The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-08-23

From my couch BY the window over
looking the street J see a good deal
that goes on. though ] have no part
nor ,ef IN the onter world. The years
come and 60. and | know that the sea
sons are passing. by the pledges they
lavish. some Of whicn reach even me
in my prison house OF pain.
Perhaps It is because my vision IS So
limited, that / am always lookins ou'
for something young and attractive
Ut was tAis,that led me FIRST 70 notice
the redShhifed boy next door. Only
bis mother ccsia lave thought him
handsome; out found in the earnest
face. notwithstanding snub nose and
freckles. sorSthing decidedly attract
i've.
The boy was at the ieEgy stage, and
locked about lS He passed my house
every day. and on one occasion I OBJ
served my niece, who lives with me,
coming down the road at the same
time. Heavy snow had fallen. and she
was picking her steps daintily, her
hands fun OF parcels AS she neared
the gate the red-haired boy sprang for
ward and swung it open for her. Let
tice paused to thank him In her gra-
cious way He grew scarlet TO the
roots OF his hair aa he stood cap in
hand
That night questioned her about
him She laughed and shrugged her
pretty shoulders.
Il know him well by sight. He goes
to school still. have heard that nis
people cannot induce him to make up
his mind what he is going TO be-
You might hring him in some day,
Lettle | should like to talk to him
She nodded and went TO the piano
Music was a passion with both OF us,
and ! looked forward TO the evening
hour in which she sang and played to
me- As the winter weeks went on we
we're Joined by third. the lad Leonard
Smith. whose simple enjoyment OF thai
hour was pleasure 10 witness.
An. well, am an old fool-I might
have knownl Lettice was lovely with
the loveliness of some delicate flower,
and young blood flows fast. She smiled
his heart away.
knew the truth when ! noted how
his plan for the future varied. Did
Lettice read out the news from the
seat of war, her fair face glowing as
she spoke OF brave deeds. his would
burn in response He would be a sol
dier Or sailors life had charms for
him when she pictured the delights Of
visiting strange lands. And thus
through every profession Il was possi-
bic 70 follow He would take each
and all in turn, let but the light OF
those bright eyes lead the way
J spoke TO him one night about It.
We were friends then. and knew tina;
he would listen.
You are old enough now to decide
Leonard. Make Up your mind, and
stick TO It,"
Il can't" The boys voice took a
bitter tone. Il have told her | viii be
anything. everything she wishes, II
she will but love me"
But this is madness--follyl You
are-how old? Eighteen? And Lettice
Is two-and-twenty! You cannot ex-
pect her TO walt for you. And for
what? You have nothing to offer her. Z"
Il am 19, though don't look t.
Such marriages have been; and Will
work. see II i don't There is nothing
| would not do TO win her"
Then try to cultivate a little self
control Be a man, choose your path,
and earn her respect. Some day. per-
haps-who knows?-she may listen to
you
III thought thatl Oh, how am to
be patient? How have you learnt It,
lying there year after year? Did YOU
never know what It was to want any
thing badly?"
smiled. Il loved a woman once.
Leonard. but she married some one
else. and then ! fell III. 1t was all tor
the best, you see.
'she did not carer"
Il believed she did-that was my
mistake. She played me false 1t was
Lettices mother"
The boy clenched his fists.
"Lettice could not--could mott"
Naturally" ! responded. drily.
Lettice laughed when demonstrated
with her.
But. meanwhile, cannot you do a3y-
thing? lie is wasting time. His mother
is anxious"
II VIII try"
The sweet. mobile face whose coun-
terpart some 30 years ago had we'll
nigh wrecked my own life. grew seri-
GUS
Mrs Smith called soon after. She
sa.d her boy had told her Of his friend.
aNd she glanced tentatively at Lettioe.
4 Thai youHg lady was determined to
/ show to advantage, and Leonard's
mother went away obviously enchant,
Z ed
II was not long before she pleaded
with Lettice,
"It win be the making Of my boy
You have such influence over him. lie
Is our only SON. but we do not want
TO keep him idling at home He may
DO as he viii, if he viii only do some
/ thing"
Then Lettice, ! presume, threw \
straw or two Of hope to her admirer
lie rose triumpbantly upon the sea Of
his desires. and one day they came 10
Leonard ardent. and. for the mo-
ment, positively handsome. Lettuce
blushing and trlhe nervous. The lad