The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-05-21
"BILLY'S DIARY"
BY AGNES GRAHAM sRoeAN.
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Jasmine came into the clearing
where the old spring house stood, and
paused lost In conflicting emotion.
Memories came to her across thel
years, memories of tender sweetness,
memories of desolation. 1t was here
that she had spent many happy hours
in her childhood, here that great lone
liness had reclaimed her. And now
that she had come back for view
of the place, she was still both sorry
and glad.
Down the road farther lay the old
mansion that had been Jasmines
home and the home of her grandpar-
ents. 1t was there thai her young
mother, passing out OF life as her
child came into it, bequealhed her in
FAINT orphaned daughter to great Aunt
Millicent's care-the young mother
who had named her baby jasmine,
her little white flower"
Aunt Melicent's slender income,
never sufficient for the upkeep OF the
great old home, expired with her
death, and there had been little money
left to jasmine after paying the mort
cages. SO. all unframed, the girl
went out into the busy world to earn
her livelihood-and this was her first
homecoming. 1t was an advertise
ment concerning the white Inn for
summer guests which caught Jas
mines eye in the city paper The
White Inn, as pictured there, Was her
own lost homestead. So Jasmine,
oh ir,a hoS
her hard-earned two weeks vacation
in the altered place. The hermit'sl /
dwelling on the spot where the old
springhouse had been, was a topic of
never-failng interest to White Inn
guests. For the hermit. 1t was said,
frequented his lonely cabin every sum-
mer, living there in solitary exile.
Each guest at one time or another,
made a trip up the wooded way to
see him in his garden. And the her.
NIT, who was young and good look
ing, In a frowningly, forbidding man
ner, persistently ignored them one and
all. He dressed in khaki, as modern
hermit should, and cooked his own
food--if not exactly over a kettle, at
least on an oil stove. Jasmine, had
not Travelled over the bramble path
out of curiosity to see him. but to
view instead the old spring house.
And as she sat on the hermit's garden
bench. she recalled with a smile which
brought forth a lately despondent
dimple, former visit of hers to this
self same place in a faraway time.
She had gone to the spring house to
be freed from Aunt Mellicent's stern
observance, lonely girl without play
mate or friend, and she had come
forth as "Jim." chosen companion of
the incest boy in the world; and this
is how it happened. Jasmine upon
entering the spring house, had found,
lying upward a closely written little
book. On its bright red cover was the
word "Diary," and on the very first
page was inscribed in boyish letter
ing-"Billy-His Book" Before the
little girl in the cambria frock real
lied what she was doing, she had read
two complete pages of the "Diary."
1t was wildly interesting; her blue
eyes widened over the marvellous ad-
ventures of Billy, in His Book" and
she looked up dazedly when an angry
voice reused her.
"Nervy!" greeted the voice, what
do You mean by reading my writing"
Jasmine was rnafraid. she even
clasped the red book closer in de-
fiance. 81 didn't mean to start" she
calmly told the indignant boy before
her, but when | started. couldn't
stop. It's all so splendid. I'm going
to finish the story"
The boys anger vanished.
ITO think that all those wonderful
things happened to just a boy like
you y Jasmine explained
And when at the end of a compan-
ionably long, happy summer. Billy
went away to school. and to college,
and perhaps never to return, Jasmine
was given the little red book to keen
as lasting memento of their joyous
times together. She still kept IT. And
now. TO make the memory of those
past enchanted days complete Jasmine
drew the little book from her bag and
sat smiling over its pages. 1t was
no sound which made her glance up,
but just the consciousness of a pres
ence near.
The hermit was standing behind the
bench. reading over Jasmine's shoul-
der. the hoyish scrawl When their
eyes met, involunlarily both smiled.
Then the mans hand went ont to
her.
You the hermit Of spring houser'
The man nodded.
With quick stride he entered the
cabin, and returning put into Jas
mines hand book of familiar cover.
1t was one Of the seasons best sellers.
Jasmine had seen it displayed. The
author reached over suddenly to in
scribe something on the fy-eaf-"Bn-
ly. he wrote-"IIs Book Beneath
the books title was printed the au-
thor's full name William Chalmers.