TRUE FRIENDSHIP.
IT was a sultry August day. Most of Miss Howard's acquaintances were out of the city. She had just returned from Grantbury, and was finishing a letter to send by the steamer, when Dr. Ross was announced.
"One minute, Doctor," pleaded Marion, sealing her letter and ringing for James to take it to the post; "now I will have a glass of lemonade for you in a trice."
"I met Hepsey," he said, "or I should not have known you were at home."
"Your call is very opportune, sir," said Marion smiling, as she added, "I want to ask about Annie Leman. Is she as good a teacher as you expected?"
"Next to yourself, Miss Howard," bowing formally, "I do not know her equal."
"Then you will add your influence to mine to secure for her the position I am about to resign in Mrs. La Vergne's school?"
"With great pleasure, if you will promise for Miss Leman that she will still teach my daughters. But why do you resign?"
Marion had more than once asked herself whether she were treating her father's old friend with sufficient frankness in not telling him of her engagement to Mr. Angus; and now his question gave her the opportunity to do so; so with rosy cheeks she said,—
"I'm going to leave the city before long."