Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-08-25
A Love
Story
The Teller Brings About a
Real Ending Herself.

By f. A. mitchell.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
am an old maid | have never had
a love affair and never expect to have
one. Perhaps this is why l take an in
te st in the loves = other people.
Nothing is so attrT to me as to
watch a young drifting into
that current whic first moves so
imperceptibly that are not aware
they are in it. Indeed. so unconscious
are they of being incipient lovers that
it does not occur to them to conceal
the fact from any one else.
| remember one day sitting at my
window sewing when a boy and girl
passed on the other side of the road.
The boys straw hat was dingy, and
there was plenty of ventilation in its
crown. His only other clothing was
shirt and trousers. No shoes or stock
ings. nothing around his throat, his
collar being open and displaying the
tanned skin. The girls clothing was
neither better nor worse, and there
was about as much of it.
The two were evidently absorbed in
each other What they were talking
about l was too far from them to hear,
but it was of vital Importance. 1t
may be that the boy had been kept
in" after school and they were indig-
uant over time thus lost to play. 1t
may be that some urchin had smashed
the china head of the girls doll.
Whatever it was it was being discuss
ed with animation.
And | maintain that these childish
interests are of more real importance
for the time being than those which
come later No addition to an adults
stock of wealth gives the same test as
a new toy to one of these little peo-
pie.
Often afterward | saw these two,
and always together. In this they
were different from other children
who play. boys with boys and girls
with girls. learned that they were
Henry Morse and Lila Bunker, farm
er's boy and farmers girl. Indeed.
we were all farmer folk, all knew one
some degree at least in every one else;
simple community and more than
usually free from the petty jealousies
common to mankind
Henry Morsc's father was deter
mined that his son should have a good
to school. After this | used to see Lila
going by our house, but no companion
supplied uenry's place. She was al
ways alone, and I fancied her think
ing of her other self. But this was
simply fancy on my part. AS | have
said in the beginning. not having had
any love affairs of my own, | conjure
up love affairs for others In this
case of Henry and Lila knew
nothing of what was passing between
them except from observation. so
may be excused for filing in occasion
disconnected. At the last | was pres
ent and shall not have to draw on
my Imagination.
When Henry came back from school
there was a more modish appearance
to his clothes and on his manners.
farm. had only an unadorned beauty.
freshencd by pure air and sunshine.
They were now about sixteen years
old. though Henry was half a head
taller. and I could not see that their
! interest in each other had waned,
though the childish unconsciousness
that they We're of different sex had
disappeared | used to 500 them go
by the house together rs formerly. but
the prattie OF childhood had given
place 10 the more sober conversation
of youth | often wished could bear
what they were saying to each other
Henry did so well al school that his
father decided to send him to college
| wondered what effect his four years
I association with young men and wom-
en- of the world would have on my pet
/ love affair. feared that Henry. nav
/ ing become used to the polished girls
he would meet. would return TO see in
| Lila a country girl lacking the airs
and graces of her sisters OF the city.
| Would this ALLEVIATE him? II was to
! be expected that il would. And though
/ country born and bred myself | don't
| know that those of us who go to the
city and acquire city ways are to be
| blamed when we return and yield to
! dissatisfaction at country ways.
/ Henry remained away n year at col.
! lege before he came back to the farm.
/ Then one July morning, when sitting
/ at my window darnng socks. looked
up. and there on the opposite side of
/ the road were the couple | had first
noticed eight or nine years ago as chill
| dren. Though Henry was plainly
dressed. his clothes were not country
/ clothes. Ii seemed to nre that he might
pass anywhere as city bred young
man. And I.ila-how my heart went
/ out to the poor child in her effort 10
dress in a fashion more in keeping
with the apparel OF those girls to
whom Henry had been accustomed. II
was all inference with me. but 1t was
plain to see that she had prepared her,
self against his return to modify the
| difference between her and their habil
! iments
wondered If be noticed this and II
It pleased or displeased him. Surely