Abilene weekly reflector., 1901-06-13
that gave one fresl snsight into BID

that gave one a freSS .rsight into BID
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 mill pond, where tho
rushes were 90 fine and large? She
was aneat dresser and had pretty foot,
too."
AYE" said Davy.
"And the Sunday evening when We
three walked back from church, and
the sky was like the inside Of pink
shell, with streaks like a violet here and
there? And she says to me, what q
pretty voice l had In the tenor parts,
and never said q word to you, though
you and sheswas courtin'."
Amherst made motion with his head.
for bis lips were dry and speechless.
"And maybe you were wondering
why we weren't married, and why ]
never said word about 1t to you after
she gave you the chuck and she and me
went walkin' together
Maybe you was delicate about It.
and didn't like to 'urt my feelih's."
Davy's voice was hoarse; he was 90
eager to find an excuse for the man To
whom he had been doggedly faithful
for these many years through thick and
thin.
"'Twas only natural as she should
prefer you. I'm poor one at ex.
pressln' my feelin's and a poor sort Of
a chap and all. While as for you"
while as for me-" said Jem, calmly,
"you thought as 'ow | was nasty,
sneakln 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 firtin' with the red
headed chap at the blacksmlth's all the
time you was courtin Of 'er; and II q
girl could go on with one chap when
fhe had promised to marry another, Il
seemed to me as she was not good
enough to be pals wife. She walked
with me a bit, and then-why, | told 'er
as meant nothln', seeln she was on
with two or three other chaps, and you
was too blind to see 1t, 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 1t for that?" Davy's voice
WAS tremuous In It's intensity Of earn
estness. why, thought as 'ow you
loved er, and was goln' 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 Stubbs told
me-"
cay Davy, did you never think that
you and me would be separated "a far
as the sea Is from yon mountainl
You've been a bit unfortunate In the
drlnkin' line, and that's agen you for
promotion, but II you was thinkin' that
| was a-goln 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, II It Is for you"
Amherst's hand stole a little nearer to
the clnched fist on the stubble. Gods
TRUTH" he said.
Gods TRUTH" said Jem.
The VOW was taken as solemnly "A
though some pledge OF vast importance
was being registered.
"Jem, 1t was 'urtin' me cruel that
thought Of you and me never speakln',"
said Davy at last, sheeplshly, III you
like, I'll keep a bit straghter. AT least,
I'll try to keep that way on"
Amherst was nothing II not honest,
and Jem admired him for It,
"It'll be no use, Davy. ! know you
Of old" ho answered hopefully. "The
very smell Of a beer jugll draw you a
mile, but I'll take the will for the deed,
old chap"
80
When two furtlve, lightly garbed hg.
ures 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 NUT
tered in his sleep: We beseach Thee to
hear us, Good Lord" lie was the sec
ond tenor In the choir, and had been
some new music the day be-
fore at the squeaking harmonium.
"Amen," said Davy, fervently, as he
drew the blanket over his head.
At the same moment the buglA rang
out "ReveIlle," clear as a bell-reson.
ant as the last trump-each note rising
and falling on the still air. 1t was
echoed from cliff to cliff. from fort to
Darrack, till the whole island rang with
he news that another day was born.
And the gunners OF Tight woke to
life and grumbled themselves
into uniform and pipe-clayed helmets
,nce again. But there was gladneSa
n two rough, honest hearts. for q
,hadow had rolled away with the purple
Inc Of nlghtcloud into the sea.