Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-11-16
Copyright, lsoA By Lee and shepard.l

CHAPTER
FIRST LOVE,
The camp fire had burned low: the
little zone Of light barely outlined the
open tent, the two canoes, bottom up.
under which Levi and Jean were shell
tered, and the narrow opening in the
forest where Martin Frisbie and his
ooyhood friend, DR.. Sol, had camped
Tor the night In front of this placid
lakelet reflected the stars, while all
about was painless wilderness, SOM
ore and silent For an hour these two.
who had been village schoolmates, be-
came reminiscent as they lounged be-
side the fire and smoked.
And so Angie isn't married?'' QUE
fied Martin, reaching forward to poke
the embers together. That's strange.
AS recall her at the close of our school
days, she was q more than usually
pretty girl OF q quiet common-sense
sort, one who would naturally become
q home-maker. She still lives with
Aunt Comfort, I suppose?"
YES, answered the doctor, land
keeps the South End school and has
Tor ten years." Then, as If a new
thought had come to him, he added:
Maybe she is waiting for you, Martin.
l remember you used to be sweet on
her In the old days."
Martin slowly blew a smoke ring
afoft, for he, like every youth, had
passed safely through the brief delir-
1um OF first love, which the bright eyes
and red lips of Angie Curtis had Occa-
eioned.
Eyes, 1 must admit I was" he re-
sponded, "and do you know, doctor,
now that you mention my callow spell,
I wish l could go back to it and be just
as big and happy a fool as was then"
The doctor laughed.
Better come up and tell her so," he
responded, glancing at Martins up
raised face; "for all you know, she
might be glad to listen, and as for being
fool over again-well, from what I
hear. you can afford it now.''
And Martin could, for he had made
good use Of the years since he and DR..
Sol were boys together, and had
reached the goal of moderate wealth
while yet in the prime of manhood.
I'D like to see ANGIE" Martin added
musingly after long pause, "and have
good visit and laugh over our youth
ful Stiffness; but maybe she wouldn't
speak to me now. If we met"
"Oh, pshaw, that's nonsense" re-
turned the doctor, promptly, "and you
know 1t. Angie isn't so silly as to re-
tain grudge against a boy admirer SO
long. Why do you imagine she would?
Does your conscience smite you?'
'No-o-o," came the drawing answer,
"and yet think didn't treat her just
right. after leaving Greenvale. I was
too busy making money!
And that night when the chat, had
come to an end, and Martin had crept
into the tent and lay listening to the
crackle Of the dying fire, once more he
lived over those fond and foolish days
Of his youth.
And how clear and distinctly they
all came back, now that the pages be-
gan to turn! First the school days.
when Angie, in her little checked ging-
ham pinafore, had chosen him as her
rescuer in game Of STAND in the
Well" then the first spelling school
and the walk home with her in the
early autumn, when the Mizzy looked
like stream of ripping silver, and
the moon cast notified shadows along
the maple-shaded, lane which they fol-
lowed. And what a delight it was to
feel her small, soft hand on his Jacket
sleeve. and how scared he was when
Aunt Comforts was reached, and he
felt impelled to kiss Angie. Then the
next winter, and that never-to- be-for-
gotten sleigh-ride to Riverton, and tn
homecoming when the bells jingled so
merrily, and tho sleigh runners creaked
TN the frosty snow when the horse
walked, and how his arm nearly froze
holding the robe around Angle! All
the long winter evenings in Aunt Com
forts 'best room," with its haircloth
furniture, open fire, and shiny brass
dre-dogs, came back, with the popping
OF corn, the tin pan Of seek-no-f further
apples, and bowl Of cracked walnuts as
side features of minor interest
There were other and equally charming
occasions evenings on Aunt
Comforts porch when the lilacs were
III bloom and the freflies twinkled over
the meadow, long walks to a bridge
across the Mizzy, where sweet flag
grew, with many stolen kisses fragrant
with fagroot, gathered as well, and
dozens Of other and equally delightful
hours, with Angie as the one sole and
supreme inspiration. But beyond these
boyhood delights, and woven into his
feelings like fine tendrils. was the men,
DRY, Of dozen or more 0ld-time Sab
bath-school melodies she used to sing
to her own accompaniment played upon
Q little droning melodeon. They were
Ill from q collection called Fresh
Laurels," and that, with two more, one
labelled Songs Of Zion'' and the other
THE Glee Club" composed her musi-
cal library. The first was her favorite,
and the songs she usually entertained
him with were "Give, Said the Little
Stream" 1.-THE Golden Rule" "shall /
We Gather at the River" ."All the
Way" and Sweet Hour Of Prayer"
For two years he had lived in q new
and glorifled world, building air castles
with her and for her, AZ young Romeos
ever have and ever will, aid then came
0 sweet yet painful parting, prolific OIL
fond promise. but alas, like most. to
fade into thin air.
For one year more they had ex-
n, aneed tender misslves. first weekly.