Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-08-12
FoLLIss OF ADOLESCENCE.

The Bright Love Dream of Years of School
boy Life Rudely DispeIIed.
AS boy he Fad been madly in love with
a girl of lis acquaintance. He basked in
her presence and was lonely in her absence
He expended all his dimes and quarters in
buying her candy and supplied her with
perfumed stationery that she might have
no excuse from writing him the passionate
alteration which maidens Of IS usually en-
terrain for lovers two years their senior
Upon one occasion lis feelings so far
overcame him that he spent s. bill in the
purchase Of ring with brilliant" set in
heart shaped device for the dainty finger
of his sweetheart. He believed his asfec-
tions were returned. If he wanted further
proof, had he not her letters by the score
signed, ~ ours in love and soon forever"
Had he not received from her ut Christmas
one of the first hat bands ever worked by
maiden fingers for devoted lovers head
piece? Was he not the first to be invited
to all her parties, and were not all his boy
friends jealous of the attentions she con
stantly paid him:
He was compelled at the age of Is to
leave Boston for a course in a southern col
lege, but he went with the assurance that
he loved and was beloved, and the thought
made him proud and merry beyond his
years. 1t mattered not, he thought. that
his studies and the rules of the institution
prevented him from corresponding with the
object of MS devotion. 1t mattered not
that her parents had removed west with
her few months after his departure thus
preventing him from meeting her during
the summer vacations. He was sure of
himself, and he would stake his life on her
fidelity
At last the years of college life were over,
and he sailed forth to conquer the world
as David slew the ion-not with exactly
the same weapon, but with the might Of
his sheepslin and the proves it vouched
for. He put himself at once in communi-
cation with his early sweetheart, and avail
ing himself of her reply, which was couched
in courteous, if not fervent terms, he took
an early train for the scene of her western
abode
II was in fever of excitement when
rang the doorbell, J." said he, to use his own
words in relating the story, and my tenn
perature jumped 20 degrees higher still
when the servants told me that Miss -
was in. | was ushered into the reception
room and told that she would be down di-
rectly. NJ sensations were indescribable
l felt tingling in every nerve and muscle
caught glimpse of myself in mirror
| and saw that my cheeks were as red as
those of man who had run mile in the
sun. | could swear ! was madly, uncon-
trollably and ii'rcvocably in love, and if
| Miss - lad that moment entered the
| room | should have had her in my arms,
| regardless of consequences.
she was SLOW in coming, however and
| had time to collect myself and control nv
emotions. An autograph album hay on the
liable near me, and to compose my thoughts
| ran thrOUSh lis .p3 res. 1t was one of those
| inventions for SUbJracting n confession
from the writer on II great many subjects
such as his favorite author, occupation or
amusement. with his ideas on art, litera-
| ture, scieI ce, love and other matters |
| glanced h rough 1t hurgiedly. 1t bore her
name on the flyleaf, so l naturally thought
ner confession was included among the
rest. 1t was. | found it and with beating
heart perused its several declarations /
cared nothing for her favorite author, nor
as to whether she preferred music to paint
ing or tennis to bicycle. jumped eager
| ly to where the compiler of the book had
| placed the question, What is your ideal
man?'
Her answer penned in the too familiar
| chirography, made me gasp. A military
man, she had written, without the slight
est trace OF hesitation in the penmanship.
| Unconsciolsly looked in the mirror, but
though l had involuntarily Strengthened
myself to the point Of cracking my spine,
| could not flatter myself she meant me.
Il looked farther down to where the
question was boldly put, We're you ever in
| lover
The answer was stated with equal au-
dacity and reckless disregard of my life
l lr,r fonI e.,
procity of affection.
"'No. lrhad passing fancies once. but I
was never really in love-
| II would have left the house at once
without waiting to see the object / had
journeyed over thousand miles to meet.
but just as the resolution was forming in
my mind heard step outside, and in a
| moment Miss -, tall, lank and decidedly
unlovely lat least 20 she appeared to me
| them, walked into the room and shook my
hand with chillingly polite: How dye
do, Mr.. -? Pm awfully glad to see you.
Il waited in town long enough to inquire
what military men were on visiting terms
| at her house and then returned to Boston.
where, to drown my disappointment, |
plunged headlon9 into business and Joined
the militia
well, you got over the blow all right?''
said an auditor of this narrative
"Oh, yes F" was the answer. II flattered
myself was amply revenged when l was
made captain of my company and put it
out OF the power of the next girl loved to
reject me on account Of my unmilitary
standing. But could have loved the first
girl all the same, and if it hadn't been for
that autograph album would have tried
to make her my wife,
And the persons who had listened to his
confession thought they saw a trace of emo
ton in his face as he somewhat petulantly
pushed aside the book which called up his
earliest affection for woman.-Boston Her
aid.