A GOOD TRUE FRIEND
It was springtime and the parks and avenues were in all the dainty splendor of their new leaves. The afternoon May sun was flooding the city with gold and silver light, and all the air was tremulous with the singing of birds. A good day it was to live if one could only live in the sunny air within sight of the green leaves and within sound of the singing birds. A day for life and love it was;at least so Kate thought as she drew up her prancing team at the St. Clair house where Harry stood waiting for her.
"DEAR Kate," he cried, "how stunning you are! I love you!""Come, Harry, jump up! Breton is getting excited.""Stony-hearted wretch," grumbled Harry. "Did you hear me tell you I love you?""Nonsense, Harry, jump in; I'll report to Lily Langford.""Don't tell," pleaded Harry, "and do keep Breton on all fours.
This isn't a circus. You terrify me."
"We have only time to make the train, hurry up!" cried Kate.
"Steady, my boys."
"Some day, Kate, those 'boys' of yours will be your death or the death of some of your friends," said Harry, as he sprang in and took his place beside Kate. "That Breton ought to be shot. It really affects my heart to drive with you.""You haven't any, Harry, you know that right well, so don't be alarmed.""Quite true," said Harry, sentimentally, "not since that night, don't you remember, Kate, when you--""Now, Harry, I only remind you that I always tell my girl friends everything you say. It is this wedding that's got into your blood.""I suppose so," murmured Harry, pensively; "wish it would get into yours. Now seriously, Kate, at your years you ought--""Harry," said Kate, indignantly, "I really don't need you at the station. I can meet your aunt quite well without you. Shall I set you down here, or drive you to the office?""Oh, not to the office, I entreat! I entreat! Anything but that!
Surely I may be allowed this day! I shall be careful of your sensitive points, but I do hope this wedding of Maimie's will give you serious thoughts."Kate was silent, giving her attention doubtless to her team. Then, with seeming irrelevance, she said: "Didn't I see Colonel Thorp yesterday in town?""Yes, the old heathen! I haven't forgiven him for taking off Ranald as he did.""He didn't take off Ranald. Ranald was going off anyway.""How do you know?" said Harry.
"I know," replied Kate, with a little color in her cheek. "He told me himself.""Well, old Thorp was mighty glad to get him; I can tell you that.
The old sinner!"
"He's just a dear!" cried Kate. "Yes, he was glad to get Ranald.
What a splendid position he gave him."
"Oh, yes, I know, he adores you like all the rest, and so you think him a dear."But this Kate ignored for the team were speeding along at an alarming pace. With amazing skill and dash she threaded her way through the crowded streets with almost no checking of her speed.
"Do be careful," cried Harry, as the wheels of their carriage skimmed the noses of the car-horses. "I am quite sure my aunt will not be able to recognize me.""And why not?"
"Because I shall be gray-haired by the time I reach the station.""There's the train I do believe," cried Kate, flourishing her whip over her horses' backs. "We must not be late.""If we ever get there alive," said Harry.
"Here we are sure enough."
"Shall I go to the train?"
"No, indeed," cried Kate. "Do you think I am going to allow any one to meet MY Aunt Murray but myself? I shall go; you hold the horses.""I am afraid, really," cried Harry, pretending terror.
"Oh, I fancy you will do," cried Kate, smiling sweetly, as she ran off to meet the incoming train. In a few moments she returned with Mrs. Murray and carrying a large, black valise.
"Hello, auntie dear," cried Harry. "You see I can't leave these brutes of Kate's, but believe me it does me good to see you. What a blessing a wedding is to bring you to us. I suppose you won't come again until it is Kate's or mine.""That would be sure to bring me," cried Mrs. Murray, smiling her bright smile, "provided you married the right persons.""Why, auntie," said Harry, dismally, "Kate is so unreasonable. She won't take even me. You see she's so tremendously impressed with herself, and all the fellows spoil her."By this time Kate had the reins and Harry had climbed into the back seat.
"Dear old auntie," he said, kissing his aunt, "I am really delighted to see you. But to return to Kate. Look at her!
Doesn't she look like a Roman princess?"
"Now, Harry, do be sensible, or I shall certainly drive you at once to the office," said Kate, severely.
"Oh, the heartlessness of her. She knows well enough that Colonel Thorp is there, and she would shamelessly exult over his abject devotion. She respects neither innocent youth nor gray hairs, as witness myself and Colonel Thorp.""Isn't he a silly boy, auntie?" said Kate, "and he is not much improving with age.""But what's this about Colonel Thorp?" said Mrs. Murray. "Sometimes Ranald writes of him, in high terms, too.""Well, you ought to hear Thorp abuse Ranald. Says he's ruining the company with his various philanthropic schemes," said Harry, "but you can never tell what he means exactly. He's a wily old customer.""Don't believe him, auntie," said Kate, with a sagacious smile.
"Colonel Thorp thinks that the whole future of his company and of the Province depends solely upon Ranald. It is quite ridiculous to hear him, while all the time he is abusing him for his freaks.""It must be a great country out there, though," said Harry, "and what a row they are making over Confederation.""What do you mean, Harry?" said Mrs. Murray. "We hear so little in the country.""Well, I don't know exactly, but those fellows in British Columbia are making all sorts of threats that unless this railway is built forthwith they will back out of the Dominion, and some of them talk of annexation with the United States. Don't I wish I was there!
What a lucky fellow Ranald is. Thorp says he's a big gun already.
