Amador ledger., 1904-01-22
THE GIRL | LEFT
BEHIND ME"
By JOHN BRIDGES
Copyright, 1908, bp 7. c. Mcclure

friends for many years. AS schoolgirls
the mothers had been at Mount Hol
yoke together, and the boys had been
at Amherst and had graduated in the
same class. Holyoke and Amherst are
not far apart, geographically, and on
walks about the Connecticut valley the
four had fallen into company After
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 it 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 year older
than Angela, and year is a long time
in the ages of youngsters.
When, after their high school days,
it 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 at 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
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, a beautiful young
woman he was scarcely prepared for
the change. 1t was all foreordained.
While he bad seen pretty women
abroad and at Amherst had almost
proposed to a girl at commencement
time ne 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 Selden home that night it 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
excuse to meet her he was her devoted
cavalier. In both the families it was
regarded as a 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 to be
his WIFE
''She must know" he thought, show
much l love her. If she will have me
I'll take the governors offer and go
into the business with him right away
Then we can be married in the spring
and spend June in the Connecticut val
ley"
Arthur climbed the steps which led
up to the Seldens' veranda. On the
veranda sat Angela and man in uni
form.
'Mr. Hamilton" said Angela, 1et me
present my friend, Lieutenant Aller-
ton.'
They shook 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 a sympa-
thetic musician can. Arthur felt a
lovers jealousy. "Why couldn't he
have stayed away till tomorrow" he
thought.
When Allerton rose to go he said,
'Then mother and l 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 Leaven-
worth, for am going to make her tell
me everything about her boys at the
fort. You know 1 fell desperately in
love with every soldier there last sum-
mer."
Arthur stayed for few minutes aft
er Allerton had gone.
HAre you going aWay?" he asked in
dismay.
"Yes," she replied. "NIrs. Allerton
has asked me to visit her for month
at Leavenworth. The colonel is the
dearest old man that ever lived, and
isn't Lieutenant Charlie just the hand
soonest boy you eyer saww
Arthur said goodby hurriedly and
strong cigars.
"What fool ami" he cried. "Why
didnA I know about these handsome
soldier boys that she says she fell Sd
desperately in love with? But what a
fool was not to tell her after Allertol
went away. I'll go out again tomorrow
and tell her all about it and make her
choose between us. She must tell me
which she cares the most for"
The next day he received little
goodby note from Angela, saying that
her father wanted her to go on to Chi.
cago for a day or two with him. and
as he had been called away suddenly
she had gone. The note oontinued:
"Write to me and tell me all the
news, and when get home In October
Ae will finish that last round of golf
Remember, you are ahead of me now,
but promise to practice lot at the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.