to look at me, and presently smiled. Of course I
returned the smile, thinking that he was the sweetest little
fellow that I had ever seen. This was the beginning of a love
that lasted for several years. He was six, and I was the same
age. On the next day he brought me a pretty picture, and after
that paid so much attention to me that he was soon acknowledged
to be my lover. Neither of us was the least bit shy over it. He
did not care to play with the other boys and I did not care to
play with the girls. We were not contented unless we were
together. He freely confessed his love to me and confided all of
his joys and sorrows in me. For three years and more he seemed to
care as much for me as I did for him. When he came to our home to
play with my brothers he usually forgot them and played with me.
At dinner mamma always seated us side-by-side. We planned our
marriage; his father who was a minister was to perform the
ceremony. We discussed wedding dresses, bridesmaids and
breakfasts with great seriousness. One day,--the fatal one to my
childish happiness, a new girl came to school. I could not help
noticing how often his eyes turned from me to her, and feared a
rival from the first. He wanted her to play with us, and although
I far rather would have preferred being alone with him, I hid my
feelings and asked her. I tried to treat her kindly because I
knew that it would please him. One day he asked me with great
hesitation if I objected to his having two sweethearts. I
smothered my jealous feelings and replied that I did not if he
would marry _me_. He told me that he would, that he loved me,--in
a way that was a compensation for my sacrifice. For some time the
other girl and I got along very well as sister sweethearts; but I
soon saw that she was receiving all of the caresses, and I
concluded that I would not have it so. We had an interview. He
said that he still loved me, but he gave me plainly to understand
that he would be pleased to have me withdraw. Of course I did so,
but was determined never to let either of them know that I cared.
After a time they grew tired of each other, and he came to ask my
forgiveness and make up, but by that time I had an older and as I
thought better sweetheart; so he was left to repent his rash
action while sweetheart number two captured some one el