The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-08-24
EoLLIes OF ADOLESCENCE.
The Bright Love Dream Of Years of SCHOOL,
boy Life RudeIy Dispelied.


her presence and was lonely in her absence.
He expended all his dimes and quarters I'M
buying her candy and supplied her with
perfumed stationery that she might have
no excuse from writing him the passionate
alteration which maidens of 10 usually en-
terrain for lovers two years their senior
Upon one occasion his feelings so far
overcame him that he spent S. bill in the
purchase of ring with brilliant" set in
a heart shaped device for the dainty finger
of his sweetheart. He believed his alfec
tions were returned. If he wanted further
proof, had he not her letters by the score
signed, Yours in love and soon foreverP'
Had he not received from her at Christmas
one of the first hat bands ever worked b.,
maiden fingers for devoted lovers head
piecep Was he not the first to be invite
to all her parties, and We're not all his DO,
friends jealous of the attentions she con
stantly paid hims
He was compelled at the age OF Is +,
leave Boston for a course IN southern col
lege, but he went with the assurance tina
he loved and was beloved, and the though
made him proud and merry beyond hi
years. 1t mattered not, he thought, thai
his studies and the rules of the institution
prevented him from corresponding with the
object of his devotion. 1t mattered no,
that her parents had removed west witt
her few months after his departure, thus
preventing him from meeting her durint
the summer vacations. He was sure 6
himself, and he would stake his life on he,
fidelity.
At last the years of college life were over
and he sailed forth to conquer the worlt
as David slew the lion-not with exaetl
the same weapon, but with the might .
his sheepskin and the prowess it vouchet
for. lie put himself at once in communi
cation with his early eetheart, and avail
ing himself of her reply, which was couchc,
in courteous, if not fervent terms, he toal
an early train for the scene of her western
abode.
II was in fever OF excitement when
rang the doorbell," said he, to use his owl
words in relating the story, "and my TEN
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 d
rectly. My sensations We're Understandable
felt tingling in every nerve and muscle
l caught glimpse of myself in mirror
and saw that my cheeks were as red a,
those of a man who had run mile in thu
sun / could swear | was madly, uncon
trollably and irrevocably in love, and
Miss - had that moment entered tn
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 ny
emotions. An autograph album lay on til,
table near me, and to compose my thought.
ran through its pages. 1t was one of tho
inventions for subtractug confession
from the writer on II great many subjects
such as his flvorlte author, occupation ui
! 1f,tt, xKstfI /. Ia is Il
ture, science, love and other matters.
/ glanced through it hurriedly 1t bore he
name on the flyleaf, so | naturally though
| nor confession was included among TIA,
rest. 1t was. l found it and with beatint
heart perused its several declarations
! cared nothing for her fayoritc author, no
as to whether she preferred music to paint
I ing or tennis To n bicycle. | jumped eager
/ ly to where the compiler of the book ha,
! placed the question, What is your idea
MANI
Her answer, penned in the too familin
l chrography, made me gasp a militar
man, she had written, without the slight
est trace of hesitation in the penmanshil
Unconsciously looked in the mirror, bu
though l had involuntarily strairhtcnc,
myself to the point of cracking my spine
| could not tiattcr myself she meant me-
81 looked farther down to where til
question was boldly put. Were you ever il
love2
The answer was stated with equal an
dacity and reckless disregard of my lif
long feelings for her and her seeming reel
procity uf affection,
"'Nu. had passing fancies once, but
was never really i'll love-
Il would have lett the house at ono
without waiting to see the object l ha
journeyed over a thousand miles to meet
but just MS the resolution was forming i
my mind heard step outside, and in
moment Miss -, tail, lank aud decided
nulaycly tat least so She appeared to N
them, walked into the room and shook N
, hand with n chtllingly polite: How II )
do, Mr. - I'm awfnily glad 10 see You
al waited in town long enough toinquil
what military men were on visiting tern
At her house, and then returned to BuStol
where, to drown my disappointment,
plunged headlong into business and joine
, the militi&.
''Ncll, you got over the blow all right,
said an auditor of this narrative.
"Oh, yes, y was the answer, Il fattGrt
!. myself / was amply revtngcd when l vi
/ made captain of my company and put
: ont o. tLc power of the next girl loved
reject me on account of my unmilitG
/ standing. Bnt could have loved the fir
:. girl all tho same, and ii it hadn't been +
: that autograph album would have trit
to make her my wife.
And the persons who hnd listened TO L
= confession thought they saw u trace oil EN-
= ton in his face as be somewhat petulant
= pushed aside the book which called up /
:, earliest affection for woman. Boston II,
8 / aid,