The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-10-04
LILLE DEvEREUX BLAKE ON LOVE
She Tells About the Boys that Won Her
Heart.

| Louisville Courier-Journnl.
When l was not more than elgh
years old 1 had boy friend who was
my companion in many sports. we
went fishing in summer and coasting II
winter, but our greatest pleasure was tc
read together, or rather have him reao
aloud to me. can see our little fig
ures now, seated side by side on two
scrickets," with a lamp placed on
chair which served US table. Oul
favorite. book was "Old Hoary Head,' y
which l have never read since, but
which / remember as one of the most
delightful romances ever written. On
those occasions plate OF ginger-snaps
always stood beside US, and at appro-
pirate intervals we discontinued our lit
erary labors in order to toast some OF
the cakes in the flame of the lamp.
They were apt to be much smoked in
the process, but nevertheless we found
them most agreeable reflection.
The next object of my admiration
was lad three years my senior, who
was pupil at a boarding school near
our house. A slender, handsome youth,
with soft brown hair, worn long, after
the fashion of those days. He was, of
course, subject to strict discipline as to
his movements, and never had any
acquaintance with him.
But some one is asking, "How could
you be in love with him, if you never
knew himP'
AhP that was just it! Probably my
fancy would not have been so fascna-
ted if 1 had known him. 1t was just
the fact that did not know him that
made the charm so potent. Twas never
disenchanted by any commonplace ut
terances; I only saw his handsome face
and graceful figure, and these was
able to adorn with any gracious attri-
butte, making of him the ideal hero of
my half-childish dreams.
Again some one asks how could you
see him often enough for any sentiment
if he ever visited youP
And this brings me to the ginger
snaps.
My early home stood within the
bounds the boarding-school boys were
allowed to traverse without tutor,
and on the corner below our home was
a pastry cooks. 1t needs no elaborate
explanation to point out that towards
this cooks the feet of the boarding
school boys were often set.
Among them went my admirer, os-
tensibly to buy gingersnaps.
AT first he passed with the rest, only
two or three a times day, but as the sum-
mer lapsed, and he noticed the little girl
who lurked behind the blinds or peeped
from the window, he began to find
many errands after gingersnaps, and to
go by the house so often that he re-
ceived in the family the sobriequet of
"The ten times young men, bestowed
because he was supposed to pass the
house at least ten times a day for the
sake of "mes beaux yoaux."
1 counted once myself and it was six
teen times.
Whether he always bought ginger
snaps or not do not know, but if he
did he must have acquired enough co
gorge the whole school.
Yet, after all, my early adorer was
not milk-sop. He mustered courage
at last to put his passion into words.
One lovely August day, soft, breezy,
delicious like this, but, oh, so many
years ago, l sat on the piazza alone as
be walked slowly by. 1t was very sell
dom we had so much tete-a-tete as this, |
if it may be so called. My heart beat
as 1 saw him coming. l |
to run away, and yet seemed
rooted to the spot. He paced on very
stealing look at me, and
hen turning away, as fluttered as l was.
can see now the CLINT of the sun on
lis hair, the glance of his deep, dark
yes, as he passed just before me and
lung note at my feet.
l had been brought up with strict
deas of decorum, and / was shocked
md alarmed at what / thought was
omething quite terrible, and yet, when
le was out of sight, not till then,
licked up the momentous missive and
an into the house with it.
1t was love letter, the first ever
eceived, written in boyish hand on a
uarter of sheet of foolscap, and in J
losed in an envelope that was gorge
us with blue ornamental figures, after
he manner of q valentine.
l read the note, seated in q window {
nat looked out on garden that was 6
blaze with the splendid flowers of c
,ugust all glowing in the sunlight, t
eraniums and poppies, ,convolvulus and
To this day that mass and l
laze of color is stamped on my men,
ry as background for the first faiut ?
evelation of the strange mystery of
assion.
This was the beginning and the end
my dream. | did not answer the
ote, and two years later went away /,
18th my family on a long-planned jour :
ey. When l returned the "Ten times =
oung man" had left his school for !
istant university. =
Poor fellow. A few years later he :,
as killed at Antietam. =
used to think rs / grew older that !,
,metime l might meet him-he be- :,
'nged to an excellent southern family =
and that together we should laugh :
YER the childish episode. But this was y
Of to be, and he remains now in my :
unsuilied by.any tinge of the y
that acquaintance might g
ave brought, with no possible associa- -
on of folly or even boyish weakness, r
1t always handsome and graceful, an :,
cal of first love. = =