Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1906-11-15
The Love Affair
Of a Dreamer.
~ FRED JACKSON.


her. He bent low over his book In
the corner lest the other boys see
how his face flushed; he was sensf
tive about showing his emotions
Billy. His wonderfully sweet tenor,
still uniformed. OF course. but so true.
rang out clearly with her trained So
prano. She stood up at the choir
loft to sing. but he sat always behind
the curtain, he looked so very little
beside her. you see. for he was only
eleven.
When the duet was finished. q sigh
passed from many lips. She never
got applause. Of course-she sang
church muslc-but she saw the wrapt
expression on the faces below her.
and heard the sigh; that was enough.
that was very much indeed. Billy
saw not even this; he saw the glow
In her eyes. though. as she took her
seat. and that was enough for him.
for Billy was In love.
Thank you. dear" she whispered
softly across to him. you make II
so easy for me when you sing like
that" A light flashed suddenly Into
the boys eyes. his cheeks went very
pink. and she wondered that so
meager and thin q little face could
become so beautiful at times. Billy
bowed his head In his arms and whis'
pered the words over and over to
himself They were w0ndrous re-
ward for his love, those words. for
the first love OF his pure little heart
the unquestioning. confident, trust
Ing love that asks no return, only to
worship from afar.
His little love story had been most
simple. He saw her and loved her.
Sometimes she smiled at him. and
that day was glorious to Billy; It be-
came q jewel In his memory box.
Sometimes she looked sad. or did not
recognize him: that day was dark
so very. very gloomy; the sunshine
wasn't bright at all.
Billy's life wasn't happy. How the
tiny aesthetic came to be in his fam
fly is a mystery. They didn't know
what beauty love Is. his people. they
couldn't understand boy that pre-
ferred to read. or sing. or sit and
dream instead Of playing baseball and
hockey like the others; they were in.
clined to feel bit ashamed OF Billy.
But he sat apart unmindful, creating
himself a dream world, building up
new illusions as fast as the old ones
went: he was an idealist. Then she
came into his life. forming the basis
to build dreams on. making 1t quite
easy for him to be happy. She never
quite realized what her smiles were
to that little starved heart. what her
wistful eyes and frOwns cost him;
thus It Is In this world. ever. So
Billy loved and dreamed in peace.
Billy sat on the carriage step In the
his elbow on his knee, his
chin In his hand. Opposite him back
from the road bit was a hOuse-her
house. There was light s0mewheres
upstairs. maybe In her ROOM
Il beg your pordon." said grave
voice suddenly. ARE you sick?' A
man was standing by Billy, big man,
very tall and most broad. Billy didn't
like men.
No." he said, I'm not sick" With
the last word came an odd little sigh.
Live here?" asked the man, indi'
eating the house.
No." said Billy.
Near here?"
mo"
Very far away?" persisted the
man.
No"
Where do you llve?" The man was
tapping the stone with his stick and
gazing at Billy with. interest. Billy
looked up and met friendly compan'
ionable smile In the blue eyes fixed
on him. 1t was his kind-the man
was akin.
ION there" said Billy, con Decker
street. You don't know IT.
oh" said the man. He didn't go,
he just stood tapping his stick, tap
ping-tapping. Billy looked up I'M
patiently.
II don't like BASEBALL" he said In
the queer squeeky voice he some
times had, nor football. nor hockey.
I don't like any boys games. I'm
I'm a-slssy" He waited for the man
to 70, but the fellow gave an odd lit
lie gasp and sat down beside him on
the stone. Billy's eyes widened In
surprise and his heart leaped. It was
rather nice to have the fellow not
20. Perhaps all men weren't alike.
AS man to man. said the chap
what are you doing here!
Perhaps. can. help bit"
"Just thinkIng-making pictures.
There's q girl in there. I sing with
her in the choir"
"Oho." said the man. I'm love-"
mo-" said Billy. II just care for
her. II isn't love-l just-care."
Lets serenade herr" said the
man. Perhaps she'll come out II
she likes the music"
She did come out. before the song
was half done. Billy sat between her
and the man on the side steps eat