The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-07-18

Molly Maloney?'
Amherst's face quivered, but he said,
sturdily: Aye; I will not talk of 'ei
just now, Jem.''
Jem's face was determin05 /, his mouth
set in a hard line, that spoiled his good
looks, giving to his face an expression
of obstinate frmness that gave one
fresh insight into his character.
Do you mind her yellow hair like the
buttercups in Mile End Close Farm,
and her eyes blue and big, like the for
get-me-nots by the millpond, where the
rushes was so fine and large? She was
a neat dresser and had pretty foot,
too.'
Aye" said Davey.
And the Sunday evening when we
three walked back from church. and
the Sky was like the inside of q pink
SHE'LL with streaks like violet here and
there? And she says to me, what a
pretty voice had In the tenor parts.
and never said word to you, though
you and she was countin.'"
Amherst made motion with his
head, for his lips were dry and speech
less.
And maybe you were wondering
why we weren't married, and why I
never said a word about it to you after
she give you the chuck, and she and
me went walkin' together"
Maybe you was delicate about II
and didn't like to hurt my feelin's.',
I Davy's voice was hoarse he was so
eager to find an excuse for the man ia
whom he had been doggedly faithful
for these many years through thick and
thin.
g Twas only natural as she should
prefer you. I'm poor one at expressin'
my feelins and poor sort Of chap and
all; while as for YOU
While as for me- said Jem, calmly.
you thought as 'Ow r
sneakin' chap, and had took Molly
away from you, temeptin' her like.
while the real truth is, Davy, though
never told you before, that she wasn't
worth a snap OF your finger or Of mine,
for | knew she was flirtin' with that
red-headed chap at the blacksmiths all
the time you was a-courtil' of 'er, and
II a girl could go on with one chap when
she had promised to marry another it
seemed to me as she was not good
enough to be pals wife. She walked
with me a bit, and then-why, I told
'er as 1 meant nothin' SEEM she was on
with two or three other chaps and YOU
was s, too oe. blind to see it. only done it
to snow you what she was and to stop
you from THROWN your stupid old self
away upon a good for-naught."
You did it for that?" Davy's voice
was tremulous in it's intensity of earn
estness. Why, I thought as ,ow you
loved 'er, and was goin ter get the
stripe so as you could get married to
err : -. -
I'm not a-goin' to take no stripe"
said Jem, steadily. You're out there,
Davy."
why, the Colonel spoke to you this
mornin', I know e did, for Stubs told
me-
Aye, Davy, did you never think that
you and me would be separated as far
q fy,nv Won ,%ri,o
You've been a bit unfortunate in the
drinkin' line, and that's agen you for
promotion, but If you was thinkin' that
| was gofn to be set over your head
you was wrong, Davy Amherst. Pals
We was IN old days, and pals We'll be
TIL we snuffs out, and that's enough for
me, if it is for you.'
Amherst's hand stole little nearer
to the clinched fist on the stubble.
Gods TRUTH" he said
Gods truth" said Jern.
The vow was taken as solemnly as
though some pledge Of vast Importance
was being, registered.
lem, it was 'urtin' me cruel, that
thought of you and me never speakin,''
said Davy, at last, sheepishily. IF you
like I'll keep a bit straighter. At least,
I'll try to keep that way on
Amherst was nothing if not honest,
and Jem admired him for it.
III pc no use, DaVy. i Know you
of old" he answered, hopeful. "The
very smell Of a beer jug IL draw you a
mile, but I'll take the will for the deed,
old chap
When two furtive, lightly CARRIED fig
ures stole back to their respective beds.
the sky was shivering toward the dawn.
AS Amherst crept into his bed, the next
man to him moved, and muttered in
his sleep. I'VE beseech thee to hear us,
Good Lord" He was the second tenor
in the choir, and had been practicing
some new music the day before at the
squeaking harmoniun.
Amen" said Davy, fervently, as he
drew the blanket over his head.
| At the same moment the bugle rang
out tReveille," clear as bell-reason-
ant as the last trump-each note ris-
ing and falling on the still air. It was
echoed from cliff to cliff, from fort to
barrack, till the whole island rang
| with the news that another day was
| born.
And the gunners Of Tigne woke to re-
luctant life, and grumbled themselves
into uniform and pipe-clayed helmets
| once again.
But there was gladness in two rough,
honest hearts, for a shadow had rolled
away with the purple line of night
1 cloud into the sea.
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