she wears pink
gowns. She'd Jar on the color scheme"
'Oh, Donald, you are nice" sighed
Helen mirthfully. You see what one
thinks so well, and that's my idea of
a friend" she concluded, with sudden
fervor,
- library like that would fit wom-
an with dark hair" said Randolph. his