The daily Alaskan., 1905-06-30
A Youthful Lover
forlrlnall

glrl of twelve and one of fourteen. but a great change takes place within these two years. At thirteen l threw aside my doll: at fourteen was in love
 My father lived on Q small Income he had Inherited, devoting much time to study, especially of the Crock and Latin classics. One morning | was ,n the garden when he came out Of the house chatting with young man, both approaching the spot where sat Idly In a swing. Tho young fellow was about eighteen, tal. straight md with a beod and throat that reminded me of thc poet Byron. My father was show Ing him the grounds They passed very near me. but was too young to be no tlccd or introduced, and my father paid no more attention to mo than if | had not been thcrc, The young man rlonc. cd at me, then turned awuy,
 | was angry with my father that be dld not introduce mo, but as to the young man he wus not responsible Tor the slight. not having been introduced, Had he noticed me without such Tor. mallty | should have resented it as evidence that he considered me only chlld They walked about thc garden. | listening Co catch what they said, for I was curious Co know who thc young man was and what my father bad Co do with him, but I caught only two words. Cicero and NcnoOhon
 When they approached mo on their return arose and walked with os much dignity as | could muster Into inc house. But I was painfully con scious that my skirts wcrc shorter than they should have been for one ot my years. and if looked dlgnincd | felt quite the reverse. Tho young man was Evan Montague, the son ot wealthy man who lived near by on the hill, and my father was Co coach hlm for his col Icgc entrance examination. He came to my fathers study three times a week until the list Of September | noted the hour that he left the place and usually took position in a ham mock swing between two trees where he would pass me. This | did because lt enabled me to conceal my feet and ankles or rather my short dress. He soon came Co nod Co me, but dld not uft his hat. I returned hls salutatlon as stitHy as possible till one morning he gave me woman's salutatiou, wbprcupon | smiled as sweetly as | know how,
 He entered college, and did not see him for two years, Ills first vacation was taken up with trip Co the west but hIs second he spent at home.
 As soon as I heard of his arrival | was in a tremor of excitement Morn. ing. afternoon and evening put on my most becoming costume suitable Co the time. I did not propose that he should catch me In an mtdy condition. At last I was rewarded for my trouble,
 He came down Co call on father and talk about his college course. lt was the gSth ot June when he came at ll o'clock in the morning The date and hour were more Co me than when | once fell on the piazza roof and anne very near being Killed, When be ,allcd | was lying n the hammock in Che same position as when he used Co pass me two wears before. On seeing him my heart dumped In my throat ! arose and awaited hls coming as would that of any stranger AS De drew near was beside myself to see a look of admiration in his eyes.
 Surely" he said gallantly, "thts can not be the little girl of two years ago,
 So long as the two years were passed and was not the little girl he had con Sidcrcd me forgave him in my heart but not with my tongue.
 I'm not young lady l replied "any more than | was then. You'll find father In his study"
 I regretted my words as soon as spo ken. for he dld not come Co the house again during hlS vacation, and l fan cled I might have turned the scale ot his doing So by my words. The mat ter gave me food for thought for two years more. during which did not sct him.
 The summer after his graduation h' l spent at home and called on my father Mother told me that he had also askc, for "thc ladies" and I must go dowI Co see him. had the satisfaction t' notice another look of pleased satis | faction as he saw me sweep into On, room with an the dignity Of my eight cen years.
 Surely you are a young lady now he said. "You can't deny it this time.
 Delighted as I was that he shoul, have rememberNd my words, did no deign to appear to remember them my self. Assuming a puzzled look, I hor myself not as if I had lately become young lady, but as if I had aiway | been one.
 He called a number of times Una summer but as he had known me as | little girl he still felt that there was II difference between us, though this wa my fault, for never ceased Co bothe him by acting as if I considered him Methuselah. He always asked for u all when he called, and as I now haD plenty of beaus I usually feigned ( ....s. .t,,,,, ,gy,,.fr11r- fha t-nFru rrnc