The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-04-26
BLAINE,s FIRST SWEETHEART.
Their Enlargement Occurred mt u Party.
siio Siilii Lives, Unmarried.
Trunk Burr, IN NtR York PKSA

- .### IT.
Their E:strnnEoment Occurred at n Party.
siic still Lives, unmarriod.
Ffunt Burr, IN HtW York IIrSL
WAslnSdroS, Pa, April 25.-"llo did
not walk tho forests and rocks like a
wolf, but dwelt with men in their dc.
lights" That was the sort Of man Eph
Blaine was, and right before us stands
the old house whore he lived while ono
OF our county officers. Up the hill yon.
der is tho homo OF his famous sons first
sweetheart, and n romantic bit Of his
early history fingers about It. All tho
Blaine children Of that day were edu.
Gated here, and the town Is still full OF
pleasant recollections Of them.
An old lady, sitting In her cozy par.
Tor, gave mo "reminiscences OF the secre.
tary Of state when sho and ho were
schoolmates together.
ibid ! know Mr.. Blaine as q boy? We
called him Jim then. like that name
best, despite the fact that tho honors lie
has won, make it respectful for all to
give him u title. As / knew him when
girl Of his W agc. and have read IN
his career ever since, ! believe he would
rather have us, who knew him rs q boy,
speak the name familiar to our ears in
tho carly days, than tho more prctcn-
tious one achievement and custom have
given him.
"Thorc nre d number OF tho old schol-
ars and friends in social life living who
recall his first appearance among us.
We never regarded him rs much OF Il
student. After he left hero and we
heard that ho was teaching We won
dered ut 1t, for he was by no means tho
best scholar ut the college. l1c could
learn too fast and vas too fond OF fun.
In fact, something likehis father. Life
here was then as uneycntful us it Is now,
and tho town has not changed much
since those days when Mr.. Blaine grad.
uatcd at II and left US, to return only
as a visitor"
why did he go?"
"Thcre was something OF a love affair
at tho bottom Of it. lie went about Il
good bit with the girls, and the high
character Of his family gave him n place
among tho best. His first sweetheart
WAS one oil the pretticst and incest girls
in the circles in which both moved.
Her father occupied n high position in
professional and social life. His daugl,.
ter was in nowise behind him in tho
esteem OF this community. She and
young Blaine, according TO the general
belief, were engaged to be married, al.
though both were very young. One OF
those lovers misunderstanding which
will always occur among young people
began ut a social entertainment and
never ended. None OF us who moved
in the same realm knew Of the strained
relations between them, until he came
back some time afterward and did not
call upon her. Then. OF coursc, all
were aware that the tie had been
broken. Both were too proud and re-
spccted each other too much ever to
speak upon the subject, and | doubt if
any Il to this day except themselves
know the true reason for their estrange-
ment.
"She is still living and never married,
whether from choice or from Il lingering
sentiment for the first love which
touched her heart, nc one knows. Her
name need not DO mentioned for it
would do no good. The summit OF her
life has been passed and her sun looks
we'll to the west" go
DID SIZE FOLLOW HIN TO wAsHINGToN?.sh
The many romances connected with
the Blaines in their family history are
known and heard here from many pco-
pie OF the highest character. The story
about the young lady and the quarrel
is frequently spoken OF, and the one
generally accepted is that the girl never
forgot her sentiment and frequently
visited Washington 10 60 into the halls
OF Congress and sit in the gallery to see
her first lover come and so ouf, and
listen to his speeches upon the great
questions Of the day. This firesidej talk
was suggested to the more than bright.
oma who had recalled the caprires
and pleasures OF schoolday life.
She drew herself up, and there was q
deal of flash in her eye when she re.
piled with spirit:
II do not believe it, although l know
that that is the general tall: in the So
.cial circles here. She went to Wash
ington frequently; but her pride, OF
which she has plenty, would have pre-.
vented her from showing any such de-
votion to him or any one else, even had
she felt ever so sentimental. | 10 not
think they ever spoke after the ~estrange-
ment which took place at that country
party where they parted forever. She
was 4 high spirited girl as she is q
woman, and her determination could
not be easily changed"
BoYuooD PICTURE
"Arc there any OF his old schoolmates
hcrc?"
YES, Z great many. There is anotll-
err lady in this town about my own age
who has many interesting "reminiscences
OF tho statcsman's early life. Tic most
famous picture taken OF Mr.. Blaine
when he was going to school here is
hers, and every effort has been made
for many years 10 get it or q copy from
her, but money and friendship have
both failed to secure it, and | do not
think that any earthly inducemcnt
could get it from her. It represents
him as one OF q group OF three young
lads who were quite chums then.
I'm tile tintype, besides Mr.. Blaine,
is Colonel Thomas Starlight, the noted
politician, who lives ovcrin Uniontown,
not far away. The other is that OF jim
Clark, who resides at %Cannonsburs,
where the college was before it was
&~,-l l... AZ 70.