Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-05-13

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know more than any one ever knew
will ye be very proud Of me?"
Yes, Peg. Even more than 1 am
now"
Are ye now?"
II am proud to think you are my
friend"
"Ye'd ha' won yer wager. We are
friends, aren't WEI"
II am yours"
"Sure I'm yours all right"
She looked at him, laughed shyly
and pressed her cheeks. He was
watching her closely.
what are you laughing atY" he
asked.
"Do ye know what Tom Moore wrote
about friendship"
mo. Tell me-"
Peg sat at the piano and played very
softly the prelude to an old Irish song.
Jerry said supposedly. "Oh. so you
playa"
"Afther a fashion. Me father taught
me. Nc aunt can't hear it. An the
teacher In the house said it was
dhreadful an that l must play scales
for two years more before l thry a
tune. She said l had no ear"
Jerry laughed as be replied, II think
they're very pretty"
do ye? Well. watch them an
mebbe ye won't mind me singin' so
much. An, afther all, ye're only a
farmer, aren't yep
"Hardly that" And Jerry laughed
again.
"This is called "A Temple to Friend.
Ship" she explained.
"lndeed?"
AN it's about a girl who built a
shrine an she thought she wanted to
put Friendship into it. She thought
she wanted Friendship. Afther awhile
she found out her mistake. Listen"
And Peg sang. in a pure, tremulous lit
tie voice that vibrated with feeling.
the following:
IA temple to Friendship said Laura en-
chanted.
'I'll build in this g~arden-the thought is
divinep
Her temple was built and she now only
wanted
An image OF Friendship to place on the
shrine.
She flew to a sculptor, who set down be-
fore her
A Friendship, the fairest his art could
invent!
But so cold and so dull that the youthful
adorer
Saw plainly this was not the idol she
meant.
"'Oh, never she cried. could I think of
enshrining
An image whose looks are SO 5oyless
and din.
But yon little god Cupid, upon roses re-
Ginning,
Well make. if you please, sir, a Friend
ship Of him.
S the bargain was struck: with the lit
tie god laden
She joyfully few to her shrine in the
grove.
Farewell said the sculptor: you're not
the first maiden
who came but for Friendship and took
away-Love.'"
She played the refrain softly after
she had finished the song. Gradually
the last note died away.
Jerry looked at her in amazement
where in the world did you learn
that?"
ME father taught it to me-" replied
Peg simply. TON Moore's one Of me
fathers prayer books"
Jerry repeated as though to himself:
"'Who came but for Friendship and
took away Lover"
isn't that beautifully" And Pegs
face had a rapt expression as she look
ed up at Jerry.
do you believe it?" he asked.
Didn't Tom Moore write it," she
answered.
'Is there anything better than friend
ship between man and womanY
She nodded:
"Indade there Is. Me father felt it
for me mother or I wouldn't be here
now. Me father loved me mother with
all his strength an all his SOUL"
Gould you ever feel it," he asked.
IN IACAO was ILL duA1OuS 1OOh III ILLS
eyes as he waited for her to answer.
She nodded.
Have you ever felt it," he went on.
"All me iife," answered Peg in a
whisper.
"As a child, perhaps" remarked Jer-
~. Some day it will come to you as
a woman, and then the whole world
will change for you"
II know" replied Peg softly. 1--WE
felt it comin'."
Since when?" and once again sus-
pense was in his voice.
'Ever since-ever since Suddenly
she broke off breathlessly, and, throw
ing her arms above her head as though
in appeal, she cried:
ooh. l do want to improve meself.
Now l wish l had been born a lady.
I'd be more worthy off,
"What? Whomy" asked Jerry ur-
gently and waiting a~nxiously for her
answer.
Peg regained control Of herself, and.
covering down again on to the piano
stool. She went on hurriedly: