Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1906-07-13

Gil UMS !
BY FANNIE HEAsLIP LEA
cuA.AA tnna h. unmnr enr.c,n !
BY X HEAsLIP LEA
, Copyright. 1905. By Homer sprasuo


''The only feeling that ever lasts be-
tween n nan and n woman Is friend
ship. Make your friend your lover. you
lose him when the Irritation has reach
cd It's climax. and the artistic ending
IS a FINAL separation. Make your friend
your husband. you are bound to him by
n rope OF fading illusions and inevita-
BILE discord-when Life has changed to
Loggerel, what love began, n tender
rhyme Keep your friend your friend
no more. 10 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 t%reacherous
moments. months apart, Il 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.
AAEY Muu nEEM lAANAAln- NAANAAAAHf
they called It In their warmer moments
for four years, when Lila Gardeners
wedding. with its demands for best
man and maid OF honor service. con
sfronted them.
III only Lila had asked some other
girl or Martin had asked some other
man." said Helen uncomfortably. Il
.ho.iIvYt q, tho ioocA mind ho{pU unatI
OF honor to Lance Folsom's best man,
or Tom or even Dan Harrls-but with
you it's different. One has to 1lrt with
the best man. It's part OF the ceremo-
ny" She glanced across the moonlit
space between them. Were friends,
and l won't hirt with you"
"Of course not" said Randolph with
unnecessary frmness. Are you going
up tomorrow
Evening train" she responded
briefly.
mo need for me to wait over. is
thereT' he inquired. II thought Of GO
ing in the morning"
How absurd" protested Helen.
l"Why should you wait? Id much
iIulntI yOu Uun l. IL NOu4u AoOh bu
significant"
every well, see you tomorrow them
he said. and left her with q handshake,
cool and friendly.
She did not see him TIL s o'clock the
next night, when. after O late train
and a later dinner. she descended t
the library in search OF the other mem
lbers Of the bridal party. In n nook b!
iau open window che found Lila anG
Martin absorbed In certain arrange
ments for their departure the next day
with them was Randolph, and Helei
fell at once into the discussion of evad
ing the rice and old shoes by mean o
the side loot and a hired vehicle.
Once the question was settled. how
ever. the conversation lnnguished, mn
Mt the interception of q third telepathl
communication between the lover
Helen sprang up in desperation.
"It's too warm In here" she com
plalned. Lets go find the others
Donald"
"They went out there somewhere.
Lila suggested cordially.
II dare say we can find them" saiC
Helen with a smile.
She stepped through the window on t
THE wide porch and Randolph followed
without del6y.
"Now this is what / object to-" sh'
broke out, turning when they were on
of hearing Of the two inside, "Ont
doesn't want an enforced tete-a-tete
do you know where the others areT'
Dancing In tho s~choolroom." sait
Randolph, without interest.
Dancing" cried Helen. THAT settles
1t. / simply cannot dance tonight In
tired to death. It's q good thing we'r,
chums and don't have to talk. isn't 1t
know I'm not at all interesting to
might" She sat down In a hammocl
Swung behind her and motioned to
big wicker chair. Smoke IL you Tx
and don't bother to talk unless yol
want to-"
Randolph produced a stubby pip
from his coat pocket. When he hat
lpuled a few moments In silence h
crossed bis legs and clasped his hand
behind his head.
"You make Il man adorably comfort
able. Helen" he said slowly, then add
ed more decislvely: you're the fines
kind Of u chum."
Always q chum-always," she an
severed, with u queer difference Of IN
donation in the repetition that Ran
.dolph interpreted as q warning.
Martin got his passes today for III
Frisco trip" he said hastily. in n bus
nesslIke tone.
"Dld he7 Then they so directT~
mot quite. Lila wants TO see SaI
Lake City, and Martin knows n felloV
who has n ranch in Colorado. They'r
going there for n week or ten day
iJove. that's a trip"
isn't TT But{I think tho comm
back VIII be almost as good. Have 20
seen the house1 In town, you know
on BOliver street. I went over It tn
week with Lila. It's almost perfec
Not too large. and yet large enoug'
"A dear little reception h%all-dining roo
in Flemish oak and tapestry pape
drawing room in dull Hight green. 81
the lIbraryl / think I could improve {
the library" She clasped both han,
about one knee aud stopped swlngin
What's Il llkeF' asked Randolp
with interest
"Verv mod na~narfnr1 eafd Tel,