Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1904-07-20
Copyright, 1908, by Lee and shep,ra.l
CHAPTER |.
FIRST LOVE.


FIRST LOVE
The camp fire had burned low: the
little zone of light barely outlined tn g
open tent. the two canoes. bottom up.
under which Levi and Jean were shell
tered, and the narrow opening in the
forest where Martin F'risbie and his
boyhood friend, DR.. Sol, had camped
Tor the night. In front of this Dlacia
!akelet reflected the stars. while ali
about was a painless wilderness. som
bre 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
ried Martin, reaching forward to poke
the embers together That's strange
AS recall her at the close of our school
days. she was a more than usually
pretty girl of a quiet common-sensc
sort, one who would naturally become
a home-maker. She still lives with
Aunt Comfort, | SUPPOSE"
Yes" answered the doctor. "anG
keeps the South End school and has
Tor zen years" Then as il a new
thought had come to him, he added
Maybe she is waiting for YOU Martin.
i remember you used to be sweet on
her in the old days."
Martin slowly blew smoke ring
aloft. for he. like every youth had
passed safely through the brief delir-
fum of first love. which the bright ewes
and red lips of Angie Curtis had occa-
Eioned.
Yes. ! must admit | was" he re-
sponded. and do you know. doctor.
now that YOU mention my callow spell
l wish could go back to it and be lust
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
TOOL over again-well. from what '
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
musinsly after long pause. and Ina We
a good visit and laugh over our youth
hll Stiffness; but maybe she wouldn't
speak TO me now, If we met"
''Oh. pshaw, that's nonsense" re-
turned the doctor, promptly. and Won
know It, Angie isn't so silly as TO re-
tain grudge against 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 lust
right, after leaving GreenyaIe 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 10 turn, First the school davs
when Angie. in her little checked ging-
ham pinafore. had chosen him as her
rescuer in a game OF Stand in the
Well then the first spelling scboo,
and the walk home with her in tho
early autumn, when the Mizzy looked
like stream Of ripping silver and
the moon cast notified shadows along
the maDle-shaded lane which they fol-
lowed. And what a delight il was to
feel her small. soft hand on his Jacket
sleeve and how scared he wa. when
Aunt Comforts was reached. and no
felt impoiled 70 kiss Angie Then the
next winter aud that ever-to-be-for-
gotten sleigh-ride 10 Riverton and the
homecoming when the bells jingled 20
merrily. and the sleigh runners crcaked
In the frosty snow when the horse
walked. and how his arm nearly froze
holding The robe around Angiet All
the long winter evenings in Aunt Com
forts best room" with its haircIOtb
furniture open fire. and shiny bras
hre-dogs came back. with the popying
OF corn. the tin pan Of seek-no-further
apples and bowl Of cracked waInuts as
side feature Of minor interest
There were other and equally charming
occasion, mOOniit evenings on Aunt
Comfcr porch when the liIacs were
H. bloom and the firefles twirkled ovei
the meadow. long walks TO a bridge
across She Mizzy, where sweet aag
grew, with many stolen kisses fragrant
with aagroot, gathered as well. aud