LITERARY COLUMN.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 48, 24 August 1895, Page 1 (Supplement)

LITER ARY COLUMN.

I This Column Is open to original literary ; contributions, prose or verse, serious or oomio ; good— but short. Two Prizes > will be given at the end of the quarter ) for the best.. ' Competitors are requested to -write in ink on » one side of the paper only, also to send 1 real name and address. c Our Literary Competition olosed on 1 Tuesday, 20th August. Besnlts appear 0 on Saturday, 31st August. r ."Evelyn." — Tour sketch appears in the 1 L.O. When 'good, I allow three oompetitions to appear in the L.O. in the i quarter. s Appended is a good sketch by " Evelyn," T highly oommeuded ; and a oomio sketch by " Warata," highly commended :—

MT LITTLE FRIEND. She was a flim, luo.iy-faced little schoolgirl, and as she came round the corner at a brisk pace, her dark eyes sparkled and danced, and her fresh face glowel again as she lent herself to do battle with King Wind, for it was a typical Wellington day, and the gay old southerly whistled and roared and played mad pranks with every passer-by, white he ruffled the soft fringes and touched tho oheeks of the girls with peony-red. I was glad to be safe and sheltered in my cosy little room, for I was a poor, delicate thing at best, and warm rooms and bright fires were a necessity to me. Nevertheless, it was with a sigh oi real envy that I watohed ' ' my little friend. ' ' I always called her no, though, in truth, we knew nothing of eaoh other. She was, however, gradually becoming a point of great interest to me, and I had not so ranch brightness iv my life that I could afford to miss it when it camo. Every morning at the samo hour she came, swinging her straps of books, aud looking bo fresh and happy, that my heart caught the reflection of the glow. I knew aha was going to school, for sometimes I saw an open book in her hand, and her brows would pucker and her lips move as if she were conning some half-forgotten lesson. I often wondered how she stood as a soholar, but felt sure that she did well, for there was a oapable determined look through all the sweetness. As the day wore to its close, I usually got very tired of my enforced solitude, and always felt a thrill of pleasure when " my little friend" came in sight, usually the giyest of a gay little group of Bohool-girls. owthey seemed to enjoy themselvea to be sure ! How they laughed, and dimpled, and whispered, and swung their bookstraps in very abandon of girlish happiness ! Then at the corner whore " my little friend" turned off, came the merry good-byes, and, as I leaned baok in my chair, I felt that life certainly was brighter than I had imagined an hour ago. She must have been quite sixteen at this time, though I don't think I realised it. However, two years went quickly by, bringing few changes. "Ah, how few, I used to sigh. Nevertheless, I was happier in my own way, and "my little friend" was still "my little friend." For three years now she had been a bright little bit in each day's history, and I watched always as ever for the sweet face and slender little figure. Of oourse, the years had ohanged her. She smiled now as frequently, but not so unreservedly as of yore. She no longer danced along the pavement, but stepped demurely, and the " good-byes" now were audible only to the recipients. At length came the time when book-straps were no longer carried, and "my little friend" appeared with duly lengthened gowns, and with all her pretty flowing hair gathered up. It was a shock at first, but after all she was as sweet as ever — so evidently thought a fair, tall man whom I now constantly saw with my little friend. Tes, it was the old story, and as I thought of the ending, my heart was selfishly sad, for I knew I should lose her. The ending came soou, for one day as I snt dreamily in my old corner, a carriage dashed by, in which, as it passed, I saw "my little friend " robed in bridal white, her hand fast clasped iv her father's, and looking, oh, so tremulously sweet. Then I waited, and not in vain, for in an hour's time back' they came — she rosy-red, and the tall, fair man by her side, looking most ur. blushingly happy ; and bothoy were married, and I lobt my little friend. —"Evelyn."