Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-09-12

"oH, DEAR, CAN JUST SEE IT SHRINK
months before she had not had Jim's
preferences so clearly In mind. but
three months In New York had altered
joys standpoint.
She choked back the tears they lay
SO near the surface now-and opened
book, but her thoughts would wander
back to the up country" which she
had left. not content 10 settle down In
the village school-or in a village home
either, for that matter-after gradu-
ating from Il normal college.
Twenty third street, called the
conductor.
Joy looked forlorEly out into the
early wet darkness and gave sudden
exclamation.
A car from the West Twenty third
street ferry had disgorged crowd of
transfers that were making a rush for
her car These the conductor met by
the monotonous command Let 'em
off-let EN- OFF,
The crowd paused, held In check by
young man with q general appear
ance OF squareness His shoulders
were square. So were his firm lower
Jaw and his tanned forehead
AS to his dealings. Joy could testify
that they also We're square. too square
sometimes IN that he had taken her al
her word and for three dreary months
remained silent
"Oh." she exclaimed, Its Jim
Fortunately neither the large man
nor the son OF Hungary understood the
English language or the language of
tones or they would have suspected
that Klondlke had suddenly been
rolled to the feet OF the damp little
public school substitute between them.
Impulsively she struggled to her feet
under the impression that she was GO
Ing to meet Jim and as impulsively sal
down again. remembering that she
could not. Would he see her: She
waited breathlessly. with parted lips.
when he entered
In looking for seat his eyes travel
ed straight past the now trembling lit
tie substitute without seeing her A
big lump rose IN her throat Perhaps
he did not wish to see her. Perhaps
he had been In the city for weeks and
had not looked her up. II was just as
well. she reasoned. that he had not.
because her landlady had recently rent.
ed the parlor, so there would have
been no place for him to sit. but-but
she wanted TO be remembered Just the
same
The lump In her throat increased In
size. and the lights blurred. up coun-
try" she had been OF too great imp0r-
lance TO be overlooked
The square young man had found a
seat on the same side OF the car. and
nothing OF him was visible from joys
position save the hand bag at his
feet. Joy had not noticed this before.
IL proclaimed the fact that be had just
arrived. and she was suddenly enabled
TO swallow the lump In her throat.
At ThIrty-frst street an old colored
nanny boarded the car and, after one
look at the full seats. chung TO a strap.
There was an instant's pause. and then
joys eyes glowed softly and Joys
heart beat warmly.
That's like jim" she whispered to
herself. That's the way they do up
country" for the square young man
was clinging TO the strap and the col
ored nanny was seated.
His back was toward Joy now-his
straight square shouldered back. II
rested her just to look at IT, She had
not realized before how tired she was.
Being only n substitute. she was the
natural prey OF every grade In the
great school building where her task
was the uneavlable one OF taking the
place OF absent teachers. one day In
this rooin. one day In that. stranger
10 every pupil. who celebrated her adj