The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1880-12-16
THIS FOOL STORY.

When L first knew her she was fifteen
years old; L was twenty-four. She was q
schoolmaster's daughter; [, school
masters son.
We first met one September evening.
Her father was struggling pedagogue,
with family of seven children to sup
port, and few pupils. L had it in my
head to become his partner and had
gone down first to see how things were
looking.
Her name was Emily; to her friends
! she was always EN-.
She and L struck up friendship. She
always did make friends with all male
creatures, whether five years old or fifty.
[ was u scribbler, even then; and fancy
the pride OF authorship even in so small
degree, had q certain charm for her,
which set me up in her eyes.
She wrote her name in my birthday
book, and beneath it L wrote, ''My Little
Sweetheart. 1t lies before me at the
present moment.
1t was the hardest thing in the world
for her father and mother to make both
ends meet Very little money was ever
hers. Her wardrobe was of the scantiest.
She knew nothing of pleasure as some
ten miles out of the town where she was
born.
Yet there must have been some fairy
present at her birth, for she was like q
summers day, always bright.
Time sped. I had been her fathers
partner, and had now known her moro
than two years. was going for ram
bling expedition to foreign parts; and
though knew L was a fool for my pains.
to me it was a bitter parting.
And SO for time, think, it was to
her; for in some way links had been
joined between us without our ever know
ing they were being forged.
We'll, said to her, the day before I
went, we being alone together, "Blue
eyes, how long shall L be missed?"
The Oriy answer was to throw herself
upon the hearth rug, place her hand up
on my knee, and turn her eyes up toward
my face.
"Ah, Blue Eyes," said I, trifing with
her sunny hair, you'll have another
sweetheart in a week."
I" In a week?" said she, in that curious
~ clear voice of hers. sDoyou think SOP
She looked up at me and watched me for
moment. Then she turned and got
upon her knees, kneeling in front of me.
Perhaps So" she said. But''-lean-
ing forward, so her breath mingled with
mine" he'll never be sweetheart like
you" What could do? knew her so
well! knew that this is just what she
would say to any one by way of comfort.
l knew that her words were as trifes
light as air.
Make no VOWS" said I, "only to be
broken. You and L have had happy
times; why should begrudge the same
to another?"
She was silent. She was now nearly
eighteen, but she was so small, that It
never occurred to me to think Of her as
anything but n little girl. She put her
hands out and took mine, still in tho
same quiet fashion. "Would YOU like
me to?" said she" would you like me
Toto take another?"
:" En-, said L, "what does it matter
what like? Before the sun has gone
down upon my going, another day will
have dawned for you" [ looked at her.
1t came to me that this was very bitter,
and however great fool I might be, I
could not entirely hide what was in my
heart. "Little Sweetheart" said L, "of
one thing be sure-I never shall FORGET
you"
hIlAO S1"LAAo w AAiS, G"A1 l. nAoSCO lcE. Su6
still kept her face near mine. "Bertie,"
said she-it was the first time she had
ever called me BERTHE: it had always been
plain Mister before, and the name rang in
my cars" BERTHE, I'll not forget you in
| O. week"
I almost pushed her from me. L knew
this dalliance was worse than folly-I
knew her SO well--and rose to my feet.
"No," said /, with bitter mirth; "not in
o week, but in eight days"
She made no answer, but still knelt at
my feet And so we parted; for the fare
we'll on the morrow was but formal one.
| x y
Two year passed by. Occasionally I
sent her little notes, pictures of noted
places, foolish curiosities. But never
gave her my address.
At last returned, and found she was
living out as q governess.
Her mother told me her situation was
in the neighborhood Of Ryde. Happen
ing to have friends in that town, I made
them on excuse for visit there.
Yet, on my arrival, was in no hurry
to find them out; and taking up my quar-.
ters in quiet inn, I prepared to have q
day or two alone.
1t was Saturday afternoon, lovely
weather; and I get out for walk vel