The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-06-18
HER FIRST LOVE.
Miss Edith and Her Faithful Young
Admirer.


Adnirer.
Miss Edith was going to be married
and Billy was very miserable They
had known each other ever since his
father died and he, a wee baby, came
along with his mother who was to make
MisS Edith's pretty gowns and brush
her hair and devote herself to her gem
orally rs she grew from wild rom ping
girl of twelve to tall young lady.
Edith had for week been the happy
possessOr of a setter puppy, thing
long longed for, but now at the idea of
\ ercal live baby" she was wild with
delight and the poor setter puppy was
quite forgotten. Under the good care
of Edith's mamma he grew from a
Small uninteresting morsel of humani-
ty TO a bright sunny-haired boy, and
from the time he could run alone he
was Ediths constant companion.
Together they found the first violets
h the spring and the rare mellasons
and gentians in their own time. In the
hay days of summer they would lie
out under the trees, and to the sound of
the waves lazily tapping the shore
would tell each other wonderful stories
of wonderful things known only to
themselves. Then she confided to him
how she meant to be an artist and an
authoress and ever so much else be-
sides, all of which Billy firmly believed.
In the glorious autumn weather
Edith would sketch vigorously and en-
Enthusiastically, producing charming bits
of color, left to be worked up later on.
Then they would take long walks, con-
tiuually discovering new treasures,
Edith raving over the ''purples and
rosy browns and Billy asserting, with
occasional comments as if he knew all
about it. They would stay out, enjoy
ing the very fact of living until the
cold winds drove them ia to pop corn or
crack nuts by the fire IN the school
room" (for the name still chung to the
long low-studded deep window seated
room where lessons and governesses
Hsed to reign. Then Edith would
leave him, with kiss, to dress for din
ner and he would fly down the long
dark passage TO his mother's sitting
room to find his supper of bread and
milk waiting for him, and when that
was over his mother put him in his lit
tle bed to think that one mc.e happy
day was gone, and then to dream of his
dear miss Edith"
They were very happy these two.
But one day-oh, how well Billy re-
Membered Edith was writing in the
Schoolroom. She said it was to be a
book some day, all about the woods
nnd trees and everything she and Billy
lOTed. 1t was cold and rainy, and
kdith and her mother had gay open
Gre blazing brightly. Billy brought in
a basket of pine cones to burn in the
twilight, when the fire was glowing
bed of Goals on the hearth. Edl:J,
hooked from her work.
"Oh Billy, how lovely!"
Il knew you'd like them, Miss EditE," /"
and he was gone.
Really, Edith, Billy is a nice boy
''Of course"
But don't you see, dear, you must
make some distinction; Susan's boy!
II was all very we'll when he was a
pretty baby, but think what he will be
ia five years. His boots clatter
dreadfully already. Why, oh why can
you be like other girls?"
Winding wool for antimaca ssars,
and smiling and flirting and looking
pale and interesting"
You might have some aim in life be-
yOnd tearing over the country in can
vas CATERS and getting brown"
And strong too, and so WE'LL"
"Yes, but other girls"
.,,,x, -,
AS many balls as possible and after
breaking hearts innumerable marry
sOme stupid man. Most desirable, of
course, and rich, 10 be sure. Mercy. |
prefer Billy"
But Edith, my dear"
"But. mamma, darling;" they both
laughed and mamma thought that
hCr cause was hopelessly, ire
trievably lost Billy had heard
It all. He had stopped in the
passage 10 tie the lacings to the afore-
said boots He did not quite under
stand, but he felt vaguely troubled, he
hurJly knew why.
For awhile things were just the same,
shen there came "a change. Looking
back Billy thought it began when DR.
Browne came so often, and he was
right Billy was usually right. He
never liked DIR. Browne. He thought it
might be because he was an English
man, but he was not sure.
They were on the steps of the south
porch one day, Edith on the top step
with her portfolio Of sketches. She
took them out. one by one. Billy beside
her, his chin testing in his two hands,
hooked seriously on. DR.. Browne, on