Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1891-12-17

est boat on the Ohio. And L
stood for the Daniel Boone.
The Boone had given dinner to which
my father and mother were invited,
while his were not. On these facts we
each based our conclusions on the COM
parative speed of the different boats, and,
tooth and nail, rolled over in the dust to
maintain them.
We were picked up variously by old
Cerberus, who was picking his banjo at
one end of the hotel gallery, and by
journeyman shoemaker and a telegraph
operator playing chess at the other end.
This they did with divers words of scorn
at the kicking boy. To this day | believe
that if we had been left alone | would
have whipped; for although small | was
active.
Shortly after we moved away to Wash
ington, where my father spent one year
in getting consular appointment which
he held for six years. Then we came
back to our village life. John Temple
was now beautiful youth, strong
limbed, broad shouldered, with head
like Greek god. To these physical
projections he added a charm of manner
as captivating to his fellows as to the
opposite sex. Underneath this lay
i .e;na;eity Of purpose which made him in,
He was adored frankly by all the girls
of the school of which 1 speedily found
myself a member. Among these he
scattered his attentions according to his
royal pleasure. Those who received
them were elated and grateful. Those
who did not, patiently waited their turn.
Although younger than the others, |
held their barnyard acceptance of John
Temples attentions with silent scorn
cpd hate to run after a boy" was my
inward comment.
But l was soon singled out as the one
he most delighted to honor. was
younger than the others. Thus might
an older boy play with child, for the
years had not greatly increased my
stature. But while the other girls sued
for his attentions only accepted them.
That | made no response encouraged
him the more.
When class was called John Temple
by me he would say, and he had a
.teacher-defyipg way of talking under
his lips, "Kitty, come and sit by me-
When it was evident where he would
choose to sit, there would be a scamper
from the feminine side of the house to
sit by him. Busying myself, | would
wait until the commotion was over, and
seat myself as remote as possible.
Those who were successful were happy.
Those who were outfooted got as near
as they could, and John Temple would
curl his lip and look at me, when my
secret citation at knowing myself pre-
ferred would be great.
We were in the same Virgil class. Now
every body knows that the gods and god
desses were not ladies and gentlemen, land
that the Trojans and Greeks were I'M
comfortably plain of speech, and that
there were ladies among the Carthagen-
ians who were very careless of their
language. John Temple always looked
ahead He knew about how much he
would have to translate. And if he saw
that any disagreeable passage was likely
to fall to my share he would man9uvre
some change of seat until he could take
the ohjectional lines upon himself.
There are plenty of ways in which
school-boys can show their cbivalrous
consideration for girls, and these John
Temple always showed to me. 1t was
thoroughly understood there was always
some one looking out for Kitty Black.
AS was not permitted to go to parties
where there were bows, an arena
remained where John Temple could not
be contended for by others. At school
| was supreme.
As | moved, his gaze followed me.
When | achieved an honor, no one was
so proud as he. There was a stolen
word here, pressure of the hand there.
When we played, and no one was so
needless and reckless as I. a protecting
arm always stood ready to keep me
from harm.
Never did 1 sh DIV any signs of my
conquest, althoug | was fully aware
of its value in the eyes of others. Never
was jealous II was too confident, too
assured for jealousy. / often wonder
now if ca red for him then. | do not
know, but do know that | lived and
fed on his preference. 1t may have
been only vanity.
For three years this lasted, and was
matter of general comment at school
John Temple was always matter OF
ID 4 iz 0r 10 NJ