The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1901-06-07

you pass. i was standing NJ the door
u No. IS hut, and thought - 'ow II
come and see what you was up to-" ~
"You might get into row." re-
turned Amherst, "and that 'ud bs bad
for you just now" - !.
"No worse for me than you" go
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, we'll not talk Of
'er just now, Jem." -
Jem's face was determined; his
mouth set in hard line, that spoiled
his good looks, giving to his face an
expression of obstinate firmness that
gave one 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 rushcs was SO fine and
large? She was neat dresser, and
had a 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 q. violet here
and there? And she says to me, what
a pretty voice I had in the tenor parts,
and never said word to you, though
you and she was courtin'."
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
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.
Davy's 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 at express
in my feelin's, and poor sort of chap
and all. While as for YOU"
"While, as for me-" said Jem, calmly,
"you thought as 'ow I was a nasty,
sneakin' chap, and had took Molly
away from you, temptin' her like;
while the real truth is, Davy, though
I never told you before, that she
wasn't worth snap of your fingers
or of mine, for knew she was fiirtin'
with that red-headed chap at the
blacksmith's all the time you was
courtin' of 'er; and if a girl could 60
on with one chap when she had prom
Used to marry another, it seemed to
me as she was not good enough to be
pals wife. She walked with me
bit, and then-why, I told 'er as I
meant nothin', SEEM she was on with
two or three other chaps, and you was
too blind to see it. only done it to
show you what she was and to stop
YOU from THROWN your stupid old
self away upon q good-for-nought."
"You did it for that" Davy's voice
was tremulous in it's intensity of
earnestness. "Why, 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 was 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 solemn1y ~
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. III
you like, I'll keep bit straightcr. At
least, Ill 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. "The
very smell of beer-jug II draw You
mile, but I'll take the will for the deed,
old chap
When two furtiye, lightIy-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. 1--WE beseech
r