Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-17

nest up In tree"
Let's" she said.
A fallen tree leaned against the
beech on which ] had cut the letter
IN" ] scrambled up the fallen one,
Nellie following. She stopped at the
lower branches. while / climbed high
er, looking for a convenient spot for
the nest. At last found one.
'Here it is" | cried-"three shoots
from one stem. 1t will rock the little
birds when the wind blows. Come up
and see it."
I'm afraid"
'FWhat are you afraid Of. you little
goose? Come onr'
She did come on but slipped, and /
heard thud on the ground. looked
below and saw her lying in a heap.
Her face was toward me and white
as marble. ] scrambled down and
shook her. thinking TO bring her to
herself. but she did not respond. Then
called TO her. Still there was no
awakening. began to. be frightened
was a strong boy. took her up and
carried her TO her home.
1t was a long while before she re-
covered from that fall. received
another whipping on her account. !
was rather pleased at this, for I con-
sidered 1t I'm the nature of penance
for persuading her TO climb the tree.
Neither of the whippings ] received
impressed me as consequence to the
Offenss Children don't bother them
selves as TO the cause of their punish
ments. They simply consider them
something to be endured like other
disagreeable events. Nevertheless I
was very i'll at ease till l heard that
my little chum was out Of danger
and that she would suffer no lasting
i'll effects from her fail. for at first
it was feared she had been killed and
later that she would be cripple.
occupied my mind by going out TO the
wood and cutting the other letters to
the name | had begun on the beech
from which she had fallen.
I was not allowed TO see my little
girl friend again. Her parents con-
sidered me a very bad boy indeed, and
/ was forbidden to come TO their
house. My own parents probably
agreed with them. for they sent me
to a boarding school for little boys.
Before ! went home for my first
vacation our family had changed our
residence. so that the childish asso-
citation between Nellie and myself was
ended. -....
i forgot all the children with whom
l had played at that early age except
Nellie. 1t is n mistake TO suppose that
children have no love affairs. l did
not know when | suggested to Nellie
that we go up in a tree and build a
nest like the birds that 1 was obeying
a law of nature. That something
which draws the birds TO mate and
provide for their young was in me.
At any rate. l considered Nellie my
remained.
/ will admit that fifteen years later
whatever remained of this childish
affection lay dormant Nevertheless
IL was in me and. like a spark, needed
to be famed into fame. I had
prospered for youngster of twenty
four and. though ! was far from
Nellie, l longed to see her. At last
business called me to city near which
she had lived, and l determined 70 go
and discover if she was still there.
Upon inquiry on my arrival !
learned that she had not yet left the
parental hOme-the home she had &C.
cupied when ! had seen her last. II
was a bright summer morning. and ]
strolled up a familiar street and stood
before the house I sought / did not
wish to make a formal call. so ]
loitered in the neighborhood Till a
young lady came out into the front
yard to water some plants Approach
ing her. asked;
~ believe family OF Ashursfs once
lived opposite you in that house over
there. Do you remember themy'
'fIndistinctiy. was very young
when they lived here"
Il think there was a boy-an incor
rigible young rascal. I suppose yon
were too young to remember himT'
Il remember him. There was cir