Graham guardian., 1918-11-29
| MORE THAN FRIEND
BY VINCENT G. PERRY.
Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure Newspa

| SOu Nltu CIiuTRtS dIS
made against you, he asks the accuser
to clear out. A friend is one who
knows all about you, yet likes you just
the same"
Basil Vance cut the above paragraph
from newspaper and re-read II very
carefully. He agreed with 1t all. AT.
] ter reading it half a dozen times he
| pasted II in his memorandum book,
where he could see 1t often. He had
| been asking himself a question all
morning before he found this clipping,
| and it just seemed to answer It. Ju.
dith and he had quarreled for the last
time. He would go and ask her to
| consider their engagement broken. He
had made mistake. She was not
'for him" as friend should be.
He took her picture from his desk.
| He would have to return that to her.
Tle stopped to take last look at 1t.
She was very beautiful and she was
| smiling Just rs he liked to see her
smile. He wrapped II up hurriedly.
| II he stood there gazing at TINT pic
ture he would change his mind ne
knew. Then there were other things
| he would have to return. What If she
| returned his presents He would have
to order dray to get them all. He
hoped she wouldn't put him to that
| trouble. What would he do with them7
other woman, and he hadn't a sister.
Mechanically. he took the memOran-
| dun book from his pocket and read
the clipping again. Where was there
a woman who could be all to a man
| that that called for?
When the car that he ordered drew
up In front of his office to take him to
Juiith's home he was ready, waiting.
II was delicate task he had set for
himself, but he would not falter with
great strides he stepped out from the
Office building and made for the car.
Just before he reached 1t he remem.
bered that he had left Judlth's gifts,
that he had decided to return. on his
desk. He turned quickly, his foot
slipped on the Icy pavement and he
crashed down. striking his head with
great force.
II was two hours later when he re.
gained consciousness, and he just had
time to realize that he was In the
hospital before he lapsed into state
Of semi-consciousness How hi1 head
ached There was a grinding. gnaw-
ing feeling In every hone Of his body.
He was dying, he could feel It. hut he
couldn't cry out to tell them. Oh. II
he only could have Inst farewell With
Judith! How he loved her! But did
he love her? Hadn't quarrel come
up between them? He could see the
quarrel like big black cloud lowering
above him, and he tried to- jump up
and knock 1t away. hut newspaper
with great big type got In his way.
Then the words shot off the newspaper
and went into his eyes and ears and
made his head ache worse. He cried
out, but that didn't help him. Sud.
denly calm came over him. There
was soft hand on his forehead and a
soothing voice quite close to his ears.
When his eyes cleared he could see
figure bending over him. II looked
like m angel and she was crying.
How her hands eased the pain of his
head and how sleepy her voice made
him. Down, down he went, and then
all the pain went and he felt himself
sinking to sleep.
She was there when he woke up
again. The pain was all gone and he
felt quite fresh. He took good look
at the "angel" and gave a cry Of glad
ness. "Judith! Judith" he cried
again and again.
"Be still" she pleaded, as she put
her hand on his head. "The fever has
all gone but you have been very sick.
The doctors feared it was conclusion
Of the brain"
"NOthlng Of the sort" he smiled.
though there was still a faint pain.
"The doctors didn't know what they
were talking about"
"Oh, they did They have cured you
brought you back so that you can
talk"
"They had nothing to do with It." he
seid stoutly. "Tf It hadn't been for
you I would not be we'll Your hand
on my head took all the pain away"
"Did you know 1t was I. dear?" she
asked eagerly. "I did not think you
knew me-"
81 could not make out who II was,
| hut I thought II was an angel, and
when | awOke. It sure enough was"
| he answered.
II was not many days before Basil
was able to leave the hospital. He
was all dressed and ready when Judith
called in her car to take him home.
She was helping him on with his cort
when his memorandum book fell to
the floor. Although he reached for 1t.
she was too quick for him. The book
opened In her hands and the clipping
was facing her, She stopped to
read II.
| "What splendid clipping that is,"
she said. "My, wouldn't It be hard to
live up to all that! But suppose q
real friend should"
| W. Ht SUiu' Ttil lTleUU
| should"
"Then," she said, hesltatlngly "you
can't think much Of me, for ! haven't
| been that true friend"
'"You have been more than true
friend, dear" he said. as he took her
hand. "A man doesn't want the girl
he loves to he his friend, he wants her
| to he his wife,"