Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-02-04
LOVES YOUNGEST DREAM.

a rougish CLEAN in her gray eyes. "lt was
the name Of my first little beau"
Up there in the shadows of Kearearge,
dreams overhung the day. When the sun
was high, one walked to certain ANNA
tion, but not for long; and as he sank, drift
ed gladly back to supine peace. There was
restfulness and revery in the air Of the elm
arched street. Thought of the future in
volved conscious effort; but here all was ef-
fortless, all came and went as it would.
Thus it may have been that for crowded
instant the gray eyes los. their compelling
power and the red lips ceased to charm.
Oa this Winter night, when the Pines
road was drifted knee deep with snow that
rounded hourly into fresh hilocks under
searching breeze, the Hamlin house gave
out more cordial greeting than even it was
dows of the 'sfront room" guided from afar.
Showers of sparks from the great chimney
told of light and warmth Within. A chorus
Of young voices, heard more clearly the
nearer one drew, invited him to linger.
The little boy who had struggled up
against the wind from the other end of the
village seemed to take his courage in both
hands when he reached the doorstone. The
sights and sounds abashed while they heart
ened him. He stood for a moment to rid
himself of snow, and then plunged with
timid desperation into the hall.
"I'm glad you've come, Leon" said the
bright-faced little girl who met him.
II hope you'll have good birthday"
was the boys answer.
They went together into the 'front-
room." Twenty boys and girls sat around
the walls, alternately silent and shrieking
at small pleasantries. Conspicuous fea-
lures of the party were the boys clean
hands and the girls white aprons. The
boys we're depressed and self-conscious, the
girls coquetishly at ease. The former nod.
ded alphabetically at their new companion
in misery. The latter welcomed him warm.
~ ont Of the abundance of their self-posses-
sion. But the little hostess led him to q
quiet corner, and pointed to the girl who
sat there.
"Here's Nell Leon. She's my friend.
Fan Baker told lie about me yesterday,
and I'm not going with her any more.
Nell and I are going to sit together at
school. Amt We, Nell?"
In his confusion and bashful glance the
boy saw that Nell had blue eyes, a low,
was cOmbed smoothly back, and full, firm
voice rang deeper and truer than auy other
must have come to him by intuition, for he
was absorbed in the problem what to do
with his hands and feet.
Presently, however, these two fell to talk.
ing, and the boy so far forgot himself that
he could not look at her without blushing,
aud reply to her straight-forwsrdly He
confided that he hated grammar, and grew
reverently respectful when she said that she
liked it. They agreed that tt was mean Of
the teacher to give out words from the back
part of the book at the last spelling match.
He described new bobsled In which he
had half interest; and she, turning away
a little shyiy, promised to come up to meet
ing-house hill the next Saturday afternoon.
Then the boy realized that he loved her
with tho love that man looks wonderingly
back upon, seeing that there was neither
selfishness nor passion in it.
There were games that evening after the
boys thawed into life; copenhagen, post
Office, puss in the-corner, and other of the
pastimes that are educating young New
England out of the old New England theory
that to kiss woman, except on her we'd
ding day, is mortal sin. Nell joined them
with jovial seriousness that made it seem
she had thoughts about them, and the boy
aiso LOOK part ano Aep' LIS eyoS Oh MS oi-
vin,sy' ,,
In Inc .sreat & followed. Ganoy TI ana corn corn
cals SUI appies coinPoseu H. Inc atIie
hostess iaugneo rognisnly as sne nsnoeo the
boy ms plate.
Sne your gifi' she Salo' hoouihs 'o-
Wsrd ner Ifieno.
Inc ooy misas naVe Deen smS &C SOU II
had not great idea possessed I'm. ne
couio noI aHoro 20 waste MS energies ~
idle discussion. be felt that he should neeG
all DIS strength when the time came Tor the
party 10 sepaiate.
ARD wnen IL dio coma MS neart 1aiieo
MIN. Lingering at the door ne made per-
Iunctory answer 70 tue iaro "eiiso. ms com-
panions, pnt wnen sne appeared ne Turned
his lace ana anecseo nos 20 see ner. ne
watched ner desolateiy as sne piougneo ner
way alone up the wniteneo roao' ne won.
oik n.uS ~ AAo1S q, "A"AA0' 80
'Neiis' ne called.
DUO ceoVU erA'n