Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-03-14

GU FCIy III, duU
70" hope sol" you said, rather
sharply, that he had no business to be
i'll. Do you remember?'
EYES," she said slowly. "Is he bet
ter?'
81 hope So"
''YOu hope So" with the controlled
emphasis of Impotence.
Eyes. Don't you, Miss Lands? When
1 saw him at bis home he was lame
on crutches- he looked rather
CHASTITY. and all he said was that he
expected to leave for the country. /
asked him to shoot next year at Black
Fells. and he seemed bothered about
business and said it might keep him
from taking any vacation
''He spoke about his business?"
Eyes. he
what is the trouble with his bust
ness? Is it anything about Amalga-
mated and Intercounty"
81 think so.''
els he worried?''
Plank said deliberately, 81 should be
if my interests were locked up in
Amalgamated Electric"
"Could you tell me why that would
worry your" she asked, smiling per-
suasively across at him.
NO." he said, 81 can't tell you"
Because 1 wouldn't understand"
Because l myself don't understand"
She thought awhile, brushing the
rose velvet of her mouth with the fans
edge, then, looking up confidently:
'Mr. Siward is such a boy. I'm so
glad he has you to advise him in such
Matters
"What matters ?" asked Plank bluntly.
"Why. in-in financial matters"
"But don't advise him."
'Why notY'
Because he hasn't asked me to, Miss
LandiS'
"He ought to ask you. He must ask
you. Don't wait for him, Mr.. Plank.
He is only a boy in such things"
And, as Plank was silent:
"You will, won't your
"Do what-make his business my
business without an invitation?" ask
ed Plank so quietly that she flushed
with annoyance.
eff you pretend to be his friend, is it
not your duty to advise him?" she
asked impatiently
mo; that is for his business asso-
ciates to do. Friendship comes to
grief when it crosses the frontiers Of
business"
"That is a narrow view to take, Mr..
Plank
Eyes. straight and narrow. The
boundaries of friendship are straight
and narrow. 1t is best to keep to the
trodden path-best not to walk on the
grass or trample the flowers"
II think you are sacrificing friend
ship for an epigram," she said, careless
of the undertone of contempt in her
voice.
'T have never sacrificed friendship"
He turned and looked at her pleasant
ly. 81 never made an epigram con-
sciously, and l have never required Of
friend more than l had to offer in
return. Have you"
The flush of hot displeasure stained
her cheeks.
care you really questioning me, Mr..
Plank"
eyes. You have been questioning
me rather seriously, have you not?
ST did not comprehend your defini-
ton of friendship. 1 did not agree
with it. l questioned it, not you.
That is ALL"
Plank rested his head on one big
hand and stared at the clusters of dim
blossoms behind her, and after awhile
he said, as though thinking aloud:
"Many have taken my friendship
for granted and have never offered
their own in return. l do not know
about Mr.. Siward. There is nothing
can do for him, nothing he can do for
me- If there is to be friendship be-
tween US it will be disinterested, and
I would rather have that than any
thing in the world, l think"
There was a pause, but when Sylvia
would have broken it his gesture COM
mitted her to silence, with the dignity
one might use in checking a persistent
child
''You question my definition of friend
ship, Miss Lands. / should have let
your question pass, however keenly it
touched me, had it not also touched
him. Now l am going to say some
things which lie within the straight
and narrow bounds | spoke of. I new.