The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-06-13
as the thermometer must be about a


come and see what you was up to-"
"You might get into a row." re-
turned Amherst, land that 'ud be bad
for you just now"
mo worse for me than you"
Jem set himself squarely down on
bowlder at his companions side, and
settled his chin upon his folded brown
fists.
'Davy," he said, "do you remember
Molly Maloney?"
Amherst's face quivered; but he
said, sturdily: Aye, Wen not talk of
'er just now, Jem.'
Jem's face was determined: his
mouth set in a hard line, that spoiled
his good looks, giving to his face an
expression of obstinate firmness that
gave one a fresh insight into his char
acter.
do you mind her yellow hair, like
the buttercups in Mile End Close
farm, and her eyes blue and big, like
the forget-me-nots by the mill-pond,
where the rushes was so fine and
large? She was neat dresser, and
had pretty foot, too"
Aye" said Davy.
And the Sunday evenin' when we
three walked back from church, and
the sky was like the inside of a pink
shell, with streaks like a violet here
and there? And she says to me, what
pretty voice | had in the tenor parts,
and never said word to you, though
YOU and she was cOurtin'"
Amherst made a motion with his
head, for his lips were dry and speech
less.
And maybe you were wondering
why we weren't married, and why l
never said word about it to you, aft
er she give you the chuck, and she and
me went walkin' together"
Maybe you was delicate about it,
and didn't like to 'urt my feelin's."
Days voice was hoarse; he was so
eager to find an excuse for the man
to whom he had been doggedly faith
full for these many years through
thick and thin.
"'Twas only natural as she should
prefer you. I'm poor one al express
in my feeln's, and poor sort of chap
and all While as for you"
while, as for me, said Jem, calmly,
''you thought as 'ow | was nasty,
sneakin' chap, and had took Molly
away from you, temptin' her like;
while the real truth is, Davy, though
L never told you before, that she
wasn't worth a snap of your fingers
or of mine, for / knew she was flirtin
with that red-headed chap at the
blacksmiths all the time you was
courtin' of 'er; and if a girl could go
on with one chap when she had prom
ised to marry another, it seemed to
me as she was not good enough to be
q pals wife. She walked with me
bit, and then-why, l told 'er as l
meant nothin', seem she was on with
two or three other chaps, and you was
too blind to see it. l only done it to
show you what she was and to stop
you from THROWN your stupid old
self away upon good-for-nought."
"You did it for that?" Dayy's voice
was tremulous in its intensity Of
earnestness. "Why, l thought as 'ow
you loved 'er, and was goin' to get the
stripe so as you could get married
to 'er."
I'm not a-going to take no stripe"
said Jem, steadily. You're out there,
Davy."
"Why, the colonel spoke to you this
mornin', / know e did, for Stubs
told me-"
"Aye, Davy, did you never think
that you and me would be separated
as far as the sea is from yon noun
tain? You've been bit unfortunate
in the drinkin' line, and that's agen
you for promotion, but if you was
thinkin' that l was a goin' to be set
over your head, you was wrong, Davy
Amherst Pals we was in the old days,
and pals we'll be till we snuffs out, and
that's enough for me, if it is for you"
Amherst's hand stole little nearer
to the clenched fist on the stubble.
Goods TRUTH" he said.
Goods truth" said Jem.
The VOW was taken as solemnly as
though some pledge of vast import
ance was being registered.
"Jem, it was 'urtin' me cruel, that
thought of you and me never speak
in said Davy, at last, sheepishly. IF
you like, I'll keep bit straighter. At
least, I'll try to keep that way on"
Amherst was nothing if not honest,
and Jem admired him for it.
It'll be no use, Davy. know you of
DID," he answered, hopefully. "&he
very smell of beer-jug IL draw you
mile, but I'll take the will for the deed,
old chap"
When two furtive, light ly-garbed
figures stole back to their respective
beds, the sky was shivering towards
the dawn. AS Amherst crept into his
bed, the next man to him moved, and
muttered in his sleep. "We 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 haI-
monium.
"Amen," said Davy, fervently, as he
drew the blanket over his head.
At the same moment tne bugle rang
sSDouail1a al AL