Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-10-23

nus POCKETS, look OF desoIation on tn,
chubby face.
A short time after 1 heard voices under
the window by which ives sitting, and
looking out cautiously, spied Lewis anG
Chessie In earnest conversation.
Lewis, do you like Emma very muchF
asked Chessie, with an anxious face.
Eyes," promptly replied Lewis, ''betteI
than any body 'cept mamma and sis
Efde"
Here was situationl listened eagerly
for what should come next
''Do you claim her for a sweetheart, Lew
| isp came the anxious little voice.
Eyes, and am going to send her some
flowers tomorrow" (How Ilonged to shake
the little tormentorD
A long pause followed, during which
Chessie seemed to be thinking deeply,
then
Lewis, did 1 show you all my marbles
I've got some new ones"
'No; where are theyl" was the eager re.
ply.
"You must wait a minute" and Chess
ran quickly into the house, soon returning
with box of marbles which he ratified so
as to make Lewis eyes open with surprise
and envy. He displayed his treasures, some
twenty or more, and watched the effect on
his companion. Lewis fingered them with
wistful eyes, and asked coaxingly: "What
will you take for these, CHEST" holding up
a half dozen of the striped beauties.
"pll 0ire them to you, Lewis, if you won't
claim Emma for a sweetheart
'All rlghtp came the emphatic response,
and the marbles were pocketed without de-
lay.
Chessie's mind relieved Of its burden, he
was ready for any fun, and soon the two
were scampering about, as full OF fronc as
the Texas ponies In the pasture lot across
theway.
A day or two after, we two. Chessie and
l, were returning from q walk, and Just as
we were near the church steps, and q few
yards from the parsonage gate, we saw
Emma coming from the opposite direction,
and much nearer the gate than we.
sis, can get to that gate before Emma
does" he asserted.
1 understood that he wished to show
Emma how fast he could run, and gave
him an encouraging nod.
''Try it." said.
1t was very dusty, for this was a small
town, and the "dirt" streets and sidewalks
were never sprinkled except by rain.
On he started, full tilt, kicking I'D a cloud
Of dust, and almost hiding the sturdy little
figure. Emma came on nearer and nearer
the gate, and there was a demure smile on
the face meath tho broad-brimmed hat
"Ah! he will win," thought /, when down
came Chessie fiat on his face right at EN-
mas feetl The picture was comical in the
extreme. There lay the little knight prone
in the dust at his lady's feet, his little red
perspiring face streaked with dust, and his
confusion so great that he could not lift his
eyes to catch the smile and blush with
which she hurried on, for my Unsurpassed
laughter had taken the power Of speech
from her.
helped the crestfallen knight to arise,
but was unable to comfort HIM over the un-
lucky accident. The embryo man could not
endure the thought Of having made him
self look ridiculous, especially in her eyes.
All that long summer the beautiful child
romance was the source Of keen interest,
and the dear little lovers unselfshness,
trust and constancy taught me lessons
which l hope will not fail to bear fruit in the
years to come.
A year has passed since then, and the
home letter Of recent date tells me that
Chessie is still true to his first love.-Cora
Bailey, in Chicago Journal