The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1920-11-18
THROUGH THE
YEARS
tcopyrIght. 1890. Western Newspaper Union,
By GEORGE Z. COBB

y III .#4A#E ~ S~A~ 8&SG%& III
Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper Union.)
She was twelve, and he fourteen.
and 1t was q birthday party given in
honor Of q child of ten. Most Of those
attending the function were about, or
under that age, but Efie Sands and
Bertrsm Morris, both entered fully In
to the spirit Of the occasion.
The tiny debutante Of the occasion
had distributed a bowl Of ~old-fashioned
candy lozenges. so dear to the child
ish heart. and incipient SWANS
spelled out the gushing sentiments
printed in glaring red upon the white
surfaces. Very timidly Bertram pre-
sented one to Efie. reading: win
you be my friend" and Fife selected
for q reply the non-committal sent.
ment, II like your company"
The party was breaking up, when
Bertram came across Effie in a cur.
tanned niche, and boldly determined
to give expression to the promptings
of his ardent heart before they sepa.
rated.
"Will you kiss mel" read the heart.
shaped CONNECTION with which he pre-.
sented her, and Efie flushed and quiv-
cred and leaned her velvety cheek
towards him, her eyes sparkling bright.
Just then her name was called out and
two girl friends. seeking her, broke in
upon the s~eclusion Of the niche Ef.
fe, startled, drew back from the rapt,
eagerly %expectant face Of her youthful
sutton and advanced to meet the 9th
ers. She, however, directed q swift
glance over her shoulder at Bertram
intensely expressive Of disappointment.
Then, coming to a pause before the
two girls, she put one, clasped, hand
behind her.
The dainty member described an
unmistakable signal to her lucklesa
swain. Bertram was keen to construe
it. He glided directly behind her. Her
fingers Enclosed, revealing a lozenge
evidently treasured for the occasion.
She slipped it into Bertram's hand
and then went away.
II love you" it read, and Bertram,
the boy, felt a sudden surging Of de-
licious emotion within his being that
stayed with him for days, and after
that was q memory, sweet, innocent,
abiding for years.
Bertram's father and mother moved
away from Rockton within a month
and he saw Efae only once or twice
during that period, and then in the
company of others upon the street.
He felt lonesome and h0mesick amid
new scenes until he became interested
in resumed school duties. It was two
years later, when he graduated into
a higher educational phase. The i'm.
pulse came upon him to write to his
little friend of old, proudly telling Of
being awarded recognition as the
youngest and most proficient of his
class. The smoldering fire of his
early love was famed into vivid fame,
when he received a pretty girlish note
in reply, full of little nothings, but
showing that Ef1e had not forgotten
him.
- OSSOAAO q SACdI plCuouIc " DcI.
tram to thus begin a correspondence
that alleviated the tedium of the four
succeeding years. The. mutual mis-.
sives never went beyond the bounds
Of friendship, but it was a fond mem.
DRY for Bertram to picture the idol
of his boyhood dreams grown into a
young lady, and when she sent him
her photograph he treasured a second
priced memento Of his only love ex.
p%erience, the first being the lozenge,
so surreptitiously, but consolingly
passed to him that memorable evening
in the long ago.
The day that Bertram Norris OBJ.
tanned his diploma as a member of
the legal bar, thus equipped to meet
the mature responsibilities of life, he
received a letter from Efie glowing
with pride and pleasure over her own
graduation at the seminary at. Rock.
ton. She told of a party that was to
be given in her honor. Sand what do
you think?' she wrote vivaciously, 1T
is to be at the home of Eleanor Dwy-
er, don't you remember, Bertram,
where we last met and where we were
the same good friends that we are
now? Of course you can't come all
that way just to see me, but Eleanor
insists she shall send you an invita-
ton, anyway"
The same arrived. A legacy from
an aunt had given Bertram a favorable
income. and there was no question Of
sparing the money for the trip he at
one meditated. He voted IT. favor
of fate that was ~reassuring, as at the
party during the evening he and Efie
found themselves in the same retired
niche where their early mutual liking
had found Its birth. Their eyes met
in mutual comprehension Of the situa-
ton.
rs II not stranger spoke Efie. ut
was six years ago that you and r.
Were boy and girl, in this same
5 49, - ~ ~ - Ala I'D rLLML8a