The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1901-07-12

Of No. Is hut, and I thought as 'ow I'd
come and see what you was up to-"
"You might get into a row." re-
turned Amherst, land thss I'D be bad
for you just now" -f,,n,
"No worse for me than you."
Jem set himself squarciy down on
n bowldcr at his compuplon's aide. and
settled his chin upon his foldeli<own
fists. h,
"Davy,' he said. do you remember
Molly Maloncy?"
Amherst's face quivcred; hut he
said. s,urdily; AYE, wen not talk of
'er Just now. Jcm.' .~NuttdHif"
Jcm's face was determined; his
mouth set In a hard line. that spoiled
his good looks. giving 10 his face an
expression Of obstinate frmncsst that
gave one u fresh insight into his char
actcr. ,tI
"Do YOU mind her yellow hair, like
the buticrcmps In Mile End close
farm. aud her eyes blue aud big. Hike
the forrct.mc.nois by the n'iItpohd.
where the rushcs was :" hncf aud
large? She was n neat dresser. and
had a pretty foot. too" fr
aye" said Davy.
"And III. Sunday rycnin' when we
three walked back from church. and
the sky was like the inside oth PINK
shell. with sircnks X n violet here
u there? n she says y" me- vha'
n pretty voice I had IN the tenor parts,
md ievrr said u word to you. though
you aud she wns courtin'." nAJ
Amherst made a mnii"n with his
head. for his lips we're Dir, aud speech
less.
And maybe you we're wondering
why We weren't married. and why
never said n word about II to you, aft
rr she give you the chuck, and she and
me went wolkin' together"
Maybe you was delicate about u,
aud didn't like 4 'urt my feclin's."
Davy'a ,olce was hoarsc; he wns 10
eager To Dnd nn excuse for the man
Ia whom he had been doggedly faith
fui Tor Thesis many years through
thick aud thin.
"'Twns only natural ~ she should
prefer ynu. I'm n poor IN. 1T express
In my fc.Iin's, aud u poor sort Of chap
aud NIL. While ~. for ON"
"whIl.. ns for ma. snid lem. cnImI,,
"y,u Thought a. 'ow vas a nasty,
sneakin' chan, aud had took Molly
,y,,, fr,,, Ynu ,.uptin' her like.
Will. IN, real truth ia. Duyy. though
4 mover told van before. ,hnt. she
wasn't worth u snap of your fingers
or Of mine. for 1 knew she was ilirtin'
with Tint r~cd.hcaded chap nt the
hlncLsmith's all the time YOU was q
eour,ln' of ',r. and II a girl could 20
ON with one chap when SHE had prom
ised 10 marry another. II seemed Ia
me ms she WIS not good enough to he
n pars wife. She walked with me O
bit. aud ,hen-why, | told ',r as
meant nothin', soeln' she was ON with
two or three other chaps. aud you wa,
too blind Ia gce II, ] only done u ~
show you what she was and 20 stop
you from throwin' your stupid old
self away upon u good-for.nought,"
"yon did II for that?" Days voic.
was tremulous In its intensity OF
rarnestncSs. "Why. ! thought ~ 'ow
you loved 'cr, and was Roin' To get the
stripe 30 N you could get married
tn 'cr."
"Im not a-goinR Ia take ~" H'ripe'
said Jem. steadily. You're ont there
Da,y." H
why, The colonel spoke TO You ,h''
mornin', ] know e did' Tor S'upDs
told me"
"Aye, Dnvy. did you never think
that you n M" would be separated
MS lar M The sea ~ from Nbn noun
tain2 You've been u OIL unfortunate
In the drinkin l'nr' u lhaih aReh
you FOR promotion nut ~ GOV was
ihinkin' that was u Roih 10 DC sci
over your head you was wrong. pa'y
Amherst. Pals We was IN HE ola dass
aud pals Wen be TIL we OUT hnu
that's enough Tor me, " IL - ior YOU
Amhcrst's hand stole n httic nearer
to the clenched fist on the siuobis
Gods truth" he SAID saoi
= sNn..N. s.satl y autI lam