Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-12-31
1.-THE GIRL LEFT
BEHIND ME-"
By JOHN BRIDGES
By JOHN BRIDGES
coprrtplt. Ioos. on Y {. Mreiars

III lNO LdAhbAtN2 hNh bNtfi TVS
friends for many years. As schoolgirls
the mothers had been at Mount Hob
| yoke together. and the boys had been
at Amherst and had graduated in the
same class. Holyoke and .Amheijt are
not far apart, geographically. and on
walks about the Connecticut valley the
ward there had been two weddings,
and the two new homes were establish
ed in the same western city. The heads
of the families went into law practice
together. and the firm has lasted until
this day. more than twenty-five years.
When the children were born il was
quite natural that the boy should have
been named Arthur Selden Hamilton,
after his fathers partner. and the girl
Angela Hamilton Selden, after her
mothers schoolgirl friend and compan.
ion. Arthur was almost a year older
than Angela, and a year is a long time
in the ages of youngsters.
When, after their high school days.
1t was decided that both should go to
college. they left home on the same day
in charge OF Angela's mother and Ar
thurs father and %journeyed eastward
to the Connecticut valley.
Angela took her mothers old room
at Mount Holyoke, and Arthur became
established in his fathers old quar-
tiers at Amherst. Somehow, though.
after a few friendly and rather home
sick calls Arthur fell into the athletic
spirit. For the four years that he was
in Amherst and Angela was ut Mount
Holyoke he saw her but little. She
seemed to him to be the same little
girl he had known when they played
together on rainy days In the attic. To
Arthur Angela had never grown up.
Afterward Arthur went abroad for
a years study. and Angela went to
visit some friends at an. army post
farther west. When Arthur came
home and found. instead OF the school
girl he had known. q beautiful young
woman he was scarcely prepared for
the change. 1t was all for~eordained.
" ~ ht hda oNGA pIGttJ w WOUlGI
abroad and ut Amherst had almost
proposed to a girl at commencement
time he had been practically heart
free. This vision of loveliness who
kissed him frankly as a sister might
took his breath away. When he left
the SeldeI home that night 1t was
with the intention of winning Angela
Selden.
All that winter he saw much OF her.
At the parties they attended. at the
theater or wherever he could make an
xcuse to meet her he was her devoted
cavalier. In both the families it was
regarded as Il foregone conclusion that
there would be another marriage to
link the two families yet closer to-
gether.
One evening Arthur called at the Sell
dens' determined to ask Angela 10 10
his wife.
"She must know he thought, '.how
much | love Ter. If she Will have me
I'll take the governors offer and 20
into the business with him right away.
Then we can be married in the spring
and spend Jnna in the Connecticut val
ley"
Arthur climbed tue steps which led
up TO- the Seidens' veranda. On the
veranda sat Angela and \ man in uni-
form.
"Mr. Hamilton" said Angela. .'let me
present my friend. Lieutenant .Aller-
tom
They siloc'x hands. Arthur said some
thing about being glad TO see Lieuten-
ant Allerton. Lieutenant Allerton said
something about being charmed TO
meet Mr.. Hamilton.
There was some music. and Aller-
ton sang. He sang well. and Angela
accompanied him as only n sympa-
thetic musician can. Arthur felt a
lovers Jealousy. '1Why couldn't he
have stayed away till tomorrow" he
thought.
When Allerton rose to go he said.
'sThen mother and I may expect to
meet you on Tuesday in Chicago:"
"Yes." replied Angela. and tell your
mother that | shall give her a great
deal Of trouble before we reach Eeaven-
worth. for / am going to make her tell
me everything about her boys at the
fort. You know I fell desperately in
love with every soldier there last sum
mer.r
Arthur stayed for O few minutes aft
err Allerton had gone.
"Are you going awayy' he asked In
dismay.
yes" she replied. Mrs. Allerton
has asked me to visit her for a month
Mt Leavenworth. The colonel Is the
dearest old man that ever lived, and
Isn't Lieutenant Charlie just the hand
Eomest boy you ever sawY'
Arthur said goodby hurrieily and
walked miles into the country. smoking
strong cigars.
@What a fool I ami he cried why
didn't I know about these handsome
soldier boys that she says she fell go