Graham guardian., 1920-12-31
THROUGH THE
YEARS
By GEORGE z. COBB

l N~NpS teAV, -" "sSefN 2sovuptpSI crtOhB
She ~as twelve, asd he fuuYteeD,
sas II wss q bfrthday party gtvss 10
honor Of q child Of tea. Nest 81 tAoss
attending the functton were abost, or
under that age, but Efae Sands and
Bertram Norris, both entered fully In.
to the spirit of the occasion.
The tiny debutante Of the occasion
had distributed bowl Of oid-fsshioned
candy lozenges. 50 dear to the child
isb heart, and incipient swains
spelled cut the gushing sentiments
printed In Elaring red upon the white
surfaces. Very tinidly Bertram pre-
sented one TO Efie, reading: win
you be my friend" and Ellie selected
for reply the non-committal senti.
ment, II like your company"
The party was breaking up. when
Bertram came across Efftc in q cur
tained niche. and boldly determined
70 give expression to the promptIngS
Of his ardent heart before they sepa.
| rated.
"WiIl you kiss me7" read the heart.
shapes confection WITH which he pre-
seatea her. and Bess aosAed and suiv.
cred and leaned h<f veivetJ check
towaf6s him, her eyss ssarklny bright.
Just then her name wa called sat sM4
t~o ssri frieads sssAfns hen. brsAs n
spen the seciusian sf tAs niche. n
! 6e, startled. drew bach from the rapt.
eagerly expectant face Of her youthful
suitor and advanced 30 Heet me eth
ere She, however. directed q swift
glance over her shoulder at Beytran
intensely expressive Of disappointne nent.
Then, coming to a pause before the
two girls, she put enc, clssped, hand
behind her.
The dainty member described an
unmlstakable signal to her iuchiess
swain. Bertram was keen IN construe
it, he glided directly behind her. Her
fingers Enclosed, revealing q. lozenge
evidently treasured for the occasion.
She slipped II into Bertnms hand
and then went away.
II love you," II read, and Bertram,
the boy, felt sudden surgins Of 90
licious emotion within his being that
stayed with him for days, and after
that was a memory, sweet, innocent,
sbiding for years
Bertram's father and nnother moved
away from ROckton within month
and he saw Effie only once or twice
during that period, and then in the
company Of others upon the street.
He felt lonesome and homesick amid
new scenes until he became interested
In resumed school duties. II was two
years later, when he graduated into
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 Are Of his
early love was famed into vivid name,
when he received q pretty girlish note
In reply, full Of little nothinss, but
showing that E6ie had not forgotten
him.
II became great pleasure 70 Bsr.
tram 10 tfus begin q evrrespondeace
that allcriated the tedfun Of the four
succeeding years. The mutual nis-
sfves never went beyond the bounds
OF friendship, but II wRsa fond mem.
cry for Bertrsm 10 picture the idol
Of his hoyhood dreams grown into a
young lady, and when she sent him
her photograph he treasured a second
priced mcmento of his only love sI-
periehce, the first being tho lozense,
30 surreptitionsly, but consoiinsiy
passed TO him that memorable evening
in the long sgo
The day that Bertrsm Morris OBJ
talned his dIploms as a member OF
the legal bar, Thus equipped to meet
the mature responsibilities N life, ne
received a letter from Effie glowing
with pride and pleasure over her own
graduation at the seminary at Rock.
ton. She told Of party that was 10
he given In her honor. "And what de-
you thinkf" she wrote rivselously, 1T
Is to he at the home Of Teasor Dwy.
er, don't you remember, B~rtrNm,
where we last met ana where We were
the same good friesds that we are
nowt OF course yon csa't come an
that way Just to ses ne, bot msaase
insists she shall send yen an iXyita.
ton, snyway."
The same arrived. A legacy from
an amt had given Bertran favorable
income, and there was no question of
.snssE!ng the money for the trip be at
yNrvss~-.- .,ka-.